Bard has bigger fan-following in Bengal: Lyricist

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika never had a dearth of listeners but his image surpassed popular imagination in neighbouring West Bengal, claimed noted Bengali lyricist Mintu Mukherjee.

The veteran musician, who is credited with translating the bard’s songs in Bengali, was in Guwahati to pay tribute to Bhupenda on his first death anniversary on Monday.

“Jekhane phul phute/ seikhane baroder gondhoke ghrina kora ek mon/ sei bidrohi mon take jatio smoron/dite hobe tar dam/ shardha bhalobasai dilam pronam,” the lines came out spontaneously, as Mukherjee sat on the courtyard of the balladeer’s residence in Nizarapar on Monday.

Mintu Mukherjee at Bhupenda's residence.

In an exclusive chat with Seven Sisters Post, Mukherjee said his visit to Assam will not be the same anymore, in the absence of the legendary singer-composer.

“I was surprised to see Bhupenda’s popularity in Bengal. His image in Bengal is far bigger than in Assam. People there are still crazy for his songs,” he said after paying tribute to the bard.

Mukherjee, who had been associated with Bhupenda since 1957, worked in several films together.

Some of them went on to become colossal hits in Bengal and other places like Jeevan Trishna, Jonakir Aalo, Doi Beshra, Chameli Memsaab, Ekhano Pinjar and Gajmukta, apart from movies Rudali, Ek Pal, Darmiyaan: In Between, Aarop and Gaja Gamini.

Mukherjee recounted the days he spent with Bhupenda in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal.

“Not only Bhupenda, people who used to accompany him during concerts also used to get tremendous attention. During the Yuva Utsav in 1957, I was surprised to see the attendance of the crowd. Even though all the big names like Salil Choudhury and Hemanta Mukherjee had already performed, there were still 40,000-odd people cheering for Bhupenda when he came onto the stage. This was the kind of popularity that he enjoyed,” he said.

Bhupenda performed in Kolkata for the last time in 1999.

Mukherjee, who is a frequent visitor to Assam, is also familiar with other Assamese cultural icons like Bishnu Prasad Rabha.

“I used to call him Bishnuda. Though I had not had the opportunity of working with him, I was well versed with his works. I was also aware that he deeply influenced Bhupenda and brought a sense of revolution in him,” he added.

The noted lyricist, who hails from Tollygunge in West Bengal, also said that he would be happy to do more translations of Bhupenda’s songs into Bengali. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/bard-has-bigger-fan-following-in-bengal-lyricist/

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The bard’s voice flows with the Red River

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: I know, long ago/ the River used to speak/ but when he realised/ every drop of pain/ flows above horizon of words/ he surrendered to silence…”

The voice of the River is the “voice” of Bhupen Hazarika — the “baritone communicative” voice of the legendary balladeer. It is also the voice of Assam. A voice speaking out to the world from the silver screen. Cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika’s last recorded voice will finally reach his countless fans across the world when national award-winning director Bidyut Kotoky’s debut feature film Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare is released on September 14.

Sanjay Suri and Victor Banerjee

The film — titled As River Flows in English — has a poem recited by an ailing Bhupen Hazarika in February 2010, a year before he passed away on November 5, 2011 in Mumbai. The poem represents the voice of the river Brahmaputra through the balladeer’s own. “Baritone communicative” was the term used by Russian leader Joseph Stalin to describe the voice of American singer Paul Robeson.

Significantly, the much talked film was inspired by Sanjay Ghosh, an activist who was kidnapped and later killed by Ulfa rebels in 1997 in Majuli. Even before its release, the film grabbed national headlines because of a controversy at the national film awards. The jury members had rejected the film from the awards on the grounds that it was not an Assamese film though the censor certificate clearly indicates it to be one.

“This film has come from the core of my heart and I would be happy if people like it. Viewers will decide about the outcome of my hard work and they will decide whether it’s an Assamese film or not,” said the Mumbai-based director, Kotoky.

