Discussions on the rich history, culture and contemporary significance of Kolkata, an attempt to explore the city’s lost glory and an attempt to make it relevant in every sphere are now on air.
The first season of ‘Make Calcutta Relevant Again’ comprises six episodes featuring homegrown entrepreneurs and artists who have made it big and have deep roots in Kolkata.
The podcasts are hosted by Meghdut Roychowdhury, founder, #MakeCalcuttaRelevantAgain, and chief innovation officer, Techno India Group, and Shabba Hakim, fellow Calcutta lover. Four of the episodes are already out and available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@makecalcuttarelevantagain) and all audio streaming platforms including Spotify, Gaana, Jiosaavn and others. The podcasts range from discussions on entrepreneurial journeys, the evolution of the cultural landscape, drilling deep into passions to personal career trajectories, the Calcutta Biryani, internalising the city and much more.
“Young Calcuttans are eager to build something new and #MakeCalcuttaRelevantAgain helps them do that. It provides partnerships and support to upcoming creators and helps them showcase their work with top-notch mentors and industry experts who help them take their creations to the next level. We look forward to the first season of this extremely interesting podcast series which has some of the most well-known industry leaders and performers who share their success mantra. All the guests have started their journeys from Calcutta and have had a successful career. The aim is not only to bring back Calcutta's glory but also take it to the next level through constant disruption and innovation,” said Meghdut Roychowdhury.
Talking to My Kolkata on her mantra and the importance of being relevant personally, Usha Uthup, who appears on the second episode, said: “As far as I’m concerned, I keep thanking God everyday for letting me stay here, singing for over five decades and still being around to tell the tale. I have an internalisation of how to be relevant with every song that I sing. I may have sung a song a million times, but I know, when I sing it again, I still have to be relevant. I know I have to recreate, rediscover and reinvent.”
Commenting on the topic, she said: “This is such an amazing topic to talk about - how to keep Calcutta relevant. Because if not, it's the easiest way to die out. The reason why any good song, or a piece of art or literature is so important is because even after centuries, the relevance is absolutely clear. I keep internalising, everyday, the mantra behind being relevant with every song I sing, and making my audience understand the importance of being relevant.”
Shahanshah Mirza, the great great grandson of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and Shiladitya Chaudhury, communications consultant and co-founder and director, Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2, in the episode on the history of biryani in Calcutta
“It was my dear friend and younger brother, Meghdut’s idea, which he bounced off of me: a podcast series on anything and everything to do with Calcutta, from its history, food to its culture. I appear on an episode where I talked about the history of biryani in Calcutta- Wajid Ali Shah’s journey from Awadh to Calcutta after he was deposed, the evolution of the biryani on this side of the country, our current endeavours, the drive and everything in conversation with Shahanshah Mirza, the great great grandson of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. This series comes with great promise and whatever we have in mind, executing them smoothly will take it to great heights in the days to come,” said Shiladitya Chaudhury, communications consultant and co-founder and director, Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2.
Other episodes would feature Sagar Daryani, co-founder, Wow Momo, and Anjan Chatterjee, founder, Speciality Group Of Restaurants, actor Parambrata Chatterjee and Kiran Dutta, Youtuber - The Bong Guy, actor and social media influencer Kareema Barry and model Pushpak Sen among others.