Culture / Music
Reimagining Tagore: Non-Bengali Singers and Rabindrasangeet – GetBengal s...
When Rabindranath Tagore’s compositions were rendered by national legends
By Indrajit Sen
A hidden gem on Mirza Ghalib Street selling vintage records—GetBengal sto...
Munna's shop on Mirza Ghalib Street is a reminder of Kolkata's rich musical heritage
Rishav Ghosh breaks taboo by singing on the streets—GetBengal story
Rishav Ghosh's Street Symphony Lights Up Kolkata's Nights
The Bengali trio who designed the Grammy-winning album of Shakti! – GetBe...
Their pride in acknowledging their roots and hometown goes to show how Kolkata has shaped them
‘Boro Lok er Beti Lo’ original singer & composer Ratan Kahar gets Padma...
He is more concerned about the poverty he has fought, yet keeping the folk songs of Birbhum alive
Here’s to the bygone musical ‘bebop’ era of Kolkata - GetBengal story...
Kolkata became the hotbed of jazz music during the 1970s
IAS officer Vivek Kumar’s special Puja release celebrates ‘touch’ - G...
Despite a super busy schedule, Vivek Kumar still finds time for music
Sandhya Mukherjee was a national treasure, which we never saw - GetBengal ...
The renowned singer left us last year
Suchitra Mitra not only sang, but also absorbed Rabindranath’s philosophy...
Remembering on her birthday
An unschooled singer who had no classical training, Kishore Kumar was God...
Remembering the gifted musician on his birth anniversary
Music speaks for Arup Das - a toto driver by profession and a passionate am...
Arup Das often entertains his passengers with his melodious renditions of popular songs
By Shuvra Dey
Kolkata sweet-shop 'Bhim Chandra Nag' sells Ashubhog in memory of Sir Asuto...
The century old shop that was gifted a ‘Bengali’ clock by a British
R.D. Burman's early years in Calcutta, becoming 'Pancham' from Tublu - GetB...
RDB would have turned 84 this year
Steve Pathé Zoutenn: the musical sensation from Central African Republic w...
He keeps posting his songs on Instagram and is flooded with requests for more
By Shuvra Dey
About Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, the god-gifted creator of immortal tunes and me...
Shivaji Chattopadhyay of Bhalobasha Bhalobasha fame remembers the singer
The unusual bond between Hemanta and Uttam, though bent but never broken!
Inseparable on the silver screen, the two were fast friends in real life too
Dipanwita Debnath translated Lepcha songs into Bangla and received Agnikany...
Dipanwita Debnath was not familier with Lepcha songs, nor had she heard them before
How Manna Dey’s immortal Coffee Houser Sei Addata was born
Coffee Houser Sei Addata was released in 1983
Can Music be used to fight climate change? World-famous activist Sukrit Sen...
Sukrit Sen leads the Kolkata Chapter of the Living Waters Museum
Did Rabindranath Tagore write Sri Lanka’s national anthem?
In 1930, a young Samarakoon joined Visva-Bharati as a student of the Arts Department
Purna Das Baul, the man who took Bengal’s baul songs to the global stage
Why was he compared to Bob Dylan?
R D Burman clinked glasses and spoons and thus made music!
He discovered sound in every corner, from shepherds to Asha Bhonsle’s laughter
Mangala Kanti Ray who has preserved the obsolete Sarinda, gets Padma Shri
Each region of India has some unique musical instruments
IAS officer Vivek Kumar once again wins hearts with tribute to Kolkata
In 2021, Kumar had released a single titled Amar Kolkata
Bengal’s rural housewives turn saxophone players
Their music has captivated the masses
By Suman Sadhu
When S.D. Burman was rejected because of his faulty pronunciation!
S.D. Burman was rejected by HMV
By TTW
Rockstar in a Kanjeevaram, the enduring magic of Usha Uthup
The iconic playback and pop singer turned 74 this year
How did Nirmalendu Chowdhury popularise Bangla folk songs
He made Bangla folk popular across the globe
By TTW
Why did Visva Bharati Music Board give a fatwa against Debabrata Biswas
Remembering him on his death anniversary
King of Bengali Folk, Nirmalendu Chowdhury
Nirmalendu Chowdhury was given a hero’s welcome when he returned from Poland after mesmerizing the West with his songs
By TTW
Country's first disc had an Armenian singer from Kolkata
Gauhar Jaan was an Armenian by birth
Debabrata Biswas and his priceless voice
The man who brought a different meaning to Rabindrasangeet
Famous guitarist Denis Stern brings global music to Kolkata
Stern in a conversation with journalist Saheli Mitra
By Saheli Mitra
Kalimpong school makes history, takes India to Swiss global Pipes and Drums...
