Songs of Life

Gourab sings at the programme. Asaduzzaman Nur speaks at the album launch. Photo Courtesy: Bhaskar Mukherjee

The third day's programme (February 10) of “Bangla Gaan-er Utshab -- Kolkata 2013” attracted huge turnout, especially the young, as it was a weekly holiday here.
Bangladeshi artistes -- Nabonita, Gaurob, Krishnakali, Arko and Arnob worked the Kolkata audience with jibonmukhi gaan and folk fusion.
Nabonita and Gaurob first took the stage to perform several folk songs, originally composed by Bangladeshi mystic bards Fakir Lalon Shai, Hason Raja, Radharaman and Doorbin Shah.
Nabonita started with a Tagore song, “Amar Mukti Aloy-e Aloy-e”, and then moved on to a Lalon number “Emon Soubhaggo” and Hason Raja compositions “Roop Dekhilam Nayane”, “Aharey Shonali Bondhu Rey”. Nabonita also explained the lyrics of the Lalon song “Paar-e Ke Jabi Nobir Noukatey Aaye” prior to performing it. The audience seemed convinced with her interpretation and performance.
Gaurob also spoke on the baul philosophy -- gurutatwo and dehotatwo -- before performing a Lalon song “Khanchar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi” and “Doyal Poroshmoni”, a Sylheti song composed by Kala Shai. His repertoire also included a Doorbin Shah song “Nirjon Jamunar Kul-e”, a Lalon song “Paar Koro Doyal” and an Ukil Munshi number “Manush Dhoro Manush Bhojo”.
Arko, of the band Samogeet, performed their popular songs “Roder Haat”, “Pia” and “Hawa”. He also presented folk numbers -- “Taalpatar Bichhoin”, “Ek Kheu Shuta” -- and two popular contemporary jibonmukhi gaan “Gangaburi” and “Baniyechhi Dugdugi”, composed by Kafil Ahmed.
Noted artiste Krishnakali stood out with her performance of the songs -- “Bondhu Tomar Chokher Majhey”, “Ichchhey Moton Roud” and “Jao Pakhi Bolo Tarey”. Prior to performing the song “Nachoto Kali”, the humanist singer expressed her solidarity with the Delhi raped victim, urging all to stand by victims of gender violence. Bangladeshi instrumentalists -- Arko, Buno and Saad on guitar; Pantho Kanai on percussion; Nazrul on dhol and Jibon on keyboard -- produced apt musical rhythms. Krishnakali wrapped up her performance with the melodious “Jao Harao”. The audience gave her rounds of applause. Many expressed their reaction with “fatafati” (outstanding).
Shayan Chowdhury Arnob was the last performer of the night. The artiste started off with his own composition “Hariye Giyechhi” that illustrates his initial personal experience in Dhaka after moving back from Shantiniketan. Later the singer performed a Tagore song “Majhey Majhey Tabo Dekha Pai”, dedicating the song to the National Poet of Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam, to whom the entire festival is dedicated as well. Arnob captivated the audience with his cover of the folk songs “Amar Haar Kala Korlam Rey” and “Nao Chhariya Dey” -- composed by Abbasuddin Ahmed and Polli-kobi Jasim Uddin respectively. With Mohammad Shoyeb, Arnob also presented a classical fusion set on Raga Megh. He also performed his composition “Shey Je Boshey Achhey” and the folk number “Mon Torey Parlam Na Bujhaite”. Buno, Saad, Pantho Kanai, Nazrul instrumentally accompanied the singer.
Noted actor and elocutionist Asaduzzaman Noor, MP; Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khair's mother Mamtaz Khaleq, along with ITC-Sangeet Research Academy gurus -- Padma Bhushan Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Pandit Arun Bhaduri, Padma Bhushan Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan and Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar -- unveiled albums featuring Bangladeshi artistes. The organisers -- Abul Khair, Chairman of Bengal Foundation and Ravi Mathur, Executive Director of ITC-SRA -- were also present at the launch.
Today's festivities at the event have been themed on “Ranbindra Sangeet and Adhunik Gaan” and will feature performances by Bappa Mazumdar and Fahmida Nabi from Bangladesh, along with Shubhamita and Srikanta Acharya from India. The albums to be released today are Bappa Mazumdar's “Alpona” and Fahmida Nabi's “Dupurer Ekla Pakhi”.
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 festival.