Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee’s ‘Confluence’ event in Delhi celebrated Tagore’s global influence featuring international poets and a soulful performance by Srovonti Basu Bandopadhyay, reports Ruchira, exclusively for Different Truths.
It was a cultural event of a different kind. And most appropriately, the audience for the evening was at once elite as well as eclectic. The solitary thread that united them was that all of them were hard-core Tagore aficionados. organized and hosted by a reputed high-profile travel agency in town, its venue was Amaltas Auditorium in the Capital’s chic and elegant India Habitat Centre. Retired bureaucrats, diplomats, and performing artists, viz Sharon Lowen, and Shobhna Narayan, vocalist Reba Som and (RS) MP Jawhar Sircar were present on the occasion.
Noted Kolkata-based inter-disciplinary artist- cum film actor Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee who is also a prominent member of the country’s Pride Movement /Gender Minority activities was the cynosure of all eyes on that evening.
His Brainchild titled “Confluence” was an amazing endeavour to accord Tagore an exalted position along with his global contemporaries such as Khalil Gibran (Lebanese American), Pablo Neruda (Chile), Federico Garcia Lorca (Spain), and several others. Though hailing from diverse regions of the globe, there still exists an underlying thread of unity that binds these flamboyant personalities together. These include elements of mysticism, surrealism, peace, universal brotherhood, and the ideal of true love almost invariably ending in tragedy. Moreover, it’s well-known that Tagore regarded his first name (meaning the radiant Sun) as a symphony of global unity.
These lofty thoughts amply reverberated in the hearts and minds of the audience. They listened with rapt attention while Sujoy read extracts from the oeuvres of other poets in the galaxy e.g., modern US poet Elizabeth Bishop famous for her objective description and distant point of view. Then there was the Palestinian Taha Mahamud Ali Khan who having been born in a war-torn West Asia, emerged as an advocate of peace.
Clad in a fuchsia-black ensemble accessorised by a fantastic neck trinket the artist enthralled the audience…
Clad in a fuchsia-black ensemble accessorised by a fantastic neck trinket, the artist enthralled the audience with that famous voice of his.
However, what made the occasion more vibrant, and enchanting was the mellifluous rendition of Tagore songs (Rabindra sangeet) by none other than Srovonti Basu Bandopadhyay who is an accomplished singer, a fiery journalist in a renowned media house as well as a popular home-dining hostess, all rolled into one. Indeed, each song scrupulously handpicked, appeared to suit the ambience and occasion perfectly.
Srovonti followed with some soul-stirring lyrics tinged with love and elements of mysticism…
It was Sujoy who set the ball rolling with his presentation of “Sakatre kandhiche oi “ a familiar prayer song penned by Tagore and based on Carnatic musical traditions. Srovonti followed with some soul-stirring lyrics tinged with love and elements of mysticism e.g., ‘Amar hiyar majhe’, ‘Tumi rabe nirobe’, besides ‘Tumi kon bhanganer pathe elay‘. Her soulful appeal for Universal peace, ‘Barisha dhara majhe’ deserves special mention.
Attired in shimmering black and gold, which jelled with her huge dark eyes and curly tresses, Srovonti delivered her master stroke in her last song “Khamite parilam na…” culled from Tagore’s musical tragedy Shyama – an epitome of unrequited love! The song’s poignancy and pathos must have surely aroused emotion in every heart.
After resounding success in London and Kolkata, Sujoy brought his presentation to the National Capital, a metropolis he lived and worked in, a few decades earlier. Therefore, the freshly garnered success must be overwhelming for him. Au Revoir Chatterjee. We look forward to your return to your beloved city with yet another scintillating production!
Photos and a video clip sourced by the author.
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