Iwould like to reflect a bit on the letters that my father wrote. Other than innumerable folk songs he composed, these letters have a special place in his life and are worth a read. He had often exchanged letters with singer Debabrata Biswas. Some of these
Bengal has always had a rich legacy of musical forms since ancient times but one classical form introduced in Bengal had its roots in the musical journey of caravan travelers of north and northwestern India. An extremely niche form of music that found its place in
The year was 1947, with India about to take its place in the world as an independent nation. As freedom came ever closer, a 22-year-old songwriter-composer wrote a song about the horrors of the great Bengal famine of 1943, which he had witnessed first hand.
In 1984, New York Times had hit a headline about a Baul from Bengal. It carried an article describing famous Purna Das Baul as India’s Bob Dylan! By then Purna Das had successfully taken the rustic folk songs of Bengal to a global audience, performing
For those who cherish the nostalgia of long-playing records from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, a hidden gem on Mirza Ghalib Street continues to cater to their needs. This shop is a haven for music enthusiasts, offering records spanning a wide range of genres and
Picture this: the late Dr M. Balamuralikrishna, one of the greatest exponents of Carnatic music in history, in front of a microphone in a Kolkata studio, rendering his version of Anandaloke Mangalaloke and Aguner Parashmani. The entire studio listening mesmerised, even jaded music arrangers and
Music appreciation can happen anywhere, from lively concerts to impromptu performances in cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, and even on the streets. Imagine singing your heart out on a bustling sidewalk, with passersby pausing to listen, perhaps even joining in. These moments bring a refreshing break
Grammy and Kolkata! The musical Bengalis do have something to be proud of and that too coming from a bunch of Kolkata youngsters. This year’s Grammy-winning Shakti band which won the Grammy for Best Global Music for their album, This Moment, owes its album design to
Padma Bhushan Ratan Kahar, aka 'Pagla Sursadhak', Birbhum, West Bengal He is often called the ‘Pagla Sursadhak’ (mad musician) by the villagers of Birbhum, as he steps along the red laterite village paths of Suri, at times he is seen running along and singing some of
Carlton Kitto, a bebop jazz enthusiast in India Though the world outside Bengal gleefully relates Kolkata only with Rabindrasangeet, music in Bengal has much more to offer. Startling but true, Kolkata became the hotbed of jazz music during the 1970s. The last of the jazz mavericks