Melodies of Bangladesh in Kolkata
Bengal Foundation and India's ITC Sangeet Research Academy are hosting what could be the biggest ever festival of Bangla music. Titled “Bangla Gaaner Utsab†and dedicated to National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the nine-day festival -- beginning today -- at Kolkata's Tollygunge will feature Bangladeshi music in all its flavours. Around 50 renowned and emerging Bangladeshi singers and musicians are participating in the festival. Abul Khair, chairman of Bengal Foundation, said he hopes that this would be a great opportunity for Bangladeshi artistes to showcase their talents to the Kolkata audience.
The first day's programme -- dedicated to the memory of the recently-deceased Nazrul Sangeet exponent and guru Sohrab Hossain -- will feature artistes Yakub Ali Khan, Shama Rahman, Khairul Anam Shakil and Jayati Chakrabarty rendering songs of Pancha-Kobi (Tagore, Nazrul, DL Roy, Atulprasad and Rajanikanta).
Talking to The Daily Star, Khairul Anam Shakil said it is a huge opportunity for Bangladeshi musicians to make the best of the exposure that has been lacking in West Bengal. He also expressed hopes that the performances of Nazrul Sangeet -- still practiced in very original and old-school styles by Bangladeshi musicians -- will inspire the musicians in Kolkata.
Four albums by Bangladeshi artistes will also be released at the festival today. They are: Nazrul Sangeet albums “E Kon Maya-e†by Sohrab Hossain, “Nishi Bhorer Bela†by Yakub Ali Khan and “Gobhir Nishitho Ghume†by Khairul anam Shakil; and a Rabindra Sangeet album by Shama Rahman titled “Mongolbarotaâ€.
As added attraction, traditional Dhaka food, like kachchi biryani, will be available at the festival.
Prothom Alo and The Daily Star are partners of the festival. Maasranga Television is the broadcast partner and Charbela Chardik, Kali O Kalam and Bengal Barota are media partners of the event.
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