Music knows no borders or definition. Gaibo Shudhu Gaan, with My Kolkata as the digital partner, held at Triguna Sen Auditorium, Jadavpur University, on December 3, celebrated this very fluidity of music and the relevance of the independent music scene in the city. Eleven independent and up and coming singer-songwriters from across Kolkata serenaded a packed hall with original compositions loaded with authenticity and a range of messages from delicate personal emotions to important social issues.
Abhisek Chakraborty, a singer-songwriter and the mind behind the musical evening, spoke about music and its extraordinary ability to connect people, transcend boundaries, and articulate emotions that words alone cannot express.
“Gaaibo Shudhu Gaan is a labour of love where 11 distinct voices come together to weave a narrative that mirrors the diversity of life. It’s an honour to be part of this collaborative effort, and I believe the audience will feel the resonance of our shared passion and creativity. This concert is yet another step to prove the spirit of Bengali independent music. I thank each and every stalwart musician from the industry who supported and inspired us to believe in our craft and set benchmarks for future generations."
Abhisek Chakraborty (extreme left) with the artistes
As the evening unfolded with melody and soothing notes, the auditorium witnessed music and art in perfect symphony with the artistes donning multiple hats at the same time. From being multi-instrumentalists to personally sketching images as the backdrops to their performances, Gaibo Shudhu Gaan celebrated the dedication of these independent singer-songwriters towards their craft, their collective camaraderie and their bodies of work that navigates various themes and issues.
Singer Debarshi Ganguly drew the entire visual train of images that played as the backdrop to his performance
Supporting the initiative were noted singers Anindya Chatterjee, Upal Sengupta, Ranjan Prasad, Samantak, filmmaker Srijit Mukherji and actor Swastika Mukherjee, among others, who attended the programme to extend their support to the fraternity.
Ranjan Prasad, Sutapa Ghosh, Upal Sengupta, Anindya Chatterjee, Srijit Mukherji and Pralay Majumder (L-R) came to support the initiative
Flutrr, the title sponsor for the event, had a special music video featuring actor Rwitobroto Mukherjee for the theme song of the event. "We at Flutrr have always believed that music is a powerful language of love. So, supporting those who strive to create music, was a no-brainer. All the 11 singer-songwriters of Gaaibo Shudhu Gaan are immensely talented, and the packed auditorium was a testament to their captivating music. Add to that, the launch of Bhalobashar Apon Bhasha, the song and video created through the collaboration of the same 11 singers and our creative partners, made for a truly immersive musical evening," said Anirban Banerjee, chief marketing officer, Flutrr.
Ankit Santra, Anirban Banerjee and Rwitobroto Mukherjee during the launch of ‘Bhalobashar Apon Bhasha’
The team behind the music video was a young crew, led by director Ankit Santra, who believes that the video was centred around a story that the younger generation can relate to. As an independent filmmaker who's starting out on his lifelong tryst with art and cinema, Ankit said, “Gaibo Shudhu Gaan is a very noble initiative in my opinion. Beyond the video featuring the 11 independent artistes, the event itself was an eye opener of sorts. It had a lineup of brilliant artistes who are powerful voices in their own rights”
The evening drew to a harmonious close with the artistes, the team and the audience joining together for a heartfelt rendition of ‘Hay Bhalobashi’ by Mohiner Ghoraguli