Kumudini Homes is one of Kalimpong's oldest schools
By TTW
The Dwijendralal we never knew
Looking back at a super achiever on his 160th birthday
Nabanita Ghosh, the musical girl from Uttarpara making waves in Denmark
Ghosh wishes to promote her music, her country’s music, and art through different events and cultural shows on Scandinavian soi
Georgina Haque, the first female Bangladeshi drummer
Haque was inspired by the drummer late Sabbir Qadir
By Mouni Mondal
When RD Burman had called Sivaji Chattopadhyay for 1942: A Love Story
On RD Burman’s birth anniversary a GB exclusive
How Tagore re-introduced Esraj, an Afghani musical instrument
Esraj, the dying instrument that needs to be revived
Tagore’s century old piano put to tune by Kolkata’s Braganza
The piano was brought to Kolkata’s famous musical instrument shop Braganza
Bob Dylan and Purna Das Baul, an immortal friendship
A tribute to Purna Das Baul on World Music Day
By Suman Sadhu
Did you know the singer Hemanta Mukherjee was also a film producer?
Produced Mrinal Sen’s Neel Akasher Neechey and many Bollywood hits
Sufi Master was honoured with a gold medal by Tagore
Ustad Safiur Rahman is a renowned lyricist/composer
By Shuvra Dey
Sunset Musings – where world poets meet Tagore
“Tagore was a polymath. His politics was humanity.”
By Saheli Mitra
Purnadas Baul, Birbhum's gift to world music
Bengal's best-known Baul turns 89
A life dedicated to Lata Mangeshkar
Snehashish Chatterjee has published 12 volumes of Lata Geetkosh
Bangla Tappa, born from Banjara music popularized by Nidhu Babu
It has roots in the musical journey of caravan travellers of north and north-western India
Lata Mangeshkar’s passing should teach us the proper usage of the word ...
Lata Mangeshkar cannot be written about in the past tense
Badal Roy, the global tabla maestro we forgot to remember
He is famed for working with the biggest names in world music
Remembering Subinoy Roy: Doyen of Rabindrasangeet, on his birth centenary y...
Roy was honored with Visva-Bharati's highest honour, Desikottam and the State Sangeet Academy Award
By Shuvra Dey
How did Hemango Biswas pick his tunes
Daughter Rongili Biswas shares some tales of the past
Remembering singer Arati Mukherjee
One of the few female vocalists who shone brightly during the golden era of Bengali music
By Shuvra Dey
'Pujor Gaan', and what happened to it
A special album had to have a Puja release
IAS officer Vivek Kumar's tribute to the city he loves
The additional Chief Secretary of West Bengal is a gifted singer
By Suman Sadhu
Kabir Suman remembers Pannalal Ghosh --- The ‘Flute God’ of India
Ghosh reinvented the classical flute, elevating it to the level of any other solo instrument in classical music
By TTW
'Nostalgia'– Germany’s Bangla Band all set to sing Rabindrasangeet in G...
'Nostalgia' intends to perform popular Bengali band hits in Germany during Durga Pujo
Non-vaccinated Dhakis face difficult future as puja pandals imposes restric...
Dhakis wait with bated breath for offers from pujo committees as organizers tighten covid protocols in pandals this year
By Shuvra Dey
'Why do we only hear the dhaak during Durga Puja?'
Inspired by tabla maestro Tanmoy Bose, Gokul Chandra Das is not merely bringing the dhaak into the musical mainstream, but inspiring others in turn
How did Bengal’s only classical music gharana originate?
Tracing the rise and fall of Bishnupur Gharana
Village Kirtaniya from Mangalkot takes Bengal’s Sreekhol online to overse...
