Amyt Datta and Anjan Dutt at Gyan Manch. Pictures: Sayantan Ghosh

Numbers play a crucial role in Anjan Dutt’s narrative. His new album, with guitar guru Amyt Datta, is called Unoshaat, and he was 59 last year when he recorded the album.

Recently at a concert in Gyan Manch to launch the album, Anjan dished out an array of numbers that not only served as a timeline but also brought things into perspective. For example, Unoshaat is Anjan’s first album of original songs in 14 years; he has been involved with the world of cinema and music for more than 30 years and “taking risks for 30 years”; Anjan is 60 and Amyt 53; there are eight songs on Unoshaat, and it comes for Rs 150. “But then we’ll give you the album even if you give us Rs 145. After 30 years we have laid down our hats on the street. The album will be available only at Unoshaat gigs and not in stores,” said Anjan, between songs.

This old guitar

Anjan also mentioned a gig at Rangana in Hatibagan 15 years ago. “Neel (his son) and I were there... two guitars,” said Anjan. The only problem was that Anjan’s left hand was in a plaster cast. “I had already taken the money from the organisers, and couldn’t give it back, we needed it. The show was sold out. What to do? I sang and Neel played the guitar… one guitar, one voice, two hours, 18-19 songs,”said Anjan, emphasising on the numbers to illustrate one more point — that he “realised Neel understood the guitar better” than him. At the Gyan Manch show, Anjan also said that for the Unoshaat shows he wouldn’t be playing the guitar, an instrument that has given him great joy. “There is so much love, sadness, memory associated with the instrument. Amyt understands and knows the guitar, and whenever we do Unoshaat shows he’ll play and I will sing,” added Anjan.

The confession box

The Unoshaat launch gig saw Anjan, the filmmaker, songwriter and singer, saying what he thought openly and honestly. He was sincere when it came to talking about the new songs; confessional, when it came to talking about the state of his finances 15 years ago; a bit emotional when requesting people not to upload the album on the Internet (“I’m saying this with folded hands, don’t upload”). “We have been on a search for all these 30 years… me through directing films and writing songs, and Amyt with his guitar, and this search has brought us together,” he said, when talking about the collaboration between him and Amyt.

The A-team

Midway through the concert, a brief ‘exchange’ between Anjan and Amyt marked the easy camaraderie they share. Anjan had a few questions and Amyt replied by playing his guitar! Anjan asked, “Amyt, when you compose, what is that one emotion that makes you want to create something? Is it joy or sorrow?” Amyt plays melancholic. “Not either one, I see… I think it comes from a sense of loneliness. How do you define the loneliness? How does it come to you?” Amyt plays brooding. “I thought of an empty room, maybe it comes from an emptiness, and that’s how you come to loneliness… and where do you reach from there? You are questioning the times, you are not liking it? You are searching for something?” Amyt is all bright and elegant and then goes soft, delicate. “I’m not getting it, but I think it’s very complex what you are trying to say, you are trying to reach out to something very complex. As an artiste, I feel this complexity is necessary, I don’t like saying things in a simple way.”

The times are a-changin’

That’s Anjan for you in a nutshell. While Amyt was eloquent, charming, sublime, graceful and meditative on the guitar, Anjan was reflective. At times he came across as wistful, melancholic. Is it about age? Is it about a way of life, a world which he can’t recognise now and can’t reconcile with anymore? At the Gyan Manch gig, when Anjan and Amyt joined Neel, bassist Sanket Bhattacharya and percussionist Debapratim Bakshi on stage they were greeted with loud applause. Every new song was greeted with cheers, while for one or two the audience clapped along, indicating a willingness to invest emotionally in new songs from the 60-year-old once again. As a line from one of his songs goes: “Bodol niye aschhe, aar ekta din (another day is bringing about change)”.

Arindam Chatterjee

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