| Manomoy Bhattacharya |
In this ambience,
therefore, the debut of a young Bengali singer
in the field of music and that too truly deserves
praise. MANOMAY BHATTACHARYA has a sweet voice
and he is no flash-in-the-pan. He has had solid
training in music at the age of 4 under the vigilant
guidance of father Sri Dhrubadas Bhattacharya,
a disciple of Subinoy Roy, and mother Ila Bhattacharya,
a disciple of Ratneswar Mukherjee.
Later MANOMAY places himself under the tutelage
of Benukumar Dobey, Bibhuti Bose & Jayanta
Bose, who trained him a finer nuance of Classical
music. He learnt Tagore songs from father and
various items of songs viz. Nazrul Geeti, Rajnikanter
Gaan, Atulprasad, Dewijendra Geeti, Ragpradhan,
Bhajan & Modern Bengali songs from illustrious
teachers like Biman Mukhopadhyay, Sukumar Mitra,
Dilip Roy, Anal Chattopadhyay, Sanjay Chakraborty,
Jatileshwar Mukhopadhyay and still in close touch
with Pandit Ajay Chakraborty with whom varied
songs are learnt.
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Achievements:
• 1st in Tagore songs
from Rabindra Bharati Society, 2nd in Tagore songs
from Nehru Children’s Museum, Kolkata.
• 1st in Nazrul, Rajnikanta, Modern Bengali
songs from West Bengal State Music Academy.
• 1st in Ragpradhan from Dover Lane Music
Academy, 2nd in Bhajan from Dover Lane.
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Qualified and approved singer of I.C.C.R.
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1st in TV competition “Gaan Sudhu Gaan”.
• Playback in Suvo-Maharat (Film) Directed
by Rituparno Ghosh.
• Anchor person in
popular doordarshan programme "Gan aro gan",
"Sasurbari Baperbari" (Song Deptt.) at
Zee Bangla. |
Performances:
• Sang for TV serials
like “Ananya”, “Adhikaar”,
“Mahaaprabhu”, "Keyaa Paataar Noukaa",
“Munsiganjer Raajbaari”, “Khaas
Taranga” and “Achin Purer Ami”.
• Participated in State programme in
different parts of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Coochbehar, Bishnupur, Jalpaiguri and other parts
of North Bengal & also participated in different
parts of Kolkata & West Bengal organised by
private enterprises in all the items of music learnt
as mentioned above.
• Approved singer
of All India Radio (Kolkata) for the last 25 years
(as a child artiste and now a B-high artiste)
• Approved artist of Indian Council for Cultural
Relation (I.C.C.R) |
Albums:
• Saagarika (Parichay
/ Uttamkumar Sraddhanjali)
• Atlantis
(Phirey Eso / Surer Jhankarey)
• Gaan
Aamaar Praan / Anek Aaageli Aastey / Tomakey Jaa
Balaar Chhilo (H.M.V.)
• Sundar Prithivee,
Chirodiner Saathi from Prime Music.
•
Anyarakam (Cosmic Music)
• Bhavna (Jeevaner
Dhubatara) Rabindra Sangeet
• Aamar Gaan
/ Priyojan / Kato Naame Ma from Prime Music.
• Padyapare Rabindranath from Sagarika |
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| Aniruddh's
Band |
Anirudhh's name has been synonymous with Karaoke
music for quite some time now. The same orchestra
which has performed with superstars like Sonu
Nigam, Alka Yagnik and Hariharan are now performing
in Anirudhh's band. The orchestra group, along
with some of the vocalists who would perform Saturday,
has produced an incredible 136 karaoke disks
ranging from oldies to modern songs. If you
are a karaoke fanatic, you would need no second
introduction to this fabulous mix of talents.
The vocal talents in this group have been handpicked
by Anirudhh form popular Indian TV shows like
Tara Bangla, Indian Idol and Fame Gurukul. Some
of the performers you shall experience Saturday
include:
Rafi Mohammed Nazir is a renowned playback
singer in Bengali and Hindi films, Nazir own numerous
awards for his musical talents. He also has several
albums to his credit, the latest of which specializes
in Sufi music. Rafi Nazir shall take you back
to the golden days with soulful rendering of Bengali
and Hindi songs by Rafi and others. He is a disciple
of Pr Ajay Chakraborty and Jayanta Bose.
Ravi Shukla is an Indian Idol runner-up.
He specializes in more modern songs and is lovingly
called Himesh Reshamiya of Kolkata by his fans.
