Where else could food and music coalesce so effortlessly? Coca-Cola’s Pet Pujor Pandal in association with The Telegraph, which took place at Eco Park, on September 24 and 25, was a fiesta which proved yet again that Kolkata knows how to ring in the mood. With thousands thronging the arena on both days, it was an uncompromising celebration of food and music. All major restaurants and chains at the venue saw massive crowds gravitating towards the stalls defeating the afternoon heat. And following the gustatory event was a star-studded line-up of artistes and a string of performances which turned the energy meter at the arena a notch higher. The first day saw our very own Mir and Sourav Ganguly commencing the proceedings with rip-roaring chit-chat, followed by Arko Mukhaerjee, Anupam Roy and the sensational Shreya Ghosal weaving the perfect musical evening, as the crowd crooned to their favourite numbers. The second day had an high-octane line-up of Coke Studio Bangla, Fossils and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy lighting up the arena. The Telegraph caught up with our favourite artistes backstage.
Arko Mukhaerjee
How does it feel performing to such a huge crowd after the pandemic?
I think I played all throughout the pandemic for the people. I personally believe it is very important to involve people in all that we do. If we do not, music just becomes muscle memory. There is where we transcend the craft aspect of it, and we are able to communicate to people what we cannot through language. My primary concern is to break these existing barriers, hierarchies and involve them as much as I can. That is what art has been all about, for me, irrespective of the platform. So yes, I am very happy coming to a stage of this sort.
Food, music and Kolkata. What’s your connection to this eternal blend?
Music has taken me to places across the world and playing in Kolkata means coming back to Kolkata, like coming back to your mom. It is a warm feeling. There is often a lot of distaste and sadness underneath for myriad socio-economic reasons, but the fact that Kolkatahas this unique fabric of rebuilding. Food plays such an important part here, in this fabric, where Kolkatais the only metro city across the world where pice hotels are still breathing. That is the earthly connection that we are talking about. Something as iconic as ‘Hay Bhalobashi’ breathes in Kolkata, which arrived as a powerful voice supporting subaltern people and defying the elite grammar of it all, subverting into a very central space. So, Kolkata is all about the organic touch, simple living and the small pleasures
One special Durga Puja connection?
Indubitably the dhaak.
Shreya Ghoshal
How does it feel coming back to the wave of concerts after the pandemic?
Post-pandemic, everything feels different. But at the same time, the last couple of years, being stuck at home went by in a blur and it feels so good to perform live again, that too with such wonderful people. Coming home to Kolkata is always a beautiful experience. People look stronger, they have been resilient. This is the time for true celebration.
What are your favourite puja memories?
Puja memories take me back to childhood. Spending time with family and friends. Most of my memories were back in Rajasthan with a small close-knit community of Bengalis. Dads setting up the pandal, us running around waiting for the bhog and the sweets — it was quite the deal for all of us. Durga Puja meant singing at the programmes, and enjoying to our heart’s content. So yes, only the fondest of memories. Everyday brings its own charm. These days, in Bombay, I go to Anushaktinagar for the pushpanjali and bhog, which are absolute musts.
How is motherhood treating you?
It has probably been the best time of my life. I can say, I am an absolutely changed person. I never realised love can take its shape, with every bit of my being, and getting the same amount of love back, with all of your strengths and vulnerabilities being reflected, at the same time. Looking at your child’s eyes gives you new meaning. I have newfound admiration and respect for my mother and all parents out there, who shape and nurture us, and our journeys. It’s been a challenge and an absolutely enriching experience.
Anupam Roy
How does it feel performing to such a huge crowd after the pandemic?
This is absolutely amazing — the venue and the milieu. The space and the arrangement are fantastic. The build-up has been incredible and the environment, expectedly top-notch. We have been playing to packed audiences recently, but this was something I was really looking forward to.
Food, music and Kolkata: What do you feel about the connection?
Kolkata is the ultimate foodies’ heaven. Everybody knows and understands the nitty-gritty of having good food. We all know where the rolls taste the best. And cultural aspect is intrinsically linked to the entire fabric, where music takes the most revered pedestal. This is a connection made in heaven. Not even age can limit the experience. Words really wouldn’t be sufficient to define the same.
What is your one favourite puja memory?
2010 Puja and Autograph’s release. That is where my career took off. I performed my first puja programme at New Alipore. That is one memory I will always treasure and hold really close to me.
Actor Neel Bhattacharya was spotted enjoying delicacies with a chilled Coke
Actor Gaurav Chakrabarty was all smiles with his favourite nibbles
The event saw a packed arena on the first day with energy soaring through the roof. The food stalls were hosts to numerous lines through the day, and the evening had the crowd screaming their hearts out. Kolkata was out there to enjoy and how!
