Lily Islam sings picturesque melodies

Noted Rabindra Sangeet artist Lily Islam performed in a solo musical soiree at Poet Sufia Kamal auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum (BNM) recently. Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) organised the event where the featured artiste rendered 17 songs that Tagore composed and made the singers perform in various festivals: Borsha-mongol Utshab, Sharad Utshab, Hemanta Utshab, Poush Mela, Basanta (Holi) Utshab and finally Pahela Boishakh, celebrating the Bengali New Year along with poet's birthday. 

With the grace of Autumn in the air, Lily Islam started off with the song “Amra Bendhechhi Kash-er Guchchha”, heralding the season. She also wrapped up the soiree with singing a picturesque melody in another autumnal song “Amol Dhobol Paley Legechhey”. In the middle, she beautifully performed another 15 festival songs including “Tumi Sandhyar Meghomala”, “Aji Joto Tara Tobo Akashey”, “Aji Shubho Din-e Pitar Bhoboney”, “Kon Alotey Praner Prodip”, “O Amar Chander Alo”, “Tumi Nobo Nobo Roop-e” and “Kon Puraton Praner Taan-e”.

Lily Islam's informative interpretation of the festivals kept the audience engrossed. Music lovers received her words very well in between her renditions.

Tagore conceived the utshab (festival) as a celebration of diversity that excluded none. He therefore organised festivals in Santiniketan heralding different seasons. The celebration of the seasons through songs, dance and fairs became a regular event in the Santiniketan calendar. In addition to these, Tagore would also introduce with great beauty and splendour, special commemorative events like the Brikkho-ropon (tree planting) as a part of an annual environmental awareness campaign, preceded by Halkarshan (ploughing).

Lily Islam mesmerised the audience with her presentation of a Halkarshan song “Phirey Chol Matir Taan-e” and a lesser-known monsoon melody “Badolodhara Holo Shara”. Esraj artiste Asit Biswas played a piece followed by guitarist Sakil Mohammad Dipon's melodic elaboration on it entertained the audience on the song.