FICCI FLO Kolkata recently hosted its inaugural event of the present term at Taj Bengal after welcoming the new chairperson. The ritual of lamp lighting at the event was followed by Tagore fusion vocalist Isheeta Ganguly’s musical theatre performance. Radhika Dalmia, the new chairperson for the term 2022-23, will lead following the theme ‘Ignite the spark within’. Aligned with the theme, the musical theatre performance gave a message of finding solutions from age-old knowledge to modern-day problems, making it an apt performance for the inaugural event to communicate the theme to the members. It emphasised women’s strength, their challenges and how they can be strong under all circumstances. Snapshots:
Isheeta Ganguly, a Tagore fusion vocalist who started recording at the age of 15 and has eight successful albums to her credit, presented the musical theatre Three Women that has been written, directed and composed by her. “Three Women is a coming-of-age dramatic comedy about three of Tagore’s women who time-travel to realise that while externalities may be different now, not a whole lot has changed between the 19th and 21st centuries. The play deals with contemporary themes of empowerment, beauty, identity, and self-actualisation in an urban context. It is bringing alive things that are relevant for women like us in the modern era. What was placed in Jorasanko in 1970 is as relevant today,” said Isheeta Ganguly.
The musical theatre, Three Women, focussed on the contemporary associations to Tagore’s writings and the value it still holds for modern women who contend with similar issues of identity, purpose, beauty and power in the public realm. The musical theatre’s focus on the ever-prevalent dilemma of negotiating purpose and second chances was further enhanced by a fictional spin on the lives of three of Rabindranath Tagore’s heroines — Charu from Charulata, Kadambari Devi, and Bimala from Ghare Baire. Rabindrasangeet interspersed with the play made it a more interesting presentation.
“It is a play that echoed the reality across generations of the dilemmas faced by the women, their struggle with their identity and losing themselves amidst the various roles they play. It was brilliantly enacted by the three actors. It was subtle yet loud, humorous yet painful, and it was a bold and beautiful portrayal of love, passion and betrayal,” said Payal Tekriwal.
“The play was exceptional as it offered a cathartic experience. Although times have changed it’s amazing how some things remain unchanged and the play successfully captured those enduring things in a captivating way. The Bengali songs added an extra layer of authenticity to the performance. Overall it was a truly memorable theatrical experience that has left a lasting impression on everyone,” said Richa Mohta
“As a chairperson, my thought behind planning this event is all about women’s entrepreneurship and uplifting each other. Women go through different phases of life and then only women can understand women the most. When I heard the story of the musical theatre, it inspired me that whatever happens in life women can still put up and evolve. This year, we will focus on underprivileged people,the health sector, digital facilities, and skilling facilities as a group to help them rise,” said Radhika Dalmia, chairperson, FICCI FLO.