Warm hugs, interlocked fingers and swaying to 2441139 Bela Bose — that’s how partygoers ushered in the Valentine spirit this year, as Anjan Dutt & The Electric Band took to the podium on February 10 at Five Mad Men: Indie Stories. Media partner My Kolkata was there, as couples sang and danced to celebrate the season of love.
Siddhartha Mukherjee was there with fiancee Oindrila Das to celebrate Valentine’s Day early. ‘This gig was extra-special because it was the first live concert that we attended as a couple. The energy was mad and going by the vibe, we look forward to attending more concerts like this at Five Mad Men,’ said Oindrila
The energy inside the room saw an uptick as soon as Anjan and his band walked on to the stage. “Initially, I was getting nowhere with acting or directing and left the country for a bit, but music was always there for me. The guitar has never left my side,” said Dutt, before strumming the opening notes of Shunte Ki Chao.
‘The next song is my composition for the film, ‘Dutta vs Dutta’, and is Amytda’s personal favourite,’ said Neel, before the band played ‘Tobu Jodi Tumi Ashte Chao’
The cheers got progressively louder as Anjan’s setlist progressed with Darjeeling, Mr. Hall and Mary Anne. Within 15 minutes, he had the audience singing along and enthusiastically applauding every guitar solo.
Phones lit up Five Mad Men when the band played ‘Majhi Re’, and (right) Saswati Mondal couldn’t resist singing along. ‘The ambiance was magical and everyone enjoyed the gig thoroughly. The electrifying performances elevated our Friday night!’ she said
Be it romance, friendship or self love, Anjan Dutt’s music focuses on every aspect of love. That’s probably the reason why it appeals to all, said everyone present at the event. Though the concert ushered in V-Day celebrations early in the city, it also brought immense joy to people celebrating themselves.
3D animators (left) Kanad Nandi (L) and Indrajit Pal Chaudhuri (R) bonded over their childhood love for Anjan’s music. ‘Anjan Dutt is a true artiste and a rockstar. We were in tears seeing him play back-to-back hits,’ Pal Chaudhuri said. A similar fanfare brought (right) Sulagna Roy Chowdhury to Five Mad Men. ‘His music reminds me of my school days. It was always my dream to watch him live, which finally came true, and it felt like I got my childhood back,’ she exclaimed
The audience’s response brought out a very candid side in Anjan, as he shared his emotional bond with music. “As a youngster, I never thought I’d be a musician. When I started, I just knew six chords and decided to give it a shot, hoping that someone would listen to me. I never dreamt that at the age of 69, people would still be singing these stupid songs,” he smiled.
Musicians were both on and off the stage, as percussionist Sambit Chatterjee dropped by to check out the venue for the upcoming gig by The Aristocrats on February 26. ‘I’m a huge fan of Amyt Datta and his ability to fit into any feeling. Anjan kaku is a pioneer and his band is amazingly tight. I had a great time, and am excited to do more fun stuff at Five Mad Men!’
“We felt very fortunate to host these musicians today. They have been our childhood musical icons and people appreciate their style of Bengali music. We plan to host more such events in the future,” said Sayan Roy, co-owner, Five Mad Men.