He is recently working with A R Rahman for some
yet-to-be-made-public movies. Ravi, too, is a
student of Pt Ajay Chakraborty.
Laxmi Rao is a talent from Hyderabad currently
reciding in US. She specializes in melodious Hindi
oldies.
Aniruddh has literally invented Karaoke
style in Indian music. He has rendered his voice
in many of his own productions. Aniruddh is a
disciple of Bhupen Hajarika and has worked with
stalwarts like Kalyanji-Anandji and Salil Chowdhury
while creating the Karaoke tracks. He loves rendering
Mukesh's songs.
The orchestra is comprised of lead guiter, leather
percussion, octapad/drums, and keyboard.
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| “Megh”,
a bengali drama directed by Mr. Robin Poddar |
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TheaterLab
presents:
Utpal Dutta's MEGH |
Story:
Megh is a psychological thriller set in sixties
Calcutta. SAMARESH SANYAL, a successful novelist
suddenly becomes schizophrenic and moves to a Calcutta
suburb to avoid the city life. He moves with MADHURI,
his wife, in a house built by his father in a remote
area of Patipukur.
He becomes obsessed with death and throw himself
in writing a murder mystery. He claims that, in
his new novel, the killer will never be caught.
His family doctor becomes concerned with his new
found passion. He advises Madhuri to keep Samaresh
sedated. Situation starts getting complicated by
nosey neighbors and turns to worst when his previous
love interest SUJATA, suddenly, appears to his door
step.
Sujata tries to blackmail Samaresh using the past
love letters that he wrote to her. Samaresh fears
Sujata is about to destroy his marriage. So, he
plans to murder Sujata, like his novel’s
killer, without leaving a single clue.
Will he succeed? |
Direction:
Robin Podder
CAST (in order of appearance)
Dipali Nandi
Sibaprasad Dutta
Pabitra Roy
Robin Podder
Shyamal Nandi
Mila Dasgupta
Joydeep Banerjee
Asamanja Mallik
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OFF STAGE ( alphabetically)
Arnab Chatterjee
Arindam Samanta
Arun Bhattacharya
Arundhuti Bhattacharya
Chiranjib Dasgupta
Chumki Mondal
Dipankar Dasgupta
Kalachand Seal
Pratima Podder
Rahul Podder
Rick Dutta
Saheli Banerjee
Sibabrata Mondal
Suvo Das
Soumya Mukherjee
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| Odissi Dance by Sanchita
Bhattacharya |
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Bestowed with the title Shree
Kshetra Mahari (meaning Devadasi) in 2005
from Jagannath Temple Puri (one of the highest
order for Odissi), phenomenal danseuse Sanchita
Bhattacharya is truly "..an ambassador of
Odissi dance around the world", as says Edmonton
Journal ( 4th June 04 ,Canada). Sanchita, about
whom The New York Times has remarked "....her
dance has been described as perfection, is mesmerising
and wooing the audience world over", from
Madison Sq Garden (in NY, probably the only Indian
classical dancer to perform at this most prestigious
and one of the largest auditoriums in the world),
to Arcosanti Arizona, to Esplanade Theater (Singapore),
to World culture concert (at Hull by UK govt ),
to Provincial Museum Alberta( Canada), to duet
with Tap and Flamingo (Toledo- Spain) to Sankat
Mochan Festival (Varanasi), to Opening Ceremony
of ISCKON temple Delhi graced by then PM Shri
Atal Behari Bajpai to Sutanuti Utsav Kolkata and
many many more.
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A
disciple of both the two resurrector-doyens of
Odissi, Gurus Mayadhar Raut and Padmabibhusan
Kelucharan Mahapatra and a recipient of Kalpataru
Award (2000)from Delhi ,Sanchita is not only a
spellbinding Odissi soloist , she has also represented
Indian Classical dance in many prestigious world
culture forums. She along with Ustad Zakir Hussain
were the only lecturers from Indian Music and
dance in 03, amongst galaxy of high profile lecturers
like Jane Fonda, Dr Deepak Chopra, Margie Gilles
etc at Omega(USA) ,the worlds largest continuing
education center. World culture concert for education
on international culture was organized at Hull
by UK govt (participated by artistes from all
over) where Sanchita was the only artiste invited
to represent India. At the Rocky mountain summit
of Euro- American Noble laureates (04) she was
specially invited to perform at the closing ceremony.
