An ode to plurality, coexistence and diversity
In a congregation of a diverse range of genres under the same evening sky, that is how Moheener Ghoraguli's 1977 classic came alive on Thursday, in the TSC swimming pool area of the University of Dhaka—with psychedelic tunes tessellated through folk melodies.
The evening opened with Shadiul Alam Jibon serenading the crowd with folk tunes and easing everyone into the different genres that followed. The variegated line-up of the musical evening featured bands like Aftermath, Chitropot, Kaaktaal, and The Seesaw Quartet.
With plurality being one of the main themes, the collaborative performances offered a new experience for all with Skibkhan, Guerrillaz Of Dhaka, Gold Cube and Paital.
From folk music to classical, jazz, hip-hop, rap, and rock, the artists kept the crowd mesmerised with songs of old and new—offering something for everyone.
The evening was about leading the life as "Jibonanondo" on Earth, in the words of Niaz Mohammed Chowdhury. Of headbanging to Bon Jovi's "It's my life". It was about remembering Chester Bennington with "In the end", and Kaktal singing about those dragged in this harmony with their classic "Shudhu shudhu dhore eneche".
As evening turned to night, everybody had tunes to cherish in the air.
Alongside the singing, continued the live painting on large canvases. Painters Jahid Jamil, Rimjhim Fairooz, and Anindya Nahar Habib delivered wonderfully the visual experience Maroon Shondhyalok had promised.
"We never wanted it to be just a gig. The idea was to stand for the very cause of preserving our plurality and exhibiting the diverse nature of our art scene, while also giving exposure to promising young artists. We brought the crowd by bringing big names, and then let the youngsters showcase their talents," said Maeen Ahmed, one of the organisers.
Maroon Shondyalok Episode 1 sprouted back in January 2022, on a small scale, before coming back bigger and better for its second rendition, open and free for all.
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