A small Saraswati Puja pandal in a south Kolkata neighbourhood. Sunday morning has begun with the nth rendition of Chikni Chameli blaring from loudspeakers. Suddenly, silence descends. Everything is switched off. In a hushed voice, one young man tells another, “Bhai, Lata mara gechhe ektu aage
Amarendra Roy Chowdhury. Name ring a bell? What about Badal Roy? Still no? Well, the New York Times calls him “an Indian tabla player whose drumming propelled East-West fusions for some of the most prominent musicians in and out of jazz”, and he died of
2021 marks the birth centenary of ‘Sangeetacharya’ Subinoy Roy, a teacher par excellence whose melodious performance and extraordinary skills as trainer have been charming generations. He was different in his style, compared to the era he came from, yet captivated his audience with his rendition
Legendary singer Arati Mukherjee hails from the golden era of Bengali music, a genre that will always remain ensconced in the heart of Bengali audience. The popularity of a vast treasure-trove of evergreen numbers sung by legends like Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Manna De, Shyamal
There are many who know that Vivek Kumar, additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, is a gifted singer. For those who don't, a new single released by the veteran IAS officer on the occasion of Diwali ought to fill the gap. The
Since long, flutes were just stout musical instruments used as accompaniment for folk music. But then came one Bengali musician who gave a makeover to the familiar flute and elevated it to another level altogether as an independent classical instrument. He is credited to have
Rock culture is not new to India. When the world was listening to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel in the 1960s, Indian Rock rolled into the picture with the Raga Rock; a style of music which involves the fusion of western
A scene that was so familiar every year infront of Sealdah station even a few years back --- Dhakis in groups landing in Kolkata from distant villages and congregating in front of Sealdah station, playing their ‘dhak’ in unison and reaching a crescendo now and
With Durga Puja imminent, and the music of the dhaak beginning to play in our hearts, most of us think that this is the only time of year when we get to hear these incredibly evocative beats. But is it really? Is the dhaak finally
In the myriad world of classical music, Bishnupur Gharana has since long made its presence felt and left an unforgettable mark. It has an identity of its own, that is completely unique, devoid of the influence of other classical gharanas. Bishnupur Gharer Gaan and instrumentals