Tithi Debbarman (left) at the Don Bosco school auditorium with chief minister Manik Sarkar (centre) and actor Soumitra Chatterjee (third from left). Picture by Debi Prasad Bhowmik

A light drizzle and the occasional rustle of wind outside the Don Bosco school auditorium in Agartala presented a perfect setting for a musical evening on September 15.

Nothing complimented nature’s mood better than songs and poems on rain and love rendered by Rabindrasangeet artiste Tithi Debbarman and septuagenarian stalwart of Bengali filmdom Soumitra Chatterjee.

Debbarman has emerged as a leading exponent of Rabindrasangeet, having acquired the subtleties and finer nuances of this genre of music from Visva Bharati University.

It was Rabi Sudha, Debbarman’s music institute, that invited Chatterjee and conferred a lifetime achievement award on him.

Chatterjee has done a brilliant job of reciting Tagore’s poems on rain and love in Debbarman’s album on Tagore songs on the twin themes.

The album, Debbarman’s second, entitled Brishti Bheja Bhalobasa (Love drenched in showers) was released by chief minister Manik Sarkar the same day. S.F. Karim, the regional manager of HMV’s Saregama, was the chief guest.

Chatterjee expressed his love for Tripura and declared his resolve to help anyone who approached him for a cultural programme.

“I love the nature and people of this state and I am ready to come whenever you invite me,” he said, adding that he would continue acting as long as his body and spirit permitted.

The formalities of inauguration and lighting of consecrated lamp over, the auditorium reverberated with Debbarman’s rendition of Tagore’s numbers on rain and love with Chatterjee reciting poems in his sonorous voice.

The audience listened in rapt attention — even the chief minister sat glued to his seat — as the immortal lyrics of Pagla Haoar Badal Dine, Pagol Amar Mon Neche Uthe (My euphoric mind dances on a rainy day of brisk gale) was rendered in melody and words.

This was followed by six lilting melodies of Tagore, interspersed with Chatterjee’s recitations. The duo presented the items recorded in the album and more. Shubhayu Sen on esraj and Santanu Barman on tabla enriched the event.