Every note touched the heart at Sourendro-Soumyojit’s World Music Day 2022 concert, held at Science City Auditorium on June 21. The duo brought eight musical masters under one roof to pay tribute to Lata Mangeshkar. “It is honestly unbelievable to see you all again, live. You are truly our strength,” said Soumyojit. “World Music Day has always been as much yours, as it is ours. I can promise you that there are at least 500 members in the audience today who have come to all our World Music Day concerts,” added Sourendro, before they made the crowd sing along to ‘Naam Gum Jayega’
Photos: Amit Datta
Padma Vibhushan-awardee Ustad Amjad Ali Khan created magic with his sarod in the first performance of the evening. The maestro performed Raga Ganesh Kalyan, followed by ‘Kon Khela Je Khelbo Kokhon’ and ‘Ekla Cholo Re’, accompanied by the father-son duo of Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Anubrata Chatterjee on the tabla. “Though we called Lataji, ‘Didi’, she became goddess Saraswati in her lifetime and we were fortunate to spend time with her. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesh, and honoured me with the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for Ganesh Kalyan,” he said, after the crowd gave him a standing ovation
Anwesshaa had the Herculean task of following Ustad Amjad’s performance. The singer, who has lent her voice to over 500 films and sung in 13 regional languages, gave a scintillating rendition of ‘Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat’. “This edition of World Music Day is special because it's dedicated to Lataji. It is an honour for me to sing her song,” she said
Padma Shri awardee Shubha Mudgal expressed her joy in performing before a Kolkata audience after a long hiatus by singing ‘Yeh Neer Kahan Se Barse Hai’. “I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be in this city where music and arts are deeply loved, after two devastating years. I was really nervous to sing a song by Lataji, an artiste who I have loved and adored, and whose loss I have grieved,” she said
Ustad Rashid Khan brought a sense of melancholy to the arena with ‘Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon’. “Today is a big day for us artistes, because Sourendro-Soumyojit always teaches us something new with their concerts. They have been harassing me with these new learnings for several years now,” he laughed
Usha Uthup was visibly emotional when the full-house greeted her, and thanked the audience for supporting live music. “Every day is World Music Day for musicians, but Sourendro and Soumyojit make it extra special. I had the privilege of singing this song for Lataji on her 75th birthday, and I have goosebumps right now,” she said, before making the audience tap their feet to ‘Bindiya Chamkegi Chudi Khankegi’
