Kalpana receives the Bhikhari Thakur Samman in Kolkata’s Bhikhari Thakur Festival 2011.

The Bhojpuri Queen Kalpana was bestowed the Bhikhari Thakur Samman by the Union Minister of Tourism Mr. Sultan Ahmed in the 1^st Bhikhari Thakur Festival hoisted jointly by WAJA – Writers and Journalist Association of India and Vishwa Bhojpuri U-Than Kalyan Samaj in the pious city of Kolkata on 15^th March 2011.

This Assamese girl Kalpana is a breakthrough in Bhojpuri music and has carved herself a special niche in the Bhojpuri music world credited with reviving and promoting the Bhojpuri music industry all over the world and bringing back traditional forms of music to the International stage. Indian folk music particularly of Northern India has been showcased and revived by Kalpana in a big way.

Kalpana brings the original vibrancy and richness of the Bhikhari Thakur folk forms to the World wide so that people from the world over can experience the originality and richness of Bhojpuri music.

Says Kalpana, there is no recorded songs on Bhikhari Thakur till date and The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur will be the first rare one releasing from TIMES MUSIC.

This album will give a chance to uncover the unique flavor of Bhikhari Thakur and listen to the unadulterated voice of Kalpana piercing right through to your soul.

Says Kalpana,how inspired I am by Bhikhari Thakur's life, how the legend has shaped the future of Bhojpuri music. 

Bhikhari Thakur songs are rich in imagery and heavy in Bhojpuri dialect.

This new album on Bhikhari Thakur will be a true benchmark in the annals of Bhojpuri Music Industry and will set new standards for Bhojpuri music. This album has something that’s not easily done; introducing a new genre of music to the people and having them accept it without hesitation.

As a singer, she has been recognized with Bhikhari Thakur Samman in Jamshedpur, Swar Kokila, Swar Samragee , Bhojpuri Swar Mallika, Bhojpuri Sewa Samman, Bhojpuri Sangam Samman, Panchamrit Samman, Atkrista Gayak Samman, The Bhojpuri Queen to name a few.

Recently Kalpana’s song Aila Re Aila from film Khatta Meetha has been nominated for the BEST ITEM SONG CATEGORY OF THE YEAR at Radio Mirchi’s 98.3 FM’s - 3^rdUninor Mirchi Music Awards held on 27^th of January 2011 at the Bandra Kurla Complex.

Her Chhath song “"Saiya Chali Aawa Karat Bani Chhath"” from Chhath album “Aage Bilaiyya Peechhe Chhati Maiya” is nominated for best song in folk category in BIG STAR IMA AWARDS held in 11th March 2011 in Mumbai.