Ek Tara, that houses multiple educational and developmental programmes for children, witnessed an enriching collaboration between Kids On The Rocks and The Tomorrowland Foundation Music & Arts School, as Polocorp from French duo Polo & Pan came all the way from Paris to add his expertise and records songs with the talented children. The result was an unforgettable jamming session celebrating the universal language of music. Songs like Chol Mili Assam jabo, Resham phiriri, Hay bhalobashi, Alu ka chala, Machhli jal ki rani hai and Hatiraja were sung enthusiastically by children while their music teacher constantly cheered for them.
Notably, in 2022 Ek Tara partnered with Tomorrowland Foundation to create a state-of-the-art music and arts school for children in marginalised communities living in Calcutta. Sudip Nag, whose band Kids On The Rocks also recorded songs with Polo, said, “During Covid, videos of our band went viral on social media and that is when we realised our potential. This collaboration with Ek Tara is very special and a very big opportunity for us.”
Paul Armand-Delille (Polocorp), Meghdoot Roychowdhury of Techno India Group and Faraz Ehsan of 8-Bit-Culprit. Polo said, “India is amazing and Calcutta has such friendly people. I am very happy that we are finally doing this collaboration and it is beautiful to see what they are accomplishing at this school.”
(L-R) Several groups of children came together on the Ek Tara terrace to sing and dance their well-practised pieces in front of the visitors.
Children dressed in red and yellow saris danced gracefully to Chaap tilak as they welcomed Polocorp to their school.
(L-R) Meghdut Roychowdhury, CIO of Techno India Group and the Initiator of Make Calcutta Relevant Again, said, “The idea is to bring the best of electronic music and Bengal’s indigenous music together. Polo & Pan have been inspired by the disco movement, music from South Africa and around the globe.”
DJ and wife of Polocorp, Ayça Armand-Delille was very excited to visit India for the first time and she is on a six-month honeymoon with Polo. She was earlier a teacher and is now a full-time DJ who travels a lot. “I am in absolute awe of the Indian culture, be it their food, weddings or clothing. Back in Paris we often visit an Indian restaurant in our neighborhood because Polo is big on Indian food. The warmth Indians show towards their guests reminds me of my (Turkish) culture.”
“Post-Covid we realised that children had suffered the most in terms of education and that is when we understood the importance of co-curricular activities like music, dance and other therapeutic activities. At that time we had heard that Tommorrowland was looking for three partners. It was a shot in the dark but we were selected as their partner after following the required formalities,” said Ek Tara founder and principal, Vinita Sara.
“Tomorrowland is our music and arts school and we are gradually getting our children to try new kinds of extra-curricular activities. Techno India Group has greatly helped in the journey,” said Shuvasree Biswas, head of communications at Ek Tara.