Banking on her strengths- ultimate devotion and
excelling expressions, vigorous and strong footwork
and sculptureous gestures, Sanchita has made her
mark as Odissi choreographer of repute depicting
traditional and humanitarian subjects which are
socially relevant today. Her latest project “The
Draupadi Phenomenon ” demanding dignity
for today’s women has earned accolade all
over.
Sanchita is a web lecturer of the site www.world-body.org,
a global forum dealing with the thoughtful exchange
of ideas, accessible to government of different
countries. She also lecture demonstrated at Duke
University, University of Colorado, Antioch collage,
University of Alberta(Canada) ,University of Duluth
Minnesota , Brown University etc.
She successfully runs Sanchita Dance Foundation
in Calcutta with branches in USA where Odissi
talim is given on one to one basis . She dreams
to build up a movement spreading this unique dance
form and the philosophy of it and to create a
world base for aspiring danseuse.
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| Jugalbandi of
Tabla/Khol by Madhu and Gopal Barman |
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The Inspiration:
For the Barman Brothers, Madhusudan
and Gopal, Inspiration came as early as at the
age of four, from their own father, Late Barendra
Mohan Barman, who established their foundations
as rhythm artist in Tabla and Sreekhole, the two
popular percussion instruments of Indian Classical
Music. The boys displayed amazing dexterity in
the art forms and could hold the audience spellbound
even at the tender age. Gopal Barman, the younger
of the two brothers, went on the specialize in
the intricacies of the Sreekhole from Prof. Sanatan
Saha of Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta.
It was finally the experienced guidance of Pandit
Sankar Ghosh, the Tabla maestro of international
repute, that gave the Barman Brothers the confidence
to perform on the world stage, ever since there
has been no looking back!
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The
Dramatic New Sound of Drums: The
music produced by the Barman Brothers was a novel
jugalbandi or duet of the popular Tabla played
by Madhusudan and the Sreekhole mastered by Gopal.
While the Tabla is making waves in the music of
the east and west, the Sreekhole is a lesser known
Indian Classical instrument, used primarily in
devotional songs. The two brothers recognized
the beauty of the sounds combined and created
a series of novel blends which is nothing less
than dramatic. |
As
pioneers of this dramatic new duet, the dynamic
young duo have not only been able to take Indian
Classical Music to a new dimension, they have
also been able to reach out to a much larger audience,
far beyond the Classical mileu, the new combination
has already left a powerful yet refreshingly different
impact on music lovers, both in India and abroad.
The Sweat & Success:
Propelled by their innate love of music and the
will the excel, the two Barman Brothers soon made
their mark in the forefront of the Indian Classical
Music.
Madhu, went on the receive the prestigious National
Scholarship in 1986-88 from the Ministry of Human
Resource Development, Govt. of India,for his remarkable
maestry of the Tabla. Both Madhu and Gopal were
bestowed the honourary title of 'Sangeet Visharad'
by the Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh. Due to
the immense sense of rhythm and indepth understanding
of music in its purest form they have mastered
the art of other percussioninstruments like the
Dholak as well as the Spanish Guitar, Harmonium,
Keyboards etc. The young Barman Brothers received
welcome support as accompanists to renowned Classical
Artists of India. Their prolonged association
with AIR and TV gave them an opportunity to prove
their mattle as rhythm artists in non-classical
items also.
In persuit of an endeavour to create audio-visual
magic, they have ventured to create a unique n
vast performance with 200 musicians & 130
dancers using al hidian classical instruments
fused with western traditional instruments crossing
all boundaries of music from eastern to western
to folk covering various states of the country
definitive of richness and mystery of our music
that only listeners to the particular brand of
music can only relate and express as to the feeling
of joy that such fusion can create.
Playing to the World:
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| 1989 - |
Madhusudan and Gopal Barman's
performance for NHK (television, Japan), with
"The Music of Drums" conducted by
the great maestro Pdt. Shanka Ghosh left a
lasting impact on the audience. |
| 1990 - |
The audience in England and Walse experienced
the magic of the novel performances. |
| 1995 - |
The Barman Brothers enthralled the audience
in England and Belgium through their performance
of BBC and Granada television.
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| 2000 - |
Acclaimed by journalists in Bangladesh while
performing for Indo-Bangladesh drama festival
as a wonder from the great land of India. |
| 2001 - |
Collected Laurels while performing at 'World
Music Festival' in Spain by representing India
and showing to the world about our knowledge
in rhythm.
