Bangla Utshab in the offing in Kolkata

With the theme, Dui Bangla: Seemana Bhule, Ek Sur-e, a three-day (January 4-6, 2019) Bangla Utshab is in the offing. Bangladeshi and Kolkata-based renowned and promising singers together with popular bands will be performing at the festival.

Melody is the core of uniting Bengali people of the two countries –Bangladesh and India. From Panchakobi 'r Gaan (songs of five great poets) to contemporary band Chirkutt or Chandrabindu – all are performing at the festival held at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata, India. Bengal Foundation, Bandhan Bank, The Bengal Chanber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) and Nothing Beyond Cinema are jointly organising the festival.

34 prominent and promising singers coupled with popular bands of the two countries will express their melodic excellence through Bangla music.

The organisers will honour Arati Mukherjee and Sabina Yasmin with Jibon Kriti Samman (Lifetime Achievement Awards) at the event.

Abul Khair, Chairman, Bengal Foundation; Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, former president, BCC&I and MD and CEO Bandhan Bank; Arindam Sheel, Chairman, Media, Music and Film Forum, BCC&I and Chairman and MD Nothing Beyond Cinema and Shubhadeep Ghosh, Director General, BCC&I are the persons behind organising the festival. 

A press conference was held in this regard at the lounge of the BCC&I, Kolkata on December 12. Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pandit Bickram Ghosh, renowned singers -- Prabuddha Raha, Jayati Chakrabarty, Shubhamita Banerjee and Iman Chakraborty were present at the press meet. Director General of Bengal Foundation Luva Nahid Choudhurty with the Director of the organisation Zeenat Chowdhury, Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Arindam Sheel and Shubhadeep Ghosh were present among others on behalf of the organisers. 

Both Bangladeshi and Indian artistes and bands will perform Pancho Kabi'r gaan, Raga-based classic, Taalbadya, Adhunik Bangla songs, folk songs, film songs, Bangla bands and dance at the festival. Bulbul Islam, Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, Lopamudra Mitra, Prabuddha Raha, Fahmida Nabi, Bappa Mazumder, Shubhamita Banerjee, Nachiketa Chakrabarty, Anupam Roy, Iffat Ara Dewan, Khairul Anam Shakil, Indrani Sen, Aditi Mohsin, Jayati Chakrabarty, Chandana Majumdar, Gautam Das Baul,Chirkutt, Chandrabindu, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Shama Rahman, Durnibar Saha, Samina Chowdhury, Andrew Kishore, Iman Chakraborty and Rupankar Bagchi will perfrom songs.

Sharmila Banerjee and Sampradaye and Rayebeshe Bratachari Sangha will showcase dances. Pandit Bickram Ghosh, Gopal Barman, Satyajit Mukherjee, Md Moniruzzaman, Dasharath Das will play Talbadya at the event. Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty will wrap up the festival with performing Raga-based Bangla songs.