On August 31, the Indo-British Scholar’s Association and the British Council presented Moushumi Bhowmik, singer of original, traditional and folk songs in concert with Oliver Weeks, guitarist, violinist, composer, arranger and accompanist, at the auditorium on Camac Street.

Moushumi’s voice, ranging from subtle, lilting nuances to rich compelling vibrance, is an electrifying experience. Oliver, who is collaborating with her in her research on biraha (longing for union while in a state of separation), provided an interesting accompaniment which beautifully combined Bengali folk rhythms with an essentially Western instrument, the guitar.

Moushumi’s own compositions contain lyrics of singularly poetic beauty and relevance, while Oliver displayed an intrinsic understanding of each song, using the violin in one against a vocal recitative which progressed to the echoing of following melodic phrases for a brilliant coda.

Moushumi’s short, succinct introductions of insight and humour gave an infectious aura of discovery to each presentation. The passionate rendering of the song Amar Bahri Kothai was described as the result of her confusion after having lived in many cities, personalising the experience to each member of the audience.