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Making
a foray into films:
The field track of proven excellence for a number
of years in music and the zeal in discover new
frontiers has led them to the commercial world
of Indian films. the debut success of the Bengali
movie "Bhagyadevta" opened new doors
of challenge in the world of cinema. Followed
Bollywood with "Meri Pyari Baheniyan Banegi
Dulaniyan" and "Krantikari" and
other future projects leave them with a passion
to create the symphony which is unheard off.
Television was not far behind as they have successfully
created signature tunes for various TV channels
and for the brand "Cygnus" including
The News for Cygnus. Also escorted successfully
is the music for some top rated serials including
the superhit "Goenda X".
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| Sitar by
Maestro Kushal Das, Tabla by Pt. Abhijit
Banerjee |
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Kushal
Das, a north Indian solo sitarist was born to
a highly enriched musical family of Calcutta.
His grandfather Late Bimal Ch. Das was a renowned
Esraj player while his father Shri Sailen Das
and uncle Sri Santanu Das are sitarist-s of high
repute.
Kushal started his talim from the age of seven.
He received intensive and rigorous training in
advanced sitar techniques and the art of music
making under the affectionate guidance of Prof.
Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, the renowned sitar maestro
and academician. He also had the proud privilege
of having learnt from great musicians like, Pt.
Manas Chakraborty, Pt. Ramkrishna Basu and Late
Pt. Ajoy Sinha Roy.
With a profound knowledge of musical understanding
and raga improvisation Kushal is now considered
as one of the foremost torchbearers of the tradition
of Indian classical Instrumental Music. |
The critics and connoisseurs have acknowledged
him as a worthy successor of his idol, the legendary
maestro Late Pandit Nikhil Bandyopadhyay.
His concerts are always marked for their aesthetic
appeal and insight with a fine command of technical
expertise. With maturity as his forte Kushal thus
have the predominant virtues of Indian heritage
and music.
An "A" grade musician of All India Radio
and Television, he is a recipient of Sangeet Visharad
from Pracheen Kala Kendra-of Chandigarh and Sur-Mani
form Sur Singar Samsad of Mumbai.
Kushal has participated in most of the major music
festivals in India. To name a few, Tansen Music
Conference, Dover Lane Music Conference, ITC Sangeet
Sammelan & Mini Sangeet Sammelans, State Music
Academy Annual Conference, Saltlake Music Conference,
All India Radio concerts are some of the important
ones.
His tours abroad covered Germany, France, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland and Italy, while his recent tour
to Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and
Bangladesh was marked with considerable success
and appreciation.
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Discography:
Kushal has recorded for a number of CD-s :
Released CD-s
• Raga: Bilaskhani Todi
& Sohini from Ocora Radio France
•
Raga: Desh & Mishra Pahadi from Peshkar (Germany).
• Double CD:
Raga-s
• Mishra Shivaranjani
•
Mand
• Mishra kafi
• Madhyam
se Bhairavi
Raga-s
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Pt.
Abhijit Banerjee
Abhijit started learning TABLA at a
very tender age from Sri Tushar Kanti Bose,
later from Sri Manik Pal and finally came under
the tutelage of Pandit Gyan Prakash Ghosh. Abhijit
is now a regular performer at all the major
music conferences all over India and abroad.
Besides accompanying all the major artistes
of India, both in North Indian and South Indian
tradition, he has the privilege of presenting
himself as a solo performer in many music conferences
in India and abroad. He has toured extensively
all over the world and also associated himself
with the Jazz world and performed with some
Jazz musicians and groups in New York. |
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Abhijit has conducted many seminars on Indian
Classical Music at Universities in U.S.A., Japan,
England and Spain. Abhijit has composed music
for TV serials and short films of which THE
TRAILS-a film on Calcutta- got the National
Award. Abhijit also represented India in the
World Festival of Music held in Granada, Spain.
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| Sampaan
– Bengali band from Bay area |
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A couple of
years ago, one of the top Bangla bands from Calcutta
paid a visit to the SFO Bay Area. Their music
touched the souls of a
group of local Bengalis so deeply that
they decided to have a band of their own ... and
so, Saampan was born. Today Saampan promises a mosaic
of contemporary music, popular songs from yesteryear,
and a wide array of their own creations as well.
The word "Sampan",
in Chinese, means a small, flat-bottomed boat.
Our band, Saampan, aspires to embark on a journey
of music, melody and harmony that will take us
away from the humdrum and monotony of daily life
and help us find musical release.
Saampan has performed numerous
shows in the SFO Bay Area, and Southern California.
They are available for performances in other parts
of the country as well. Please note that the show
can be only during a weekend, as all members have
real day-jobs.
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