A host of well-known singers and students of the HA block-based Uttarayani music school paid tribute to their founder and late teacher Dwijen Mukhopadhyay in a packed Rabindra Okakura Bhavan on his 96th birth anniversary.
President of Uttarayani Sonali Mukhopadhyay quoted the following lines from his autobiography: “On one hand, I was learning music and singing, and experimenting with music, on the other hand I was imparting training to boys and girls, which was in a way my apprenticeship in teaching music. I founded the music school in 1977 to experiment with Rabindrasangeet in chorus. (translated)”
Mukhopadhyay being her father-in-law, she had the chance to see him up close. “He was extremely disciplined and maintained a simple lifestyle. As a trainer, he was very strict about following Tagore's notations.”
Krishna Chakraborty, mayor of Bidhannagar, shared her memories. “Dwijenda was a favourite of our chief minister. Sometimes I would be asked to accompany him to our programmes. Listening to his song Jago Durga on the radio on Mahalaya was a thrilling experience,” she said.
Srikumar Chattopadhyay, recalled Mukhopadhyay staying 10 minutes away from his residence. “I started learning Tagore songs from him despite my father discouraging me from pursuing music as a career. I lent voice with Dwijenda in Tagore’s Mayar Khela at a 1978 conference and again in Chitrangada, on another occasion,” said Chattopadhyay. Suman Panthi shared how Mukhopadhyay used to hold lively discussions on music. Student Jayanta Bhattacharya, an associate of four decades, spoke of his love for food and feeding others. “Dwijenkaku used to visit our house and he was especially noticed for his height. In 1992, Manabkaku (Manabendra Mukhopadhyay) suggested the formation of an artistes’ guild and asked us to discuss the idea with Dwijenkaku. He guided us, and the Association of Professional Performing Singers (APPS) was formed in 1993,” recalled Saikat Mitra, who, being singer Shyamal Mitra’s son, knew Mukhopadhyay from his childhood. The two songs he sang, Ogo krishnachura and E nohe ja cheyechhi, had been composed by his father and sung by Mukhopadhyay at his father's memorial. Singer Agniva Bandyopadhyay, nephew of composer Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, spoke of Mukhopadhyay’s versatility. “Dwijenjethu could sing Rabindrasangeet, modern Bengali songs and filmy songs with equal ease. I had the opportunity to share stage with him and even witness his recording session wnhen he sang a Puja number composed by me. I was on the audition board at All India Radio where he was an external expert.”
The four-hour event concluded with a song and dance show by the students of Uttarayani Music School and Kalapi dance group.Bharati KanjilalnMayukh, a CF Block-based cultural group, hosted a musical evening at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan recently. The programme was divided into three parts.
The curtain unveiled to a choric rendition of Dhwonilo aobhan, followed by Ei toh tomar alok dhenu. Trainer of the dance wing Madhubanti Bandyopadhyay said: “I started this dance school in 2018 to continue my mother-in-law Tanushree Bandyopadhyay’s legacy. She was a renowned singer. Her untimely death created a vacuum. I want to create an opportunity for my students to perform on stage.
After two years of online shows, students are very excited today.”The programme commenced with a performance by students of different age groups. While Tobishi Jain, a child artiste, danced to Megher koley, Baruska Agarwal was dressed as a butterfly and danced to the song Prajapati kothay pele bhai. Little Sharanya Mahato then danced to a folk song Jhoom jhoom moyna nacho na.
The senior-most dancer, Lina Das, performed with grace and flair, presenting a couple of solo dance items to Tagore songs.
“I had completed a kathak course but after marriage I could not continue my creative pursuits. The Mayukh team encouraged me to perform on stage,” said the senior citizen. The second part was a dance drama based on a fantasy by Oscar Wilde. Rina Gayan, a Class VI student, loved the story in which a selfish giant turned into a generous person. “I could train my friends in the absence of our dance teacher. I am trained in Kuchipudi but due to pressure of studies, I discontinued classical dance and enrolled at this creative dance centre,” she said. The programme concluded with another dance drama based on Tagore’s poem Abhisaar. The role of Basabdutta was played by Madhubanti Bandyopadhyay and that of Sanyasi Upogupta by Sayan Bandyopadhyay.
“The poem’s spirit of hope and positivity is relevant in such distressing times. Some of my students’ brothers showed interest so I included them in the cast as well,” said Madhubanti.Achute Ghosh, an octogenerian engineer residing in BC Block, was clicking his grand daughter Chandrabha's performance. “We should encourage the performers as the young generation is not connected with such cultural activities.”The programme was directed and choreographed by Madhubanti Bandyopadhyay, organised and planned by Subhrajyoti Bandyopadhyay and compered by Sayan Bandyopadhyay.