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Every year during Durga Puja, several music albums are released. It’s a cultural legacy of the Bengalis worldwide. Ruchira reviews some of the 2022 music releases in an exclusive Special Feature for Different Truths.
Every year the autumn season heralds the advent of Sharadiya Durga Puja. Rated as one of the most spectacular festivals, it is celebrated by anyone remotely connected to the gamut of the Bengali language and culture. From Lucknow to Los Angeles, Delhi to Durban, myriads of Bengalis look forward to this five-day fiesta with a feverish eagerness and mad frenzy. The keynote of Durga Puja is adda-khawa- gaan (chat/gossip, binging and songs), not necessarily in that order. In earlier decades, artists and performers waited for the release of their musical albums barely days before or sometimes even coinciding with the Puja.
Music Album Releases
Since Bengalis have been notorious for splurging during this festive season, the albums sell like hot cakes. Now, the times are changing. The advancement of technology has enabled music companies and production houses to release albums throughout the year. Nevertheless, old habits die hard. Hence the Puja seasons still witness a flurry of activities and music album releases.
This year … Iman Chakrabarty’s Aigiri Nandini album consists of excerpts from the sacred Sri Chandi Stotram scriptures.
This year, the singing sensation (of Prakton fame) Iman Chakrabarty’s Aigiri Nandini album consists of excerpts from the sacred Sri Chandi Stotram scriptures. The album has already garnered immense popularity. However, old-school folks like me who grew up listening to the same chanting flawlessly rendered by the celebrity couple, Gobindo Gopal and Madhuri Mukhopadhyay (HMV 45 rpm), are bound to be a tad disappointed. Sadly, the solemnity and religious fervour exuded by the duo are missing here. The exceptionally talented crooner appears keener on sensationalism than anything else. To each his own, I guess.
Another singing superstar Anupam Roy has dished up a highly romantic song Ga Chhunye Bolchhi. Its video is already creating ripples. When youngsters are hogging the limelight, how can veterans like Nachiketa Chakrabarty lag? Nachida’s latest album ‘Jhawrer Dal’ has just seen the light of the day. In this, he has teamed up with another noted artist Sudeshna Ganguli. The background music is captivating.
Sanskrit Songs
The vibrant, young Dr Utsab Das is agog with excitement. Two of his renditions in pure Sanskrit Narayani Stuti and Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu — excerpts from Matri Stotram — have been released by Angel Digital and CoZmikHarmony, respectively. Minimal instrument use, focus on bold presentation, and clear diction is unmistakable. For him, it is a dream come true; naturally, Utsab is overflowing with gratitude towards Sri Lokeswaranandaji Maharaj and Ruma Bose, who coached him in Sanskrit hymns and texts during his boyhood association with Ramakrishna Mission, Golpark.
Suchhanda Ghosh has gone into an emotional, nostalgic mode this Puja following the release of two of her songs.
The graceful, suave Suchhanda Ghosh has gone into an emotional, nostalgic mode this Puja following the release of two of her songs. The first one, Dekho 2 shuktara, which she claims opens a floodgate of childhood memories for her, was released on her YouTube Channel. The second, Dibasa Rajani ami jeno (released by Bhavna records), is a romantic ditty from Tagore’s dance-drama Mayar Khela. After a series of glitches and tiny mishaps during the production, the lady finally heaves a sigh of relief before letting her hair down and listening to her favourite number.
Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths
