Pujor Gaaner Anurodher Ashor at Kalamandir

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Pujor Gaaner Anurodher Ashor at Kalamandir

By Kaustav Goswami | November 13, 2008

Pujor Gaaner Anurodher Ashor at Kalamandir

Indo Occidental Symbiosis has started an endeavour to propagate good music among the connoisseurs of India since last two years with popular productions like Rabindranath-er Panchaputra, Panchakanya, The Malhar Festival, featuring top-notch national performers like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiya, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Parveen Sultana, Kavita Krishnamurthy, alongwith budding talents like Kaushiki Deshikan,Tushar Dutta, and Rimpa Shiv.

IOS, in association with Juhu Cultural Association, Mumbai recently organized a weeklong soiree of Contemporary Bengali Music (PUJOR GAANER ANURODHER ASHOR) at Kalamandir, Kolkata featuring some of the established singers of this genre like Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Haimanti Shukla, Indrani Sen, Sreeradha Banerji, Sreekanto Acharya, and some promising successors like Rupankar,Jayati Chakraborty, Monomoy Bhattacharya, Lopamudra Mitra, Raghab Chatterjee, Shubhankar Bhaskar and Anasuya Choudhury. Ravindra Jain, who has a number of Bengali compositions to his credit was specially invited from Mumbai. For the listeners of yesteryears, who find the Swarnayug (the golden era of 60’s) to be the most fruitful era of Bengali modern music, and frantically search for an oasis in the aridity of today’s Bengali music circuit, this effort by Shouvik Dasgupta, chairman, IOS, proved to be an eye opener – the singers sang numbers from their basic albums, almost in a packed to its full capacity Kalamandir, throughout the week, barring a day or two. A tastefully decorated stage, with mammoth posters of the singers at the backdrop, and a novel concept of AV(Audio-visual) depicting memorable moments from the singer’s career were the highlights of the week long fest.

DAY:1

Ravindra Jain

RAVINDRA JAIN, the veteran composer of our country was the only artiste invited from Mumbai for the occasion. Its needless to mention Ravindraji has innumerable compositions to his credit in the Bollywood Industry which are unique because of their classical embellishments, traditional folk tunes and a soulful quality — be it Gori Tera Gaaon (Chitchor), Khushiyan hi Khushiyan (Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye), or the immensely popular Sun Sahiba (Ram Teri Ganga Maili ). The singer regaled the audience with some Bengali versions of his popular numbers, amongst which Ei Jey Andhar (Saathi rey), Pakhi Urey Jabey deserve a special mention.

Jayati Chakraborty

Jayati-chakraborty

JAYATI CHAKRABORTY, is a new promise in the Bengali music circle: a multifaceted singer, winner of Anandabazar ‘ADWITIYA’, besides being the youngest ever judge at the esteemed Dover Lane Music Conference , she swings with an aplomb from Pure classical vocal to Rabindrasangeet and western numbers. Jayati was at her best at the IOS soiree with her renditions like, Tomar kachey elam Shrabon, Phirey Ja – Phirey ja, Jabei Jokhon (composed by Sreekanto Acharya), Esho,Esho (composed by Rupankar), and Din Shudhu Din, songs which have shot her into prominence within a short span of three years.

DAY:2

Lopamudra Mitra - Check out the exclusive interview with Lopamudra
LOPAMUDRA MITRA, the sensational singer of this generation left no stone unturned to breathe life into each of her presentations, be it, her forte,Benimadhab, Jaao Paakhi, Dere Na Na, Dakchey Akash, or the surreal Abani Baari Acho (Shakti Chattopadhyay). Her profound involvement in the songs is reflected through her bold yet not unwarranted vigour, and a unique body language which typifies her music solely. Credit goes to her to create a new genre of Bengali music, where some of the post-modern verses of Bengali Literature like Abaar Ashibo Phirey (Jibanananda Das)are hummed even by the gen-Y listeners.Shubhankar Bhaskar

SHUBHANKAR BHASKAR, a classically trained singer and a disciple of the noted vocalist, Amiya Ranjan Banerjee, has two solo albums to his credit so far. IOS concert was a great platform for a singer like him. Provided he had some other basic numbers to his credit, apart from the oft-played Phirey Esho Bondhu Hotey and Neel Pori, he could have been a crowd puller. He is undoubtedly, a powerful singer who we can look forward to.

DAY:3

Raghab Chatterjee

Raghab Chatterjee

RAGHAB CHATTERJEE, one of the ablest disciples of Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty has crossed the provincial boundaries and left an indelible impact of his enviable vocal prowess in the Mumbai Film Industry (playback for Devdaas and Raincoat).His astounding range and an effortless felicity to swing through all the octaves was once again proved in Chand Keno Ashena, Bhorer Aalo, Bade Ghulam, Baul Shunona and songs from this year’s album Srot.

