Mesmerising melody and rapturous renditions
It was half an hour into the scheduled time for Khairul Anam Shakil's solo soiree “Bangla Nagorik Gaan-er Ashor” and the artiste was yet to reach Chhayanut, thanks to the terrible traffic jam worsened by inclement weather. The music lovers were eagerly waiting at the main auditorium of the Shangskriti Bhaban on September 26.
The artiste came at last, and mesmerised the audience with his stirring rendition of one song after another. The artiste performed 22 songs at a stretch at the soiree, showing that a singer of his caliber, armed with mastery over classical music, can go far beyond the average performance.
Simantic Creative Concern deserves heartfelt thanks and accolades for organising such a soiree that the music connoisseurs rarely relish. The soiree was divided into two segments -- Ponchokobir Gaan, and timeless songs created by the 20th century masters – Himangshu Dutta, Tulsi Lahiri, Kamal Dasgupta, Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Subal Dasgupta, Robin Chattopadhyay, Salil Chowdhury, Hemanta Mukherjee, Sudhin Dasgupta, Khandaker Nurul Alam and Azmal Huda Mithu.
Shakil set off the soiree with a monsoon melody “Shawono Raatey Jodi”, composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam. Melancholia reigned supreme while the singer performed a Behag-Khamaj genre “Keno Dile E Ka(n)ta”.
Prior to performing the song “Chaitali Chandi Raatey”, Shakil said, “Kazi Nazrul Islam composed songs based on some obsolete ragas that were on the verge of extinction, as bodo kheyal was not possible. I am performing the song themed on such a raga, Modhumadhobi Sarang”. Rendition of a soulful ghazal “Musafir Mochhrey Ankhi Jol” and a kavyageeti “Mor Priya Hobey Esho Rani” followed.
The Chhayanuat general secretary later presented a Rajanikanta Sen composition “Modhur Se Mukhokhani”; an Atul Prasad Sen song “Eka Mor Gaan-er Tori” and a DL Roy number “Aji Gao Mohageet” in terrific style.
The audience seemingly got rapt in the mellifluous rendition. The artiste urged all singers to render more songs composed by the three poets.
“It was my dream that someday I'd render Tagore songs. When I was 10 years old I received an award taking part in a competition and performing a Tagore song 'Esho Esho Amar Ghorey'. Sanjida Khatun, Zahidur Rahim and Khan Ataur Rahman were judges at the competition,” Shakil reminisced.
The artiste then performed a Himangshu Dutta song “Chhilo Chand Megher Porey”. The subtle game of melody and shades of raga-ragini appeared lively in the rendition. He also said that legends like Himangshu Dutta are not properly evaluated, and hoped to pay his musical tribute to Dutta through recording his songs in an album.
His other repertoire included “Amaye Bolona Bhulite”, “Tumi Ki Ekhon”, “Ekhoni Uthibe Chand”, “Koyelia Gaan Thama Ebar”, “Poth Harabo Bole Ebar”, “Amar Swapne Dekha”, “Amaye Proshno Korey”, “Ke Jeno Aj Amar Chokh-e” and “Tumi Sondhyakash-er Tarar Moto”.
The accompanying instrumentalists -- Almas Ali on violin, Iftekhar Dollar on tabla, Ibne Khaldul Rajon on keyboard and Nasir on guitar embellished the entire performances with perfect musical pieces. At the beginning, HQ Chowdhury, on behalf of Simantic Creative Concern, presented bouquet and crest to Khairul Anam Shakil.
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