Music for monsoon

Sara Chatterjee works as a climate change and sustainability service professional at a private organisation.

Sara Chatterjee works as a climate change and sustainability service professional at a private organisation. However,on a sultry June afternoon,the 42-year-old New Alipore resident,who has earned the prestigious Sangeet Visharad in classical vocal,along with four other women and a lone man enthralled the 150-odd gathering at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture auditorium with a mixed palette of songs,poetry,narration,dance and entertainment in a plea to welcome the monsoon.

Sara,who has performed in the US and Bangladesh,said,This is my passion. I sing with a lot of joy and it brings immense happiness whenever I perform. However,I never thought of taking it up as a fulltime profession.

According to Sara,her mother had always inspired and supported her from a very tender age. Now with a demanding job and a four-year-old child,its not very easy. But the glee and calmness which comes during riyaaz is pure bliss, she said on the sidelines of the function.

Titled Boroshoner Poroshone (The touch of rains),the function was organised strategically on the eve of Ashaar 1,according to the Bengali calendar,which marks the beginning of monsoon.

Sara Chatterjee,Dalia Dasgupta and Tilak Gupta sang compositions by Rabindranath Tagore,Atul Prasad,Nazrul Islam and Dijendra Lal Roy while Padmini Chatterjee and Poulomi Chatterjee danced to these evergreen melodies. Madhumita Basu eloquently read out and recited pieces from Tagore,Jibanananda Das and Joy Goswami. They were all skilfully aided by Rana Dutta on the keyboard and Samit Ghosh on tabla.

Organised by Padakkhep,a group of musically inclined,artistic and talented individuals in the fields of art and music,the 90-minute joint performance managed to keep the audience,barring an impatient six-year-old,glued to their seats.

So how was Padakkhep formed? It was started from an idea to provide a cultural platform for people who want to showcase their talents. Around a year or two back,we did perform in a small Poila Boisakh adda. Another performance on the theme of Bangla Gaaner Ekaal Sekaal was also organised along with a few other occasions when we rejoiced the beauty and elegance of music. This is our first performance on stage. In the near future,we will use various other themes,including one on Salil Choudhury, Sara said.

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Songs like Nishito Raater Badol Dhaara,Mor Bhabonare Ki Haway Mataalo and Sakhi Bandhlo Jhulania and Joy Goswamis poem Meghbalikar Jonno Rupkatha were a treat to the senses.

Sarod exponent Raju Chakroborty,who was present as a guest,lauded the efforts of the organisers. This is a one-of-a-kind initiative. It feels good to be part of an evening where these artistes are welcoming the monsoon through songs,dance,music and thoughts, Chakroborty said.

In a pleasant co-incidence,monsoon hit Kolkata on Ashaar 1 bringing relief to residents.

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Rabindranath Tagore

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