Monsoon isn’t just a season. It is a spectrum of emotions that cascade with the raindrops. There's an inherent poetry in witnessing the sky's thunderous prelude to a glorious downpour. To celebrate the exquisite beauty of this season, the Alka Jalan Foundation orchestrated ‘Romancing the Rains’ – an artistic tribute comprising poetry, music, and enlightening conversations by the talented duo of Supriya Newar and Anuurag Poddar, held on August 23. My Kolkata had the privilege of being a witness to this tempestuous symphony — both outside the walls of Daga Nikunj and within its intimate embrace.
The evening started with a soulful rendition of the appropriately titled Diwana hua badal from the film Kashmir Ki Kali, with Newar and Poddar examining the lyrics by S. H. Bihari. This was followed by Kaii Baar Yun Bhi Dekha Hai from the 1974 film, Rajnigandha. Newar also enthralled audiences with a recitation of Gulzar’s poem, Baarish Hogi.
After exploring the melancholic side of monsoons, Newar and Anuurag brought in some peppy beats by S. D. Burman, and sang Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si from the film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi . “Raag Megh talks about dramatic thunder while Raag Malhar is about the joy of downpour. Both of them brilliantly bring out the beauty of rain,” Newar said, before the duo sang the opening notes of Maine Tere Liye Hi Saat Rang Ke Sapne…. The night ended with everyone singing along to Aaoge Jab Tum.
The event had everyone singing along, including (L-R) Meeta Sethia and Vinita Poddar, Anuurag’s wife. “The simplicity of their presentation made us connect. We were humming throughout and I am going back with a lot of thoughts I want to reflect upon,” said Sethia. Poddar added, “I didn’t expect the event to be so interactive, and they did justice to all art forms
“We’ve been with Alka Jalan Foundation since its inception. This year they asked us to do something on rain and we conceptualised the entire event in just five days. The core idea was to understand human emotions behind rain with music and poetry that people wouldn’t normally mention. The evening was about romance and pathos,” said Poddar, who is a student of Pandit Mohan Lal Mishra and Pandit Deepak Mishra of the Benaras Gharana.
“Supriya and Anuurag presented a beautiful combination of every emotion we associate with the rains. It was a beautiful program that uplifted our souls and made us feel in touch with the divine,” said Alka Jalan, head of Alka Jalan Foundation
Newar, the author of Kolkata Chronicles, wrote the script of the event in less than two days. She added, “We really wanted to live up to the title of ‘Romancing the Rains’ with a balance of popular and rare songs. We decided to throw in a twist with poetry and shayari of all the greats, and it really felt intimate.”
