Rhythm divine

Rhythm presented a bunch of musicians at Birla Academy (August 11). Mitali Sengupta delighted with her bandishi thumri, replete with bol-baant in true Benaras style, in Mishra Khamaj. The dadra and the seasonal jhoola were equally lively as the vocalist enjoyed the most while presenting them. Technique-wise sarod player Anirban Dasgupta was nothing less than superb but the romantic warmth one associates with Miyan Malhar eluded throughout despite brilliant bolkari, taans and tihais aided by Debashish Sarkar’s tabla. One would like to see him open up emotionally. Mandira Lahiri also had impressive techniques up her sleeves what with her sense of rhythm and fast vowel taans. Yet she chooses to be a poor xerox of Parveen Sultana. She sang Sur Malhar and a thumri ably supported by Sujit Saha’s tabla.

Meena Banerjee

Monsoon magic

Discipline, dedication and decorum were the cornerstone of Dakshinee’s programme Barsha Abesh presented by Aniruddha and Anindita Chowdhury at Ballygunge on July 30. A bouquet of 25 songs were presented in solo, duet and chorus along with dance compositions. Under the able guidance of Sudeb GuhaThakurta, the chorus numbers were well-rehearsed. The romantic lyricism of the song Kakhon badal chhoa lege was completely ruined by the dancer’s lackadaisical performance. Most of the dance choreographies were literal and therefore meaningless. The soulful rendition of Kotha je udhao holo by Kamalini Mukherjee was touching. On the whole the programme was not true to Dakshinee’s standards.

Sharmila BasuThakur

Melodious notes

Kamalini Mukhopadhyay and Debangana Sarkar delineated the coming of monsoon through Tagore’s compositions clustered as Meghsanchar, Nababarsha, Barshan and Sheshbarshan in a P&M Records presentation at Dashinee Bhavan (June 18). Mukhopadhyay’s handling of pensive numbers were as engaging as they should be. Heriya shyamal ghana nil gagane was crafted with short and sure strokes of melody. An easy flow of toned soprano conjured up pictures of a monsoon, unseen in metropolitan ambit but in the discreet chambers of the mind. Sarkar, on the other hand, took care of the rejuvenating aspects of the season. Her Kotha je udhao hala was a commendable performance.

Anshuman Bhowmick