Monsoon melodies

Tamanna Rahman leads her dance troupe. Photo: Ridwan Adid Rupon

After intense summer heat, the call of the monsoon is strong -- the overwhelming desire to get drenched with the resonating lyrics of the pitter-patter of rain, droning and thrumming sound, thunder and lightening, stormy winds, swaying branches of trees and the serene silence following a heavy downpour.
Individual artistes, along with several troupes wooed the monsoon with poetry recitation, song renditions and dance performances at two programmes yesterday on Dhaka University campus to celebrate Borsha Utshab 1420. The rain was yet to fall... So what? Whether it rained or not, it was the first day of Asharh – the month of monsoon.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi arranged a programme at the Lichu Chottor, Faculty of Fine Arts premises while Satyen Sen Shilpi Goshthi (SSSG) held its festival at the Hakim Chattar, close to Central Library of Dhaka University.

A choral recitation by SSSG. Photo: Ridwan Adid Rupon

Bhashwar Bandyopadhyay
recites at the event. Photo: Ridwan Adid Rupon

Talented classical vocalist Priyanka Gope began Udichi's programme. Aloke Sen set off the event of SSSG through rendering the same Raga “Mian Ki Malhar,” -- a monsoon raga (on teen taal) -- created by Mian Tansen. Priyanka performed the bandish “Shraban Aaye Dou Nayna Mey”. Iftekhar Dollar accompanied her on tabla. Aloke Sen sang the bandish “Barsan Lagirey Badaria”.
Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam captured many glorious moods of monsoon and gave lyrical and musical expression to the innermost whispering of the clouds and the euphoria of rains touching the hearts. Associating such moods of monsoon, Udichi vice-president Mahmud Selim led an adda where noted and promising singers and elocutionists entertained the audience at Charukala.
Promising singer Semanti Manjuri started off the adda with a melodious Tagore song, “Shrabon-er Dharar Moto”. Prior to reciting a Tagore poem, Dalia Ahmed, with her spontaneous wit, greeted all with Baishakhi Shuvechchha instead of Borsha as the summer-like ambience was still hanging heavily. Singer Mamun Zahid Khan first rendered a Tagore song “Megher Porey Megh Jomechhe” and later made the audience sway with a Hemanta Mukhopadhyay record “Akash Eto Meghla”. Renowned elocutionist Bhashwar Bandyopadhyay recited a Tagore poem, “Naboborsha”. Seasoned singer Suman Chowdhury wrapped up the adda with an impressive performance of a Nazrul song “Borosha Oi Elo Borosha” and a Manna Dey record “Gahon Megher Chhaya Ghanaye”. Elocutionists Belayet Hossain and Mashkur-e-Sattar Kallol and singers Suma Rani Roy, Sunanda Manjuri and others also took part in the adda.
Nritym director Tamanna Rahman choreographed and danced to a popular Tagore song “Pagla Hawar Badol Din-e” that seemingly earned accolades.
As a symbolic gesture to encourage tree planting, Udichi gave saplings to each artiste.
Monsoon, a season steeped in beauty, when bountiful Mother Nature unfolds herself, was well celebrated at the daylong event by SSSG. Soloists recited poems and rendered songs while music organisations -- “Sursaptak”, “Panchobhashwar” and “Bhawaiya Gaan-er Dal” and dance troupes “Nataraj”, “Nrityam” and “Spondon” performed songs and dance.  Artistes of both Udichi and SSSG performed choral songs at their events.