Sunday Classics Organisation kicks off Cascade Edition 2 with Phase 1

Covers of popular songs, original poetry and dance — Cascade Edition 2 Phase 1 by Sunday Classics Organisation saw a group of 10 talented youngsters showcase their talents.

The event held at Sparsh Studio of Performing Arts, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, on March 6 had Women’s Day as its theme.

Phase 2 of The Cascade will be held at Oxford Bookstore, Park Street, on March 20, from 6pm to 8pm. The theme: International Storytelling and Poetry Day.

Registration for Phase 2 open till March 19, midnight: https://forms.gle/C3yi7ZVMs4bdh5z19.

Edugraph caught up with performers of Phase 1.

I performed Kathak on Ghar more pardesiya from Kalank. I have been learning Kathak since I was five. When I was young, I used to start dancing the moment I heard a song. So, my mother introduced me to all the kinds of dance forms but I stuck with Kathak. In Kathak, footsteps are of prime importance. So, we need to do riyaaz for hours to perfect it. When you love doing something and it gives you immense joy. I think Kathak comes from within. I would like to pursue Kathak along with my career.

—Kaushiki Roy, second year, BCom, Heramba Chandra College

I performed an original song, Tomorrow. It's about the struggle people go through in their daily lives. I sang it from a woman’s perspective. It talks about how we should wait for tomorrow and hold onto hope. I keep writing new songs. I do sing at events but hardly get a chance to perform my originals. I started playing the guitar and in Class IX I started writing songs. I look up to Ed Sheeran, Queens and Coldplay.

— Anushri Gupta, second year, BTech, Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of Technology

I am a rap artiste. I have been associated with hip hop for the last one-and-a- half years. Today, I performed an original verse called Aisa kyun?, which I had written a year back on Women’s Day. I’m glad people liked it. I also have a YouTube channel of my own, PB Music, where I started writing and uploading my performances during the pandemic. My first video got more than 1K views. I have realised that there is no alternative to hard work. There are great artistes and the competition is huge. Also, you need to have patience. Rapping is not very popular in Kolkata. I love Eminem, Divine and Emiway.

— Pritam Bhattacharya, second year, BCom, Heramba Chandra College

Today I have performed a mash-up of Kya mujhe pyaar hai?, Tu hi meri shab hai, Labon ko and Bekhayali. I am a self-taught musician. Neither have I learnt music nor guitar. I picked up guitar mostly from YouTube. I perform for my college. I want to take up music professionally. The lockdown gave me time to discover my talents. I wrote poems and songs during the pandemic.

— Kouritra Das, second year, Computer Applications, NSHM Knowledge Campus.

I sang Ami tomari matir kanya and Chhoti si aasha. I have learnt music for 13 years under Pracheen Kala Kendra board, Chandigarh. Music was ingrained in me since I was five months old. My mother used to make me sit on her lap and practise singing in front of her Guruji. Much of who I am is because of music. I have performed in colleges. I can seek comfort in music.

— Debapriya Sarkar, first year, MA, English Literature, Delhi University

I performed with Siddhartha Bhattacharjee, a final-year BTech in Computer Science and Engineering student of Techno India University. Our one-act play was a modern-day rendition of the biblical story of Adam and Lilith. It’s on how Lilith keeps on inspiring modern-day poets, authors and artists. We came up with a multi-lingual script. I want to take a gap year and prepare for Harvard.

— Srijita Datta, Class XII, Science, St Joseph’s Convent, Chandannagore