• Karunamoyee-based cultural school Geetam used performing arts to spread the message of greenery recently.
The event, held at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan, was inaugurated by painter Arun Chakraborty, the then-secretary of Bidhannagar Horticultural Society Arijit Poddar, dancer Tarunabha Purokait and director of Geetam, Sumita Saha.
The first act was Vandana, starring all students. It was a rhythmic tribute invoking lords Ganesha, Shiva, Krishna, and concluded with matri vandana. The most awaited segment was "Mother earth and us", which used dance, music and narration to urge the audience to save the planet.
The piece presented Mother Earth as vibrant and resonating with laughter but gradually getting afflicted by man-made activities like pollution.
"I am a nature lover and am associated with green activities throughout the year,” said Saha, who choreographed the show. “Dance has the potential to convey messages and every year we try to convey something through our shows. We have previously performed on water scarcity and organ donation and this time chose to protest against destruction of nature.”
Geetam is a school for Bharatnatyam, contemporary and Rabindrik nritya along with Rabindrasangeet and classical music, yoga and zumba.
Olipriya Aditya, who wrote the English portions of the script, said it gave her a feel-good factor. "I must be Geetam’s first student from years ago but had to leave dancing due to studies and my job. But I wish to return to it," she said.
Garbita Sarkar, another participant, said she makes time for dance amidst her schedule.
“I’ve been dancing since I was three-and-a-half and it brings me joy. Geetam is a major part of my life today,” said the government medical officer.
A guest group, Icchapur Payel Drama Troupe, also presented a play based on Tagore’s short story Shasti.
Surprise fete at 80
Kalyan Sen Barat greets Anasua Mukhopadhyay (to his left) as Manjushree Gupta watches
• It wasn’t just another cultural programme by music school Srijani at Laban Hrad Mancha. It was a surprise celebration by its students for their teacher Anasua Mukhopadhyay’s 80th birthday.
The AD Block-based singer realised what her students were up to, when they started blowing conchshells as she entered the hall. She was taken aback and tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.
Singer Manjushree Gupta inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp in presence of the chief guest, singer and composer Kalyan Sen Barat. On behalf of all students, Mukul Das garlanded Mukhopadhyay with 80 red roses.
“Such a magnificent celebration has made me feel younger,” said the overwhelmed octogenarian. “Before 80 roses, my student Maitreyee Roy greeted me with 80 rasogollas from Krishnanagar. Now I feel like living another 200 years. So much of love is the grace of god.”
Next Mukhopadhyay unveiled a white marble idol of Saraswati, gifted by the students. She expressed her gratitude with a rendition of Kantho bhore gaan dao, that received standing ovation. The singer teaches many kinds of music, besides pure classical and Rabindrasangeet.
The musical tribute then began with a chorus of guru vandana. Students like Rumna Maity, Aparajita Moitra and Soma Mukherjee kept the audience captivated for hours. Mukhopadhyay herself performed too.
There was also a chorus Keno nijeke hariye by Amodini Choir, a group Mukhopadhay had started years back. “As a choir we had performed at various events and received appreciation for our harmonisation. We had released a CD too but the choir got discontinued due to lack of manpower. We wish to revive it now,” said Mitali Chatterjee, who is under Mukhopadhay’s tutelage for over 20 years.
Mukhopadhyay’s grandson Ritam shared how they had conspired to organise this event without her knowledge. “Dida had wanted to host a show with her students a while back but it didn’t materialise. So we took her phone under the pretext of getting it repaired and contacted students to form a core committee,” said Ritam, a keyboardist. “We held secret meetings at home where students tiptoed into dark rooms so she wouldn’t suspect anything.”
Mukhopadhyay’s daughter-in-law Swarnali presented a PowerPoint presentation on her musical career and announced that a trust was being formed in her name to conduct music research and help talented but economically backward singers.