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A confluence of melodic offerings

Bangla Utshab begins in Kolkata

ZAHANGIR ALOM, from Kolkata
A three-day Bangla Utshab began at Nazrul Mancha, Rabindra Sarobar in Kolkata yesterday to celebrate the shared musical legacy of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.
Eminent educationist and National Professor of Bangladesh Dr Anisuzzaman inaugurated the festival as chief guest.
"Tagore took musical essence from the Western Music, Indian Classical Music and Baul melody of Bangladesh and created his own compositions. Kazi Nazrul Islam initiated Bangla Ghazal. Kirttan is the genre that inspired all the five great poets," said Prof Anisuzzaman while opening the festival.
"Adhunik [modern] Bangla songs with Band music took a prominent place in the post-independent Bangladesh. We have to value the musical taste of the generations. I hope
the future of Bangla music will continue to excel with the efforts from the youths," he added.
Dhaka-and Kolkata-based renowned and promising singers together with popular bands have been performing at the festival with the theme "Dui Bangla: Seemana Periye, EkSur-e”.
Bengal Group, Bandhan Bank, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC1) and Nothing Beyond Cinema jointly organised the festival.
The visionary of the festival - Abul Khair, chairman of Bengal Group; Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, MD and CEO Bandhan Bank; Arindam Sil, chairman and MD, Nothing Beyond Cinema; and Indrajit Sen, president, BCCI, spoke at the opening ceremony. Eminent Bangladeshi thespian Ramendu Majumdar also spoke, among others, at the event.
The organisers honoured two eminent singers - Sabina Yasmin (Bangladesh) and Arati Mukherjee (India) - with Jibon Kriti Samman (Lifetime Achievement Awards) for their lifelong contributions to Bangla music. When the two living legends took the stage, several timeless songs they recorded were played.
Apart from the organisers, the Sports Minister of West Bengal, India Arup Biswas felicitated the awardees.
"I am extremely elated to receive the award. I am overjoyed to have received the award with Arati Mukherjee whom 1 am a fan of," said Sabina Yasmin, who later sang part of the song "Shob Kota Janala Khule Dao Na", written and composed by Nazrul Islam Babu and Ahmed Imtiaj Bulbul respectively.
"This festival, jointly organised by the music lovers of Dhaka and Kolkata, is an outstanding one. I want this festival to take place every year," Sabina added in her speech.
The festival, also aiming to diffuse the distinctive musical heritage of Bangladesh in Kolkata, is offering an array of Bangla Music ranging from Panchokobi'r Gaan (songs of five great poets) to Raga-based classics, Taalbadya, Adhunik Bangla songs, folk songs, film songs and Bangla band songs.
Prior to the inauguration of the festival, a colourful Mangai Shobhajatra paraded several streets adjacent to the venue.
Renowned Bangladeshi singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya performed several lesser-known Tagore songs including "Tobo Doya Diye" and "Pran Chaye Chokkhu Na Chaye".
Shubhamita Banerjee, Nachiketa Chakrabarty, Fahmida Nabi and Bappa Mazumder performed Adhunik Bangla songs at the festival while Anupam Roy rendered film songs on the opening day.
A number of Bangladeshi and Indian singers together with contemporary bands Chirkutt (Bangladesh) and Chandrabindu (India) are set to perform at the festival.