Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Alor Pakhi- Review

Monday, July 13th, 2009
Alor Pakhi- Review
Tagore’s music calls for a cosmic appeal,and provided the songs are treated with an unconventional approach they turn out to be a euphonic treat. Dr.Rajiv Chakraborty, the sarod maestro and Pandit Shubhankar Banerjee, eminent tablist have successfully experimented with some of the oft heard Rabindrasangeet in the arena of music arrangement and given them a new dimension by getting them rendered by three hundred children from different schools of Kolkata.The songs ,meticulously chosen from his treasuretrove,encompass some popular ragas like kedar(Amar mukti aloy aloy),and Miyan ki Malhar(Rimjhim ghonoghono rey), some patriotic numbers like Jodi tor daak shune,O amaar desher maati and the baulanga number, ‘Pagla haoar badol diney’.A tapestry of well synchronized voices,coupled with a rare percussion wizardry and above all the improvisation on the ragas by Dr.Rajiv Chakraborty on the sarode makes Alor Pakhi(cozmik harmony) a collector’s item.The prelude piece played on the esraaj in the song ‘Rimjhim Ghonoghono rey’ followed by the typical note pattern( ma pa ni dha ni ni sa) of the monsoon raga creates the perfect ambience.
Review By: Gaanmela Journalist: Kaustav Goswami

Promit Sen – A Grand Return

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Promit Sen – A Grand Return
The promising progeny of the veteran exponent of Tagore songs, Sagar Sen was into an exile for a prolonged period. Pramit Sen, a gifted singer, who had established his credentials as one of the most sought after male voices in the Tagore circuit in the early 90’s was discovered anew by Kavisammela’, one of the leading cultural magazines of Kolkata at an almost full-house RabindraSadan on 2nd May.’09.

Pramit was blessed by veterans like Smt.Sumitra Sen, Bani Tagore, Bandana Singha before the commencement of his two hour long recital of Tagore songs,anchored by Satinath Mukhopadhyay. Aji ey Anandasandhya set to raag Purvi was the first song which captured the mood of the evening.Pramit’s unique tonal quality,having echoes of his illustrious predecessor was a euphonic treat—-he went on to regale the connoisseurs with puja numbers like’’Prothomo Adi Tobo’, Jibone Amar Joto Ananda’,’Uriye Dhwaja’, Aji Pronomi Tomarey’and’ Protidino Tobo Gatha,Jetey Jetey;Ekla Pathey’;though at times Pramit took liberty with the notations,and faltered with the taal, the emotive aspect of his rendition overshadowed those minor slipshods.Prabhu,Toma Lagi was one song where he poured his heart out in the first half.

The second half of the evening was a welcome variation as Pramit chose some popular yet melodious songs from prem and bichitro paryay.Ami Jene Shune Bish,Kayno Je Mon Bhole,Oi Jhonjharo jhonkare,were rendered flawlessly with the magical accompaniment of Durbadal Chatterji on the violin,Surajit Roy on the esraaj,Subrata Mukherji on the keyboard,and Biplab Mondal on the tabla.The finale was the highlight of the concert as Pramit was joined by the leading lady of the Rabindrasangeet arena  ,Srabani Sen for the romantic duet,  Shedin Dujoney.

Review by Gaanmela Journalist: Kaustav Goswami

Bangla Sangeet Mela 2009 – Review

Thursday, May 7th, 2009
Bangla Sangeet Mela 2009 – Review

Poila Boishakh is heralded every year in Bengal with the inauguration of a week long carnival of music by the ministry of Information  and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal.All the genres of Bengali music,right from Tagore to the gen y craze Bangla band are given their due shares of reverence in this occasion.This year’s fest was spread across five venues—Rabindra Sadan,Shishir Manch,Girish Manch,Madhusudan Manch, and Mohorkunja(named in memory of the legendary Kanika Banerjee). Apart from soirees the fest was also marked by display of the latest releases from different recording companies,seminars and the quintessential Bengali adda among the music lovers.

Subir Sen

Subir Sen

Sangeet Mela primarily focuses on the resurgence of contemporary Bengali music.Along with veterans,the present generation singers share the stage with their popular numbers.Sangeet Mela witnessed a jampacked auditorium on some of the days; stars of yesteryears like Subir Sen(Eto shur aar eto gaan),Banashri Sengupta(Moynamotir pother dharey,Aj bikeler daakey),Madhuri Chatterji(Nijere Haraye Khunji),Nirmala Mishra(O tota pakhi rey) regaled the listeners with their evergreen songs.What was worthpraising was veterans like Pintu Bhattacharya and Madhuri Chatterji were escorted and accompanied on the harmonium by singers Sreekanto Acharya and Saikat Mitra.While Singers like Tapan Roy and Prahlad Brahmachari lived upto the expectations of the audience in their folk songs,bands Bhumi,Chandrabindu gave some powerhouse performances.Rabindra Sangeet singers who left an indelible impact include Srabani Sen(Jetey Jetey Ekla Pothey) Pubali Debnath and Agnibha Banerjee.Albums like Geetinandan(Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty) Pathik Paran,Diganter Gaan(Srabani Sen),Mon Rey Amar(Indrani Sen),Probaashi Pakhi(Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta) were also released during the week long carnival.However,according to a representative from a premier music company,the bulk of the crowd is non –musical,and the sales report is also in a sorry state.

The programme on the concluding session was attended by Chief Minister,Shri Buddhadev Bhattacharya. There was a chaotic rush for the tickets as the last day featured most of the eminent singers of this generation along with some seniors—-Monomoy,Sreekanto Acharya,Shubhomita,Jayati Chakraborty,Sreeradha Banerjee,Arundhati Holme Choudhury,Adhir Bagchi,Anup Ghoshal,Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta.While Anup Ghoshal sounded monotonous with his ‘Gupi-Bagha’ num,bers,Monomoy was at home with Moner Manush and the Tagore number,Tumi Robey Nirobey.Jayati left an imprint of her impeccable taiyari in Megher Baari.But the show was stolen by Sreeradha Banerjee who was flooded with requests—–she started off with Ami Abar Shohoj Hobo,and belted out hits like Banshitar Ektai Dosh and Shoyoney Shoponey.

Sangeet Mela is indeed a place where any music lover would love to pay a visit,but of course the authorities should not include some below-average newcomers who are agonizingly

inaudible and who pale into insignificance right after they leave the stage.

Gaanmela Reporter:
Kaustav Goswami