While an air of informality and a background rumble added some zest to the performances featured in the centenary tribute to the yesteryear singers, Satinath Mukherjee and Utpala Sen, a word of advice to the organisers of the otherwise thoughtfully designed event is needed — stage wings management was required as private conversations and bonhomie floated in unhindered and, of course, the sound system, which threatened to take the shine off many a singer’s performance, needed improvement. The event was presented by the Handicapped Development Welfare Association at Uttam Mancha.

Rising above the glitches was young Aritra Dasgupta (picture) who sang the famous “Tumi phiraye diyecho bole” (originally recorded by Manabendra Mukherjee and composed by Satinath Mukherjee). Breezing through the various octaves, Dasgupta balanced delicate and bold styles, packing in abundant energy to win the audience’s approval. On popular demand, he also performed the not-sooft-heard “Dole dole radha”, which got an enthusiastic response from the audience. The veteran, Sriradha Banerjee, used her vast experience to give the popular “Akash pradip jole” the right crackling emotions. Her disciplined and never-showy style provided a balmy influence.

The ripe tones of the upcoming singer, Trisha Parui, caught the labyrinthine phrases of “Koto nishi geche” very well but the microphone did not give her much space to spread her wings. It is unfortunate that the singer had to turn down requests for an encore. The group song, “Bhagyer chakata toh ghurche”, provided a kind of assurance to the tribute. Earlier, Anshuman Chatterjee (“Elo barasha jey shahasha mone”), Tathagata Sengupta (“Sonar haate sonar knakon”), Sripartha (“Jibone jodi”) and Sujoy Bhowmick (“Tumi aar aami sudhu”) brought some emotional warmth, in spurts, to their performances.