There’s a song for every mood, every moment and what better way to celebrate Friendship Day than with music? My Kolkata asked seven musicians cutting across genres to choose the songs that spell friendship for them. Here’s what they had to say:
DJ Anshe
DJ Anshe
Ever since I started playing the genre of acid techno, I’ve forged so many connections and experienced so many emotions around the console while playing. There is one track that always brings a very special emotion to mind — Why Acid Is Your Crush by Luca Maier. I remember playing this in one of my sets and then looking around me and seeing just smiles and happy energy all around me as my friends were dancing away! This track brings out a raw happy energy in people, which is an amazing feeling and emotion to experience. It matches the energy that my friends bring to me and my sets when I drop it. I would like to dedicate this track to all my near and dear ones who always show up for my sets and bring in a raw vibe of happiness and togetherness every time I take the console.
Pradip Chatterjee (Bula) of Mohiner Ghoraguli
Pradip Chatterjee
The word friendship reminds me of our song Bhalobashi Jyotsnay. This song holds fond memories for me from our Mohin days. While we celebrate Friendship Day, it is also the month of Independence. So, my second pick will be O Alor Pothojatri by Salil Chowdhury. This song is not only a patriotic song but it is also about unity and friendship. While growing up, whenever I listened to this song with my friends we felt inspired. The song talks about walking together fearlessly. And I feel that's what friends should do to you. Motivate you, inspire you and make you feel courageous. The right kind of friendship makes you stronger.
Upal Sengupta of Chandrabindoo
Upal Sengupta/Facebook
When it comes to songs on friendship, two songs come to mind immediately — Bondhu Tomay and Bondhu Chol. The first song was released in 1998 in the album Gadha by Chandrabindoo. It is one of those rare songs written and composed by Anindya (Chatterjee) and sung by me. I usually sing songs written by Chandril (Bhattacharya) and Anindya sings his own songs, but Bondhu Tomay was a clear exception. The second song, Bondhu Chol, was made for the film Open Tee Bioscope and written by Anindya. It was composed by Shantanu Moitra and sung by Anupam (Roy).
Adil Rashid, musician
Adil Rashid
I would like to dedicate the song Photograph by Nickelback to my friends from high school. The song talks about looking at old photographs and reminiscing about growing up and how things have changed. Funny incidents, regrets, loss, happiness... and inevitably the only thing we can say is goodbye because those days will never return. Yet, we cherish those memories and remember them fondly. Our school days went by so quickly and we hardly had time to think that we would soon be out in the world and those days would be gone forever. Hanging out in the school canteen, exchanging books, video games and sharing music with my friends was something I looked forward to every day. We would take pictures maybe once a year during our annual days and looking at some of them brings back a flood of memories like the pranks, the fights, the silliness and the overall feeling of belonging.
Iman Chakraborty, singer
Iman Chakraborty/Facebook
It’s difficult to choose two songs about friendship. But If I have to, then I would go for Tagore’s Bondhu Roho Roho Sathe and Yeh Dosti from Sholay. The first song is not just about friendship. Like most of Tagore’s creations, the song talks about friendship, love, the almighty, worship and so many other things. Just like friendship, it has everything. The second song, Yeh Dosti, has probably entered our souls. If you ask any Indian about this song, they would instantly recognise it. I believe there is no bigger celebration of friendship than this song and I just love it.
Anindya Chatterjee of Chandrabindoo
My Kolkata
Two of my songs have become almost synonymous with friendship — Bondhu Tomay and Bondhu Chol. I believe the work that I have been able to do throughout my life has been a celebration of friendship. If it weren't for the friends I made along the way, I wouldn't have been able to continue. It may be good or bad, successful or otherwise, but friendship is that space which helps you grow and helps your work grow as well. For me, it's been the same through my school days, with my band (Chandrabindoo) and everything following that as well. It's for these very friends I can proudly call my own that my life is interesting. My film, Open Tee Bioscope, too, was all about exploring the colours of friendship across social classes, barriers and everything. These materialistic definitions somehow crumble before the essence of friendship and that was the driving force behind my film as well.
Siddhartha Sankar Ray (Sidhu) of Cactuss
TT Archives
The first song that comes to my mind is Yaaron Dosti by KK. This song depicts the entire spectrum of emotions associated with friendship. Teri har ek burai pe daante woh dost is an extremely favourite line of mine. For me, the closest friend I have would just not sing my praise or celebrate me but wouldn't think twice before pointing out where I went wrong. Friendship calls for this organic bond and sincerity. I believe this song is a celebration of this very important aspect.
My Kolkata also spoke to a cross-section of readers to find out what friendship and Friendship Day mean to them. And they also strummed a few lines from their favourite songs, dedicated to their besties. Watch the reel below:
