Living in harmony

To celebrate 50 years of Calcutta Youth Choir, a musical extravaganza was hosted at Rabindra Sadan. Ruma Guha Thakurta, film personality and the founder of the organization, herself turned seventy-five and thus was felicitated.
Calcutta Youth Choir, which can be considered a Kolkata Chapter of the Bombay Youth Choir, was formed by renowned music composer Salil Chowdhury, Ruma Guha Thakurta and Satyajit Ray in 1958. The versatile singer and actress has also completed 50 years in the music industry ~ she had recorded Ei To Hetay Kunjo Chhayay (Lukochuri) with Kishore Kumar in 1958.
The Rabindra Sadan programme was simply a trip down memory lane. It started with a solo dance recital based on Prathamo Aadi Taabo Shakti and was followed by a group dance recital based on Taak Raahe Ho Gagan, composed by YS Moolky. A special song ~ Din Badaler Abhijaane, penned and composed by Kazi Kamal Naser ~ to celebrate the glorious journey was presented. The song Teler Shishi Bhanglo Bole reminded everyone of the pain the Partition brought. Penned by Annada Shankar Roy and composed by Salil Chowdhury, the song was played as a part of the dance sequence presented by the junior members of Youth Choir’s dance group. The coordinator of the programme, Kalyan Roy Chowdhury, announced that the group will soon release on Saregama, a Rabindrasangeet album in Hindi. One song ~ Ek Dor Mein ~ from the album was performed on the occasion.
The late Salil Chowdhury is the father figure when it comes to choir singing in India. Calcutta Youth Choir reiterated this aspect time and again.
One of the highpoints of the programme was Ruma Guha Thakurta and Sromona singing Bistirno Dupaare. O Ganga Tumi reminded one of Paul Robeson’s version of Ol’ Man River.

PUBLISHED IN THE STATESMAN BY SUDIPTA CHANDA ON 20TH MARCH 2009