Bengal’s khol goes to the West through online lessons
By Shuvra Dey
Remembering the mystic music of Bhaba Pagla
In celebration of Bhaba Pagla’s deeply philosophical spirit
“It’s late in God’s house, but it’s not dark’ proves Malda’s vi...
Bhagaban Mali has been felicitated by the Community Policing Wing
From Baans to Bottle Taranga, Somnath Bandopadhyay creates musical instrume...
Bandyopadhyay’s miniature replicas of musical instruments are an instant eye-catcher
By Shuvra Dey
Famous Field Recordist Deben Bhattacharya who made Music on desert roads
Meet the Bengali who introduced Bengal’s traditional folk music to the world arena
Dhrupad maestro Bahadur Khan popularized the Bishnupur Gharana
Was Bahadur Khan honoured by king of Bishnupur?
Did Tagore compose Jana Gana Mana in praise of King George V?
Well, the answer is NO and was clarified by the poet himself in a letter written in 1937
Abdul Ahad –Rabindrasangeet exponent who directed even Pankaj Mallick and...
The Bangladeshi musical talent who helped Rabindrasangeet gain fame among the masses
By TTW
Gauhar Jaan of Calcutta- The first to record Hindustani classical music on ...
Gramophone started its debut in Hindustani Classical with Gauhar Jaan
By Indrajit Sen
Reviving the Bengali kirtan, the music of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
A young musical scholar is on a mission to repopularise an ancient Bengali musical form
Gramophone Records, a big hit at Guddu Bhai’s seven decades old shop
‘Vibrations’ — a mecca for all music aficionados
By Mouni Mondal
Robin Ghosh: Musician who gave the biggest hits in Pakistani movie industry...
Pakistan’s music lovers miss Bengali Maestro’s melody
By Shuvra Dey
Bhorai Kirtan – The dying music of Burdwan
How the Vaishnava cult gave rise to a traditional form of music and dance
The ‘Shehnai’ family of Kolkata who played at the Buckingham palace
Ustad Ali Ahmed Hussein khan, the man behind Doordarshan’s signature tune
By Shuvra Dey
Low notes: How 2021 will treat our music industry
The ‘Covid year’ was a disaster, but will 2021 bring any cheer to the music industry?
A final farewell to the doyen of Bengal's folk culture
Sudhir Chakraborty wasn't just an expert on the various folk arts of Bengal, but an institution
By Rahul Sen
Harmonium’ by Dwarkin created a revolution in Bengal’s musical journey
Who founded Dwarkin? Was it a Bengali or British company?
Is Ektara also played in Rajasthan and Sind?
It may be the oldest stringed instrument in the Indian subcontinent
Bishnupur Gharana travelled to Murshidabad
Radhika Prasad Goswami was appointed as the music teacher of Maharaja’s school
Gouri Prasanna Majumdar, the golden man of Bengali ‘movie song’ nostalg...
Did he get his due recognition even during his lifetime?
Music department of Don Bosco Kolkata, creates a global musical bond throug...
We are the World spreads message of love and unity
Online concerts: Here to stay?
The Covid crisis has forced performing artistes to devise ways to get their art across to audiences online, but are we ready for it yet?
Journey of a maestro never ends – that’s what Mohan Singh’s life prov...
His exclusive memoirs come to an end
By Suman Sadhu
Mohan Singh regrets that his talented son hardly got an audience when alive...
Many praised him after his death
By Suman Sadhu
Sourindro Mohun Tagore of Pathuriaghata was the Father of Fusion Music & fu...
How Queen Victoria asked him to do translations of her songs
Deep impact of Rabindrasangeet on a non-Bengali singer
Mohan Singh reminisces how Tagore influenced him
By Suman Sadhu
Influencers in Rabindrasangeet exponent Mohan Singh’s life
The singer speaks himself of all those who inspired him
By Suman Sadhu
Singer Mohan Singh feels we must celebrate music as a whole and not box it ...
How did Tagore chance upon Bhanga Gaan?
By Suman Sadhu
Hooghly’s poor tribal girl Chandmani Hembrom is an extraordinary musical ...
She gets chance in Indian Idol and Bollywood for her songs
How Rabindrasangeet and Santidev Ghosh influenced Mohan Singh
On a life-long musical pilgrimage at Santiniketan
By Suman Sadhu
Rabindrasangeet stalwart Mohar di made a mess while cooking khichuri!
