SRUTINIKETAN-CF BLOCK
It was a sweltering evening and the audience at CF Park prayed for rain. “So let’s sing a number asking for the same,” said Rabindrasangeet exponent Swapan Som and began Megher pore megh jomechhe. As luck would have it started thundering.
The next singer Prabudhha Raha was just into his second song — Eso shyamalo sundaro — when it started pouring, sending the organisers scurrying for cover initially, but eventually making everyone sigh with relief from the heat.
To pay tribute to Rabindranath Tagore, Srutiniketan, a BF Blockbased music group, and CF Block residents association, had organised a gala event, starring local talent as well as the who’s who of the world of Rabindrasangeet.
"We have a cordial relationship with BF Block and jointly organise events like Holi and sports. Since 2001 we are hosting Rabipranaam with BF Block-based Srutiniketan,” said secretary of CF Block’s association, Gora Roy. “The figurehead of Srutiniketan, Tanusree Bandyopadhyay, would facilitate the artistes and we had the infrastructure so we collaborated.”
Tanusree is no more but her husband Suvrajyoti Bandyopadhyay continues to teach under the banner of Mayukh music school. Her daughter-in-law, Madhubanti teachers dance and Sayan Bandyopadhyay is an elocutionist who anchored the show that day with Paramita Sarkar.
Singers of Srutiniketan performed songs like Satya sundaro premomoyo and Prano bhoriye trisha hariye. Singers of CF Block performed Antara mamo bikoshito karo and Sokatore oi knadichhe.
There was a galaxy of stars too - Chandrabali Rudra Dutta, Aloke Roychowdhury, Debarati Som, Suchhanda Ghosh, Tania Das, Lajbanti Roy, Prasenjit Chakraborty, Swagatalalakshmi Dasgupta….
Debarati Som said she waits for this event every year and Sraboni Sen came despite being ill. “I have suffered a sunstroke and cannot sing. I only came today in honour of Tanusreedi. Next time I shall sing an extra number for you,” she smiled.
Elocutionist Prabir Brahmachari recited Bipode more ramsha karo and Bharattirtha and Shovan Sundar Basu recited the romantic poem Ek Gaye from Kshanika Kabyagrantha and Hriday amar nachere ajike, accompanied by music.
Suchhanda Ghosh sang a number from Shap Mochan and Bhanusingher Padabali and Swagatalakshmi begun with Krishnakali ami tarei bali and then invited requests from the floor. Despite time constraints she sang all the requests, including numbers like O amar desher mati.
A dance drama on Pujarini was presented by CF Block residents like Arpita Sarkar, Nikhil Chatterjee and Srabani Chatterjee.
The event concluded with the recording of three Rabindrasangeets in Tanusree’s voice. Dancing to it was Tanusree’s daughter-in-law, Madhubanti Bandyopadhyay and her students Sneha Das and Srinika Mitra.
Bharati Kanjilal
Young dancers take stage at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan
ISPAT
Nearly 200 children took stage at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan to celebrate the works of poets Tagore, Nazrul and Sukanta Bhattacharya. The event was organized by NGO Initiative for Scientific and Public Awareness Target (Ispat) and Dum Dum Nakshatra Welfare Society and featured cultural groups from the township and beyond.
The event was inaugurated by children’s writer Utpal Jha and chairman of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, Sabyasachi Dutta, was the chief guest. Jha explained how the contributions by the three poets had made Bengal, India and the world richer in terms of literary excellence and human values. “I hope today’s children uphold the legacy of Bengal’s great literary trinity,” he said.
“Although studying is important, you should always prioritise your area of interest and passion,” advised Dutta. “At the end of the day make sure whatever you are doing is close to your heart.”
The event featured 17 teams from across the districts, including those from the township like Bidhannagar Chandonir. The various groups danced to songs like Mon mor megher sangi, Anondoloke mongolaloke and Bagichay bulbuli tui.
Children of the group Anirban danced to Nazrul’s Chol chol chol urdhogagane baje madol and a six-yearold among them, Amarissa Haartmann, won hearts with her grace.
Mom Sohini Das later said the girl has been dancing since she was a year old.
Poet Subrata Ghosh, who was the guest of honour, gifted his book Alor Parash to the participating teams.
“Children are the true ambassadors of our tradition and culture,” said Ritesh Basak, secretary of Ispat. “It is wonderful to watch these children in action. Not only are they talented, but they are working hard to keep the works of our poets alive in the minds of the young generation.” The event was hosted by Anamika Banerjee and Sangeeta Basak.
Rittika Rakshit
Singers perform at DA Block community hall (Aranyak Mojumdar)
DA BLOCK
When DA Block Residents’ Association organised Rabindra-Nazrul evening, they divided the show based on poet and themes. The first section was themed on “light” and its perception by Tagore while the second was “colours of seasons” as described by Nazrul.
The event saw more than 20 residents taking part in music, poetry and dance performances. The participants themselves took turn in hosting the event, exhibiting a great example teamwork.
Under “light”, there were songs like Aloker ei jharna dharay, Amar mukti aloy alloy and Prano bhoriye sung by the likes of Debjani Dutta Chowdhury, Shirin Roy, Shampa Chakraborty. Nazrulgeeti Poush elo go, Shiuli tolay bhorbela and Elo elo re baisakhi jhor were sung by Rita Nandi, Moushumi Chakraborty, Chumki Dutta and others. The music was accompanied by dances, performed by the likes of Oindrila Dutta, Debadrita Paul and Priyanka Dutta Chowdhury.
“The main attraction of DA Block’s events are the rehearsals,” said Puloma Sen, who sang Alo je jay re dekha geyechi. “They bind residents into one big family. We look forward to evenings of adda with tea and snacks on the days leading to the main event.”
Nandini Sen, the lead organiser of the event, was happy with its success. “The participants said they were touched by the inner message that was delivered through this programme and that it had moved them. There could be no greater reward for the organiser,” she smiled.
“Alongside paying tribute to the poets, this event helps create a connection among the residents, particularly the women who arrange most of it,” said Amit Sen, on behalf of DA Block resident’s association. “We also try to give an opportunity to everyone who wants to participate. It’s about having fun together.”
Aranyak Mojumdar
Members of the laughing club sing at FE Park
SALT LAKE LAUGHING CENTRE
A senior citizens’ dance was the highlight of the bards’ tribute at FE Park. Organised by Salt Lake Laughing Centre, the dances were led by 80- year-old Indira Bandyopadhyay.
“I ran a Bharatnatyam school at Karunamoyee from 1983 to 2005,” said Bandyopadhyay, who still directs dance dramas at puja functions and the like. “For the last couple of years the elderly ladies of our laughing club have been requesting me to teach them too. These women sent their daughters to dance classes but never got a chance to learn themselves.”
So led by Bandyopadhyay, Chhandashree Roy Choudhury, Sapna Banik and Sapna Choudhury swayed to Tagore’s Nrityero taale taale and Nazrul’s Srijana chhonde. “I have lost the stamina to dance now but the women said they weren’t confident without me on stage. So I joined them,” laughed Bandyopadhyay, a resident of Karunamoyee’s F Block.
The show also saw recitation by the likes of Namita Dutta and Subhashis Chakrabarty and music by Rumi Bagchi, Swapan Kumar Chatterjee and Debraj Sengupta. There were also speeches by secretary Sailen Ghosh and others. Kana Chatterjee and Rama Banerjee anchored the show.