Coke Studio Bangla (A chat with Madhubanti Bagchi and Soumyadeep Murshidabadi)
Food and music — the eternal connection. How does the dynamic colour this fest?
Soumyadeep: Whenever there is a musical soiree, we seldom fail to check the spread out immediately. There has always been a connection, and here, fusing the grandeur of the food fest with the music that we have been so intimately producing for months, is certainly an exciting feeling. Kudos to Coca Cola and the team for getting something like this together.
Madhubanti: Food and music are perhaps the most important markers of the festive season. Lately, I have been monitoring everything I eat, and I would not be able to be here during Puja. Thus, I’m allowed to give you people an unsolicited guilt trip (laughs). We are really excited and this is the first time the team is meeting since the shoot. The bonhomie has always been there, but this is where we are performing the numbers live, a sweet and awaited culmination to the journey that we have had till this point. So, the fusion and celebration of the elements, preceding Puja...it couldn’t get any better.
Where do you think Coke Studio Bangla stands out as a unit?
Soumyadeep: Coke Studio Bangla’s intention wasn’t just to break away from the purist norms and prove a point. Arnob bhai (Shayan Arnob Chowdhury) chose people and elements that represent certain cultures in very strong and felt ways, and I think that is the bravest statement in itself. Having people like Animes and Jalali Set on the stage, and getting it all together, he has done an incredible job in a very emphatic way. It is something of immense cultural significance.
Madhubanti: I agree. There was no spelt out point that we had to prove. For instance, I had this conversation regarding the song which I was a part of. It’s an S.D. Burman song, but done in a different way. Now certainly, S.D. Burman and his melodies are sacrosanct, but Arnob gave me full freedom. S.D. Burman defined fusion, but there is always a possibility of people not receiving it well. So, the arrangement was far off from the original version, but we had to try it out. It could have not sounded well, but if we had not tried, we would have never known. It could just be a song born in 2022. I think that is what defines Coke Studio’s essence — breaking barriers in music, having fun and just experimenting.
Fossils
How does it feel coming back to the mood of concerts after two years of the pandemic?
Absolutely amazing. Credit goes to the organisers for getting together something of this sort. Coca Cola has always been a cultural contributor across the world, artistically, and more so, on the subcontinent. Feels wonderful to be able to be a part of this fiesta.
Food, music and Kolkata. Your thoughts on the eternal connection?
Kolkata has always had this tradition for all the pleasures of life — food, literature, art. And music has been an indispensable part of the city. This is the cultural capital, and what better time to celebrate the fabric than Puja. We only wish all the people of Kolkata a Puja season loaded with fun and happiness.
What are your favourite Puja memories?
We have released numerous albums during Pujas. It’s the time for festivities and celebrations. The connection has always been there laced with numerous fond memories.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
How does it feel coming back to live concerts after a two-year lull?
Yeah, it’s about time. People are confident now, and after a scary three-year stretch, it is time people celebrate. Music is medicinal, and since the Shamanic traditions of healing, it has been there. With everybody coming together, recuperating from the pandemic years, music heals and binds, celebrating life. The mood is set and it’s a tweaked setlist that will get the crowd going. The problem is thinking about what not to do (laughs). Really excited to be here.
Food and music. What relevance does this dynamic hold?
There’s only one name which comes to mind when food and music are being talked about. Kolkata. The culture here is defined by their passion for music and food. I love how everybody here is so densely serious about both. And the place does have the best food. Kerala is tough competition but Kolkata is still taking the crown (laughs).
Any specific Durga Puja memory or connection?
We strongly believe that her power, her strength and blessings have made this happen. Two years back we were doubtful of whether we would ever get back together, singing our hearts out. There is strong force and I can really feel Durga Ma’s energy here, and that defines the festivities across the country now.
The interaction which started the proceedings on stage — Sourav Ganguly and Mir set the tone with a fun chit-chat on puja, food, the ecstasy, nostalgia and plans, with the crowd roaring on seeing both of them.
Anindita Bose played host to the packed crowd at Eco Park, conducting the arena and upping the hype.
Actress Ushasi Ray was at the Coco Cola Pet Pujor Pandal to dive into the range of delicacies
Actress Darshana Banik poses for the TT camera at the pandal
Day 2 saw higher footfall with people thronging the food tents before warming up the arena for the final day’s energy-packed musical line- up. Heat? Who dat.
Pictures: B.Halder and Koushik Saha