You think what you see is real

but it's just a polaroid point of view

the lens is perfect but pictures bend

one way or another

Musical Influences: Santana, Sting, Mongo Santa Maria, Tito Puente, Pink Floyd, Carlos 'Patato' Valdez, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, The Police, DMB, Richie Gajate-Garcia, Al Di Meola, Giovanni Hidalgo, Amyt Dutta, Monojit Dutta

"He became a conguero before I noticed: now he can really blast it," says ex-drummer Arka, of his younger brother Ludo. That's a fact: one wouldn't know that this 21-year-old musician is hailed as one of the most promising drummers-percussionists of the Kolkata circuit.

Ludo exudes a cool air of mastery over his instruments, primarily the drums, bongos and congas. According to his own confession though, he is still a "below-average conga player".

Ludo didn't take music studies seriously before he was 14. However, his childhood lessons in the tabla lasted far longer than his brother's. Noticing his flair for hand drums, his mom decided to put him under the tutelage of the legendary Monojit Dutta back in 1998. Now a member of Dutta's core study group, Ritoban recently played on Colores, the latest release from Monojit Dutta & The Orient Express.

Ritoban cites Santana as his biggest musical influence. But prod him a bit more, and he would rattle off a host of Afro-Cuban artistes: Carlos 'Patato' Valdez, Changuito, Walfredo Reyes Sr., Tito Puente, the Buena Vista Social Club and many more. But it's not just Afro-Cuban and African artistes that encompass his musical tastes: Ritoban likes to be open to all music, ranging from Bangla folk to classic rock to funk and reggae.

With a Masters degree in Philosophy fresh under his belt, Ludo is now full-time drummer-percussionist for The Division.

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