Sounds of Love and Divinity
It was a night of celebrating love and divinity through melodic performances by artistes from home as well as far and wide from the world, who mesmerised the audience with their soulful rendition of songs coupled with riveting dance and instrumental recitals.
Seasoned flautist Jalal set off the proceedings of the second day at Dhaka International Folk Fest 2016, where he mingled his finest folk dhun with the pulsating rhythms of the two dhol accompanists. After a flute piece, he performed the tune of “Amar Sonar Moyna Pakhi”. The young internet sensation Zahid was a pleasant surprise, performing his hit Chittagonian folk “Modhu Khoi Khoi” while Jalal concluded it playing a kirttan.
Latif Sarkar, an exponent of Pala gaan, entertained the audience thoroughly, with devotional folk numbers from the Sylhet region “Amar Mon Mojaiya Re”, and “Amar Baba Maolana”, along with “Shona Bondhe Bhuilo Na Amare” and “Jalali Koitor”.
Canadian multi-instrumentalist Prosad, joined by Bangladeshi percussionist Rajeeb played a couple of country-style songs, a sitar-tabla duet and closed with a reggae-flavoured number. Prosad's almost-infectious free-spirited musical expressionism was applauded by a jam-packed crowd.
Members of Indian Ocean paid their homage to opulent Bangladeshi folk music through starting off their part with a song set to a familiar bhatiali tune. Gripping the apt melody, they swayed the music lovers with performing an indigenous melody of Maharashtra, India together with rhythm, jamming session and eclectic performances. A guitar recital with another performance of the song “Nodi Tui Bujhbi Jodi” was beautiful as well.
Labik Kamal Gaurob and Baul Shafi Mondol next took the stage and fascinated the audience with the presentation of lovely, divine songs. Shafi Mondal provided one of the most memorable moments of the festival in the song “Mondir Mosjid-e Jete Bolona Amaye”. His soulful rendition of the song “Chatok Banche Kemone” was also praiseworthy. Gaurob diffused the saga love with his melodic performance of the songs “Moner Manush Chinlam Narey” and “Jamunar Ghat-e Sakhi”.
Spanish artistes Karen Lugo and Ricardo Moro took the stage next, and transformed the ambiance into the Andalusian fiesta of flamenco. Both in their music and their dance, the group displayed the vibrancy, poise, grace and certain 'ferocity' reminiscent of Matadors. The tap-dancing coupled with the nylon-string guitar, cajon and vocals were a new sight for the Dhaka audience, and they loved it.
Kailash Kher, the headliner of the night, took the audience to a realm of exchanging love. Kailash began his performance with the song “Aao Ji”, and the tens of thousands staying back way past midnight, sang and danced along to “Main Toh Tere Pyar Mein Deewana Ho Gaya”, “Tauba Tauba”, “Teri Diwani”, “Allah Ke Bande” and “Saiyyan”.
Being a Friday night, the second evening saw probably the biggest crowd of the festival, with entrance queues stretching long outside the venue, and a jam-packed house full of energy. On the organisers' part, some delays due to 'technical issues' stretched the evening past 2am (in spite of curtailed time for performers), leaving many attendees a long walk to find a way back home in the dead of the night.
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