Anusua Chowdhury

ANASUYA CHOUDHURY, was a disappointment–though she has been in the music circuit for quite a long span, and has even sung to R.D.Burman’s tune, her songs could not strike a chord, rather her nasal twang and the repetitive tremolo hovered on the brink of boredom. Perhaps it was because of the Raghab-Anasuya combination that half of the auditorium was empty on the third day.

DAY:4

Monomoy Bhattacharya

Monomoy Bhattacharjee

MONOMOY BHATTACHARYA, whose classically enriched voice and an ability to do justice to any song with a mellow yet resonant tonal quality, enthralled the audience with Beena Bajey (set to raag kalavati), Megh Tor Baari Jabo, Cheye Dekho Meghera( composed by Joy Sarkar),Tumi Tomaar (a rare composition mingling Puriya Dhanashree and Lalit), and his immensely popular songs Banjara, and Moner Manush Priyojon, composed by Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty. Though Monomoy gave a soulful performance, the intricate ‘harkats’ of his vocals were somewhat marred by the loud orchestration.

Sreeradha Banerjee – Check out the Exclusive interview with Sreeradha by Gaanmela

SREERADHA BANERJEE, who was another star attraction of the week long carnival of Bengali Music, was deprived of her stipulated slot because of the unequal distribution of time among the two singers. However, this graceful lady and her honeyed voice kept the listeners spellbound with all her ten songs. Endowed with a perfectly note perfect voice and an exceedingly gifted range, Sreeradha captivated all with her popular numbers, O Majhi, Iman Raager Gaan, Kono Kotha Nei (a difficult composition by Late Sukumar Mitra), Banshitaar Ektai Dosh ( which was a common request ),Shoyoney Shoponey (composed by Sanjay Chakraborty).Many listeners were unaware of the song which she sang to Hemanta Mukherjee’s tune(Bhalolaga kokhon jey)at the onset of her career. Sreeradha’s songs were complemented with Bablu Biswas’s skills on the tabla.

DAY:5

Indrani Sen

Indrani-Sen

INDRANI SEN, the uncrowned queen of Bengali music, was regal, in her stage presence, and rendition of some of her best known numbers. She started with Aami Hobo Indrani(lyricised and composed by her guru Biman Mukherjee), and caste a spell on the audience with the raag Jog based Shaon Andhar (composed by Ekalavya), Rang, Durer Haoa Dakey, Sujan Aaj Tor Laagi, Ja Rey Bhule Ja (a rhythmic song based on raag Bageshri), and the numbers she had sung to the legendary R.D.Burman’s tune(Shurey Shurey Jaal Bona). Indrani’s versatility and youthfulness of her voice , even after reigning for over twenty five years in the Bengali Music world came alive with Debashish Ganguli’s composition, Phirey Chai Megh. Indrani gave a befitting finale to her recital, deftly juxtaposing an adhunik number, Jivan with the Tagore number Jokhon Porbey Na Mor.

Rupankar

Rupankar

RUPANKAR, one of the most gifted artistes of contemporary Bengali music gave an ELECTRIFYING performance at the IOS soiree, infact the kolkatans rediscovered the singer as he poured his heart out in popular numbers like Aaj Shraboner Batash (the alaap part was commendably rendered), Tomaar Taaney, Rubi Roy, Bhokatta, Pahar Maati Stup, Aaj Tomakey Chaai, besides some of his new compositions which were sung faultlessly. His perfectly aesthetic and sensitive sense of fusion showered him accolades from the audience—which included eminent music directors and veteran singers like Shri Abhijit Banerjee and Smt.Sumitra Sen.

Despite an unprecedented heavy downpour, the turn out at Kalamandir was almost close to being packed to its full capacity. Both Indrani and Rupankar, enmeshed the listeners with their vocal prowess and a magnetic ability to captivate the audience. The programme was ably anchored by Raja,(RJ,Friends 91.9 FM).

