When Pujo is in the air, can music be far behind? Sangitangali, an evening of Rabindrasangeet hosted by the S.B. Park Thakurpurkur Sarbojonin puja committee at Rabindra Sadan on September 5, ushered in the festive season on a perfect note. My Kolkata was the digital media partner for the event.
The stars of the evening were Adity Mohsin, Anwesshaa and Sourendro-Soumyojit.
Music lovers of all ages enjoyed the musical evening at Rabindra Sadan
The programme began with Adity Mohsin singing Tagore’s love songs (prem porjay) draped in a gorgeous red-and-white kantha sari. Among the songs she sang were Kal rater bela gaan elo mor mone, Ogo amar chiro achena paradeshi and Sedin dujone dulechinu bone.
Adity Mohsin sang Tagore’s love songs
“Rabindranath Tagore has written so many songs on so many emotions and themes like love, devotion and nature to name a few. I chose some songs from the prem porjay,” Mohsin said.
The next artiste of the evening was Anwesshaa, who was both excited and nervous about her first Rabindrasangeet performance. “It’s a mixed feeling for me. There are butterflies in my stomach, but along with the nervousness there is excitement, too. My mother’s musical sensibilities have been very much influenced by Tagore and that has also had an impact on me since childhood,” Anwesshaa said.
Songs interspersed with poetry made Anwesshaa’s presentation unique. She sang some of her favourites like Jani jani tumi esechho e pothe monero bhule, Eki labonye purno prano and Jete jete ekla pothe.
“I’m so glad to be in Kolkata at this time of the year. It is my hometown and I spent all my childhood here. I just love the Pujo-Pujo bhaab in the air. I can never get enough of this city!” Anwesshaa said.
Anwesshaa (right) was dressed just right for the show with a jasmine garland in her hair to go with a blue sari
She also paid tribute to Sandhya Mukhopadhyay and Lata Mangeshkar with Jodi naam dhore tare daki and Mono laage na, respectively.
The last act of the evening was by musical duo Sourendro-Soumyojit. Accompanied by electric guitar, percussion and bass guitar, Soumyojit played the piano and Sourendro sang Tagore’s compositions like Anandaloke Mangalaloke and Kolahol to baron holo.
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Sourendro and Soumyojit with their band in all white Aatreyee Mohanta
“This is how we live our life. Rabindranath has been a part of our lives from the very start. The amalgamation of the old and the new and the east with the west is something we’ve learnt from him. It is his poetry and his compositions that take us to different poets and ragas,” said Sourendro before getting on stage.
Sourendro, Soumyojit and their band provided the perfect finale to the evening
“The lovely lyrics coming together with phrases of classical music makes it a wonderful listening experience. Rabindrasangeet is so international, the melodies are so strong that it explains the ethos of the east so well,” said Soumyojit.
Soumyojit on the piano and Sourendro on vocals
“People keep asking us why we use western instruments with Rabindrasangeet but Tagore himself composed on the piano, church organ and even the old-fashioned esraj. He was open to international music and thought. His music is a thinker’s music and transcends all borders,” Soumyojit said.
The organisers were elated to see the audience enjoying the show. “We are very happy and satisfied with how the show was received by the audience. We chose the artistes for the concert with care to treat the audience to a wide range of music,” said organiser Sanjoy Majumdar.