Singer Mohan Singh remembers that fateful day
By Suman Sadhu
Farmer’s daughter from Bengal, dances her way to America’s Got Talent s...
Bad Salsa and Sonali-Sumanth duo
Showering in the rain of melody – Mohan Singh and wife Suchismita
Missing his lady love
By Suman Sadhu
Mohan Singh remembers his guru Ashesh Bandopadhyay, a stalwart of Bishnupur...
Learning Bengali initiated a life-long love affair for him
By Suman Sadhu
Why singer Mohan Singh never had a big fan following?
He sings for his own upliftment and loves difficult numbers
By Suman Sadhu
Mohan Singh is not just a Rabindrasangeet exponent, he is a classical exper...
Why has Bengali audience ignored his classical style?
By Suman Sadhu
Singer Mohan Singh’s son Bikram is still alive, despite his early death
Bikram’s enthusiasm and lively nature touched all
By Suman Sadhu
Bikram Singh Khangura was a rebel poet and carefree soul
Mohan Singh’s elder son led a life on his own terms
By Suman Sadhu
Folk singers of rural Bengal spreading COVID-19 awareness through songs
Taking Baul and Jhumur song route
On his birthday, tracing how Manna Dey started singing for Uttam Kumar
Even after a century the duo is alive
Eminent singer Santidev Ghosh called some voices ‘uncultured!’ Why?
Mohan Singh discusses the importance of classical music lessons
By Suman Sadhu
Singer Mohan Singh’s beloved son Bikram, a talented musician died young
How his two sons also took to music
By Suman Sadhu
Mohan Singh’s favourite ‘Mohar Di’ Kanika Bandopadhyay
How she persuaded Mohan to stay back in Santiniketan
By Suman Sadhu
Did you know Ramkinkar Baij was a dramatist and not just a famous sculptor?...
Singer Mohan Singh speaks on this rare talent
By Suman Sadhu
Did you know famous actor Balraj Sahani taught in Santiniketan?
Listen to anecdotes shared by Rabindrasangeet exponent Mohan Singh
By Suman Sadhu
Did you know Pt Ravi Shankar sang a Bengali Film song?
GB plays an exclusive recording of the song on his birthday
When Ustad Amir Khan cooked ‘Bageshree Kanara’ for eminent singer Mohan...
Listen to the maestro in his own words
By Suman Sadhu
Eminent singer Mohan Singh shares his love story and how he picked up Benga...
Listen to the maestro in his own words
By Suman Sadhu
Mohan Singh Khangura recalls lessons with his teacher Nemai Chand Boral
Listen to the maestro about his life at Santiniketan
By Suman Sadhu
How Mohan Singh Khangura landed in Santiniketan from Punjab
Listen to the maestro in his own words
By Suman Sadhu
Pratima Barua who kept alive the folk music of Rajbangshis in Assam
Champion of Goalporia folk music and songs
Satyajit Ray made a bride of Jorasanko Thakurbari sing for his movie
How Amiya Tagore came out of the andarmahal to sing for Kanchenjungha
BITM to showcase German machine used to record Rabindranath Tagore’s voic...
Tagore’s own rendition of poetry and music to come alive
Kolkata’s Hemen & Co served musical maestros from Baba Allauddin Khan to ...
Small shop on Rashbehari Avenue with global musician clients
Indubala Devi – the singing sensation of 1915 Calcutta!
Trained by none other than Gauhar Jaan
Lyricist composer Ranjan Prasad traces the renaissance of contemporary Beng...
From Tagore to present day rock performances
Celebrate Bengal’s only classical music gharana at Bishnupur Music Festiv...
Festival starts on 10th January
Queen of Christmas songs & pop, Usha Uthup teams up with Bappi Lahiri ...
Duo reunite after 3 decades
Turn Back Time with Kolkata’s famous rock group The Jellibellies
Where? When? Why?
Famous composer Simon Thacker from Scotland tours Bengal for the love of Ba...
Tours with his double album Trikala
By Suman Sadhu
Dama Dam Mast Qalandar girl Runa Laila to perform at Eden from 8pm today! ...