DAY:6

Shubhamita Banerjee

Subhomita-Moner-Hodish

SHUBHAMITA BANERJEE, is another gem of contemporary Bengali music.Nurtured by vocalists like Pandit Ulhas Koshalkar and Purnima Chowdhury, she shot into her prominence with Nachiketa’s composition, Shoghono Mogono Srabono. One of the sought after voices in the recent times, she already has many feathers in her crown. The housefull board hanging at the Kalamandir entrance , bore a testimony to her popularity; she lived upto it in each of her songs, Tomaar Ahankar (Gautam Ghoshal), Ami Brishti Chaai (set to tune by Rupankar), Brishti Paye Paye (Joy Sarkar), Megheder Minarey ,Hoyto Jabe Bhuley, Shanjbelar Gaan, Jey Bhabei Tumi (a splendid composition by Nachiketa) and the concluding duet with Sreekanto Acharya,Tomar Holo Shuru,Aamar Holo Shara.

Sreekanto Acharya - Check out Exclusive interview by Gaanmela

Sreekanto Acharya

SREEKANTO ACHARYA, was as melodious as usual and exploited his baritone yet dulcet tonal quality in numbers like Jeyo Naa Dokhindarey (composed by Ekalavya), Prithibir Chabi, Brishti Tomakey Dilam (composed by Joy Sarkar), Naam Harano (penned by wife Arna Sil Acharya). His rich vocal timbre and expertise over the use of microphone made his renditions listeners delight. Sreekanto was at his best in the title track of the film Titli. Penned by the filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, and set to tune by Debajyoti Mishra, Megh Peoner Bager Bhetor is a number which has become synonymous with Sreekanto.The romantic duet with Shubhamita, Aamar E Haath (courtesy 91.9 friends FM) was a euphonic treat.

DAY:7

Haimanti Shukla

Haimanti-Shukla

HAIMANTI SHUKLA, one of the most revered vocalists of Bengal and a devotee of music, who believes in Gaan-i Shorboshreshtho Shadhona was the artiste in the morning session of the last day of the weeklong proramme organized by IOS. Born into a musical family, and trained by her illustrious father Pandit Harihar Shukla, Hoimanti is not only a nationally acclaimed classical vocalist, but has equally contributed to the genre of Bengali music. Stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Naushad, Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan, Manna Dey, Rajkamal have composed for this representative artiste of Bengal. Hoimanti sang classical numbers composed by her father, noted among which were, Girijapati, Jaago Naath and, Raater Akash Holo Bhor. Among her ADHUNIK numbers, hearing songs like Amar Bolaar Kichu Chilo Na, Smriti Shudhu Thakey, Ekhono Sarengita Bajchey, Hridoye Shihoron, Keno Ghum Bhangaley, Noyoney Abir Choraaley, Ogo Brishti Amaar, alongwith some interesting anecdotes, was a nostalgic trip down the memory lane. Singers of her stature should be a lesson for the newcomers who are more concerned about how they look on stage, rather than how far they are eligible to sing with perfection. Smt. Haimanti Shukla was ably supported on the tabla by Chanchal Khan and Hrishikesh Shukla on the guitar.

Ajoy Chakraborty

Ajoy-chakraborty

PANDIT AJOY CHAKRABORTY was the artiste at the evening session on the concluding day of the carnival. The maestro commenced his recital with a stotra set to, tune by Atanu Chakraborty, followed by Kholo Abogunthono (yaman), he gifted some rarely heard songs like dhrupad based Hey Chaamundey. As the ‘laya’ went on increasing, as is customary of the genre, the ambience for a spiritual enlightenment was created, and it reached its pinnacle with his soulful rendition of the tappa, Maa Jaar Anondomoyee (Kazi Nazrul). He paid tribute to his guru through songs like Tomaay Diye Jabo, Baanshitey Dekechey Amaay (bhairavi). Panditji’s dedication towards music was evident in the Hansadhhwani based Shaono Ratey Kheya Paraparey (the singer moved with an aplomb in all three octaves with an amazing filigree of sargams). Jatileshwar Mukherjee’s folk based composition, O Baul, Geruya, Prokhoro Diner Aalo (marwa), Atiter Kotha , and the innovative Kotona Bakul Porey (inspired by Salil Choudhury), apart from songs sung on request like Ami Shure Shurey ogo, Piyaa Bholo, Hay Michey Lekha Ei Gaan, Kul Chere Eshey were all rendered with an impeccable mastery. The song which stroke a cord in the subterranean depths of the heart was O Kaar Muroti, composed by the singer himself. Rabindranath’s Ashimo Kaaloshagorey (sung without much distortion) was the only number which Ajoy Chakraborty could not handle, as it his not his forte. The three hour long recital was concluded with Duniyar Haatey Eshey. Senior musicians like Durbadal Chatterji violin), Budhha Ganguly (guitar), Shovan Mukherjee (keyboard),and the budding tablist Indranil Chatterji, accompanied the artist. Sharmishtha Goswami was the compere for the last day’s programme.

Acknowledgement: