'I think of myself as an actor as well, when I perform' – Kiran Chandra Roy

Photo: Prabir Das

Kiran Chandra Roy has such a vocal prowess that easily touches the hearts of folk music lovers. He plays a fantastic game with rhythm while performing on stage. Sometimes, with ektara in his one hand and a khol attached to his waist, the artiste in gerua (ochre) attired, mesmerises the audience dancing to his live performances. He believes that Bangladeshi folk music has a unique taste and style that he tries to capture through his rendition. Recently, Kiran Chandra Roy has talked to The Daily Star on music.

“The motto of music is to create multitude Rasa into the hearts of audience. The inspiration behind that are the blessings of my guru Khandakar Nurul Alam to whom I have learnt for 14 years. Khandakar Nurul Alam is unanimously revered in our country. His knowledge on music cannot be described in words. Whatever I have learnt from him constitutes my entire achievement of music,” said Kiran Chandra Roy.

Kiran Chandra Roy's rendition contains many unknown information that he offers while performing on stage. “Artistic detachment is prerequisite to creating Rasa into the hearts of the audience. If an artiste cannot dip into the sea of thoughts, or cannot mingle his self with the soul of arts s/he performs, he can not actually create any artistic appeal. At first, an artiste must create and hold rasa in his heart prior to presenting that before the audience. To express that art in proper manner, one has to have proper taleem (training) from the true preceptor. The role an apt disciple is equally important for presenting the arts in pure form,” explained the artiste.

“I was so lucky to perform at Bangla Gaan-er Utshab, held last year in Kolkata, India. Bengal Foundation in association with The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Maasranga Television organised the festival where music maestros including Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Ustad Purnadas Baul and Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan were present. After my performance, Ustad Rashid Khan applauded me,” added the singer.

Bangladesh takes pride in her exquisite and opulent genres of folk music. Kiran Chandra Roy can be termed as a folk resource person. He has immense passion and dedication for the genre. Many years ago, he took part in first Bangladesh folklore workshop. He was a student of Bengali Literature at Dhaka University and Jagannath University. “When I perform baul songs, my soul subconsciously turns baul, when I perform bhatiali, I instinctively become a boatman, again when I present a bichchhedi (melancholic) song, I become pathetically secluded. This is my way of presenting folk songs of various genres. After all, I think of myself as an actor alongside a singer, while I perform.”