Padavali kirtan doesn’t have many takers these days. However, those who assembled at Sisir Mancha on the Janmashtami eve (August 26) had the pleasure of immersing themselves in its magic, courtesy Nupurchhanda Ghosh.

A prot?g? of Krishna Chattopadhyay, Ghosh has been playing a significant role in bringing the audience back to the early 20th century musical forms of Dwijendra Lal Roy, Atulprasad Sen, Rajanikanta Sen and Dilip Kumar Roy. Presented by Dimension 4, the recital saw her excelling in kirtan as well.

Ghosh’s predilection towards kirtan had an early exposition in Ki gun balo ki gun jano, a Dilip Kumar Roy composition which has its foundation in the traditional Bengali form.

Ghosh rose to the occasion, capturing the sophistry while giving vent to the devotional content. Her power to induce the drama within found a marvellous treatment in one traditional kirtan penned to intensity by Dwija Chandidas and Govindadas. Accompanied by srikhol, bamboo flute and kartal, Ghosh dealt with the narrative brilliance with awesome passion, an element sustained in two back-to-back renditions from D.L. Roy’s Shajahan. Elocutionist Pradip Ghosh touched upon the plot, placing the songs in proper perspective.