The director, who was closely associated with Bhupen Hazarika, is on seventh heaven for having the icon’s voice in the film. “I could not have asked for anything more. Since my childhood I had the desire to work with Bhupen mama. But when I was making the film he was not in a position to direct the music of my film because of his ill-health. But when I visited him with the piece of poetry, he reacted positively. I was lucky enough that he lent his voice,” an emotional Kotoky said. He added, “Who could be a better voice to represent the river than Bhupen mama?”

The film —also made in Hindi —features the same set of acclaimed actors like Victor Banerjee and Sanjay Suri in the leading roles besides Bidita Bag, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Baid and Naveed Aslam.

Preeti Jhangiani and Zubeen Garg, who is also the music director of the film, also appear in cameo roles in the Hindi version. The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the producing agency of the film, said that the Hindi version too would be released soon. The film traces the story of a missing character — Sridhar Ranjan — in Majuli and his friend’s search for Sridhar. Sanjay Suri is playing a journalist who comes to Majuli to find information of his missing friend.

“I wanted to portray the situation of almost 90 per cent of the people who are stuck in between a conflict zone. Because their voice is never heard outside. Here Sridhar is a metaphor and he can be anybody. I do not know to what extent I would be successful. It’s up to the viewers,” Kotoky further said.

Besides, several renowned names are involved in the film including national award-winning cinematographer Madhu Ambat. Earlier this month, the cultural affairs department of the Maharashtra government organised a special screening of the film to mark the occasion of Bhupen Hazarika’s birth anniversary. Moreover, the film got an overwhelming response from global viewers at the Osian Cinefest film festival held in New Delhi. (Seven Sisters Post)
http://sevensisterspost.com/the-bards-voice-flows-with-the-red-river/

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New record in six-string salute to Bhupenda

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: Wishes poured in heavier than rains as 5,406 fans of Bhupen Hazarika strapped with guitars stormed into the Limca Book of Records at the Sarusajai Stadium here on Sunday. Strumming along in unison to the tunes of Bistirno Parore, they managed to obliterate Shillong’s feat in the Limca Book of Records for the ‘Largest Guitar Ensemble’.

The gathering. Pic by: Subhamoy Bhattacharjee

“It’s a lifetime achievement. It’s not just about making a record, but such a huge gathering and that too to pay musical tribute to the bard is simply awesome. I will cherish this moment forever,” said Prasanta Bora, a grey haired guitarist who teaches yoga and meditation at Maharshi Vidya Mandir School.

Even though the weather threatened to play a spoilsport to the much-hyped event as the sky started pouring heavily since morning, the organisers expressed a sigh of relief after the event went off smoothly. Even as dark clouds hovered in the sky, sharp at 4.45 in the evening, the army of 5,406 participants took their positions and made sure they don’t fail to disappoint the enthusiastic crowd which had gathered to cheer them up. In the process, they surpassed the previous national record that was created in Shillong in 2007, when 1, 730 guitarists played Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.

After the event, Limca Book of Records’ representative Smita Thomas handed over a ‘provisional’ certificate to the organisers for scripting a new national record. “We are extremely happy that we made it to the Limca Book of Records. Now, we will aim for a Guinness World Record,” said Ankur Dutta, chief advisor of the megaevent who is also the secretary of Assam Football Association (AFA).

The Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Guitar Ensemble’ in the world is currently held by Poland with 6,346 guitar players, who assembled together at the historic city of Wroclaw on May 1, 2009. Besides NE states, guitarists from several other parts of the country also came all the way to take part in the event.

“We had several participants from New Delhi and other parts of the country. This itself indicates the popularity of Bhupen Hazarika among people,” Dutta added.

Renowned artistes, including JP Das, Nanda Banerjee, Bhupen Uzir, members of Northeast Breeze and others, were seen on stage as they led the event to a success. Seven Sisters Post was the print media partner of this event. (Seven Sisters Post)

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