How this popular Bangladeshi singer had taken Indian audience by storm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALIL CHOWDHURY! GB Exclusive with his daughter Antara
Antara Chowdhury on an exclusive interview about her father
By Suman Sadhu
Burdwan’s 9-year-old Priti is the new Indian ‘Superstar’ ...
Priti Bhattacharya wins coveted ‘Superstar Singer’ reality show!
Santiniketan’s Udayan comes alive with Shataborsho Porey
Eclectic evening with Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee’s magical performance
Bengal’s Baul invents new musical instrument -- Taramandal
A mix of Dotara and Surmandal
Krishna Chattopadhyay – nightingale of devotional songs who lost her ...
On her birth anniversary GB traces her musical journey
By Supriya Roy
Why did Gokul Chandra break patriarchy and train women?
How a man from a Bengal village made a Team of Women Dhaakis
Kumar Sanu is back with Pujo album Kheyali Din
Music Composer Kinjal Chatterjee speaks on the album
By Rakhi Biswas
Famous song ‘2441139, Bela Bose’ almost landed Anjan Dutta in c...
Did the telephone number 2441139 actually exist?
Two Bengali songs sung today at the World Cup Cricket
A great moment of pride for Bengal
RD Burman’s Dum Maro Dum had upset SD Burman. Why?
RD Burman’s Dum Maro Dumhad upset SD Burman. Why?
Goddess of Music, Saraswati, was worshipped in brothels of Kolkata
How babus of Kolkata patronized the music deity’s worship
Original tune of Vande Mataram is lost! How and why?
The song that was written a century ago
Remembering Mohiner Ghoraguli, the band far ahead of times
On Gautam Chattopadhyay’s birthday
Actor Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee lends his soulful voice to Tagore’s son...
New digital album of his songs
Celebrating 100 years of Manna Dey!
Look into the Uttam Kumar- Manna Dey jugalbandi
Did you know poet Nazrul Islam’s music was rejected by Viswabharati? ...
Rabindranath Tagore finally came to his rescue
Musician Gautam Chattopadhyay and Mohiner Ghoraguli
The man who deconstructed Bengal’s musical psyche
Singer Rupankar Bagchi speaks to GB on music and much more
He has won hundreds of hearts by being just ‘Him’
By Suman Sadhu
Meet ‘Bengali Aunty’ Sawan Dutta and peep into her versatile vi...
Song-writer, arranger, singer and much more
By Saheli Mitra
Anatara Chowdhury speaks on Salil Chowdhury and much more
How have Bengali songs evolved over the years?
By Suman Sadhu
Let’s look out for a true baul on World Music Day
Indrajit Sen on his tryst with a baul in Aila ravaged Sunderbans
By Indrajit Sen
Incredible tale of making Salil Chowdhury’s Pagol Hawa
How singer Jatileshwar was stumped by Salil da
How Satyajit Ray made Indir Thakrun sing!
Chunibala Devi’s immortal song of Pather Panchali
Singer from Siliguri keeps Manna Dey alive
Pintu Goswami pays an incredible homage to Manna Dey every day!
By Bapi Ghosh
Renowned singer Sahana Bajpaie to perform in Kolkata on V-Day
She speaks to GB about her favourite city and future plans
By Saheli Mitra
GB exclusive on Joideb Kenduli Mela
Sanghamitra Das Banerjee on bauls, fakirs and many more
Ekla Cholo Re with Shreya Ghoshal!
GB exclusive -- Shreya Ghoshal at Berklee College of Music
Samantak: The Gaaner Opare phenomenon
He leads the next generation music trend in Bengal
By Saheli Mitra
Sahana Bajpaie, globetrotting singer with a Bangali heart
Sahana still misses Santiniketan and Bangladesh
By Saheli Mitra
Baul Sanghamitra Das tries to preserve Bengal’s folk songs
This student from Santiniketan speaks on her baul performances
By Saheli Mitra
Baul who was called India’s Bob Dylan!
How Purna Das popularised baul songs in the West
Music director Prabuddha Banerjee on Bhalobashar Shohor
Deconstructing an iconic song was a challenge for him
By Indrajit Sen
Salil Chowdhury’s wife Sabita is no more.
We bid adieu to Sabita Chowdhury, yet Boukatha kao pakhi will play on forever.
By Tale spin