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Two concerts feature songs of yesteryears

At a concert on December 6, the focus was Bengali theatre and its music, specifically songs, used in cinema or chhaya-chhabi right from its birth on screen in the early twentieth century. Over the years, these film-songs were influenced by the popular genre of theatre or Mancha-Gatha.
The songs touch all aspects of life — romance, weddings, funerals, rituals, get-togethers, even protests — and emerge as a medium to articulate every shade of joy and sorrow, love and longing, hope and despair. "In films like Sita and Alibaba, made in the 1930s, the songs from the original plays were used. We have covered the period from 1917 to 2017 in the concert. Also, some films from Bangladesh which have used songs from their theatre have been used", director of the event Devajit Bandopadhyay told Millennium Post.
The concert was held at the Academy of Fine Arts where singers like Riddhi Bandyopadhyay and Devajit Bandyopadhyay performed, the narrator was Samiul Islam Poluck (Bangladesh), the script and direction was by Devajit Bandyopadhyay and his team, Academy Theatre Production.
Songs like Keno Dekha Dile (Jor Borat), Aar Rekhona Amay (Notir Puja) by Riddhi Bandyopadhyay, Aji Esechhi (Shahjahan/Film-Balika Badhu), Karar Ei Lauha Kapat (Jibon Theke Neya) by Devajit Bandyopadhyay are worth a mention.
In another concert, poets and songwriters like Tagore, Dwijendralal, Atulprasad, Rajanikanta, Himanshu Dutta, Dilip Kumar Roy who enriched the horizon of Bengali music scene with their melodious creations were showcased.
Many of the songs got instant fame but many went unnoticed. Riddhi Bandyopadhyay, a noted vocalist, known for her brand "Pancha Kabir Gaan" initiated and conceptualized a musical, Smriti Bismritir Gaan", at Abanindra Gallery (ICCR).
The venture was jointly initiated by 'Riddhi A Step for Music' and ICCR. Singers like Riddhi Bandyopadhyay, Haimanti Shukla, Devajit Bandyopadhyay, Lopamudra Mitra, Sahana Bakshi performed at the event.
What's more, an audio CD titled PRONAAM featuring songs of Atul Prasad Sen was released on Perennial Records. Interestingly it features a song by legendary film actor Pahari Sanyal which came up for the first time in an audio CD. The rest of the six songs have been rendered by Riddhi Bandyopadhyay. 'Ke Abar Bajay Banshi', 'Ami Jabona Ghore' (Riddhi Bandyopadhyay), 'Ami Okriti Adham', 'Keu Nayan Mude' (Sahana Bakshi), 'Swapan Parer Daak Shunechhi', 'Ulangini Nache Ranarange' (Lopamudra Mitra), 'Jibon Marane Eso', 'Jodi Diyechho Badhuya' (Sudip Bandyopadhyay), 'Aji Esechhi Badhu Hey,' 'Dhano Dhanyo Pushpe Bhora' (Devajit Bandyopadhyay), 'Diyechho Jibon Amrito Soman', 'Phir Kisiki Yaad Ayi' (Haimanti Shukla) were presented. Undoubtedly, it was an unforgettable evening meant for music buffs.
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