
The Pagla khabi ki song sequence in Open Tee Bioscope
Heart-warming to heartbreaking, uplifting to upbeat, nostalgic to nuanced... the soundtrack of Anindya Chattopadhyay’s debut film Open Tee Bioscope comes across as a breath of fresh air, a heartfelt shout-out to the 1990s. Composers Upal Sengupta (music director of Open Tee), Shantanu Moitra, Prasen and director-lyricist Anindya decode the tunes and share the backstories with t2.
LE LE BABU
(COMPOSED BY UPAL)
Anindya: The title song has so much hullor in it... there’s a happy, festive feel to it. I narrated the lyrics to Upal over phone, and then Upal called me back in 30 minutes with the melody of the song. So the song actually took shape over phone! As a lyricist, it’s one of my faves since I have told the story of the film in a nutshell by using very few words.
Upal: I was really sure about this tune. I composed it on my guitar. In fact, the first time Anindya told me the lyrics, I misheard one word (a classic case of mondegreen!). I heard ‘aachor’ instead of ‘achhar’. And that wrong word was there in the demo, and the scratch recording. Finally, it was corrected! For Chandrabindoo songs, (lyricist) Chandril (Bhattacharya) often changes lyrics a few days before recording a song. He has even changed lyrics when we were recording numbers (laughs)!
BONDHU CHOL
(COMPOSED BY SHANTANU MOITRA)
Shantanu Moitra: Anindya was looking for a song that is almost like a wrap-up... which would have vignettes of childhood, moments… it would also have a sense of lingering pain, longing. When I compose, I use dummy words and I remember doing this one first in Tamil!
I sent it to Anindya, and he took some time to write the lyrics. And then one day he sent me the final version. I just loved it. As I was singing the tune I thought of Anupam Roy, and how he would sing it. And I composed the tune keeping Anupam in mind… his voice has a melancholy, reflective quality. The song starts off with a piano, and gradually as it warms up, a string section comes in. I had given Anupam almost a month to prepare the song, so that he was comfortable when recording it. Anindya, Upal and Prasen figure in the background chorus. There are some lovely harmonies that will remind you of Salil Chowdhury tunes. You get a sense of community feeling... of coming together. The song is used beautifully in the film. Bondhu chol is about friendship, hope, nostalgia, and is one of my favourites. I’m extremely proud of this song and it has forged a bond between me and Anupam now.
Anindya: That’s the last song I wrote. And I fleshed it out like a collage of childhood moments.
Upal: The moment I heard this song I knew it would create something magical. It’s about the bond that friends share. The song has this haunting feel, and it got stuck in my head after the first listen. Anupam has hit a sixer! The song unfolds like a film, as if with a lot of close-ups and then suddenly the frame opens up. The song grows like a flight taking off.
PAGLA KHABI KI
(COMPOSED BY PRASEN)
Anindya: This song reminds one of the numbers Bangla bands would dish out in the 1990s. The arrangement, the style of singing is typical ’90s. The song captures the early 1990s spirit beautifully, when bands from Bengal were just starting out and making a name for themselves.
Upal: I heard this song in Prasen’s voice almost 13 years ago. The catchline, ‘Pagla khabi ki’, is just as catchy as ‘Tomar dekha nai re’. Every generation has a catchline or catchphrase or coinage like ‘Mama kemon achhish?’, ‘Ghyam hoyechhe’ that take you back to a certain time. These days, GenY says stuff like, ‘Chaap niyo na!’
Prasen: I wrote the song in Class XII. These phrases were quite popular then. The song ends with the word ‘Tequila’ as a reply to the question raised in the chorus, ‘Pagla khabi ki?’. FYI that’s Anindyada saying the word ‘Tequila’ in that faux baritone! Anindyada’s son likes the song and calls it — ‘Pllaagla khabi ki’!

TOR JONNYO
(COMPOSED BY PRASEN)
Anindya: The song was earlier called Noyon tara. When I first heard it, I really liked the melody line. In fact, I had the visuals to go with the song. Later both of us (Anindya and Prasen) worked on the lyrics, and certain images from the film inspired the lines. Prasen and Mou (Prasen’s wife) have sung the song. Mou makes her debut as a singer with this film. She has a fresh voice. Some of Prasen’s tunes have a certain kind of moja that remind you of Chandrabindoo songs.
Prasen: We (as part of band Eldorado) had done this song Noyon tara in 2002 for an eight-year-old tea seller in Hedua. Armed with this tune, we entered a competition where Upalda and Rupam (Islam) were the judges. Upalda didn’t know me then. After our performance, Upalda said, ‘Let’s go back to my house and record the song.’ That’s the first time Eldorado recorded anything!
HEY SHOKHA
(RABINDRASANGEET)
Anindya: I had thought of a singer who would dub for Surangana, but when I heard Surangana sing on the sets I decided to keep her voice. She sings beautifully, and we had no clue that she does it so well. In the film, the girl expresses her love for the boy through this song. The melody appears once again in the film when the girl leaves the para. In fact, one wonders whether Surangana is a better actress or a better singer. Her innocence appeals to you. She is so natural.
MA
(COMPOSED BY UPAL)
Anindya: This song is not in the film, but comes as a theme. Years ago a TV channel approached Chandrabindoo to do a song for Mother’s Day.
Upal: It’s one of my favourite songs. Ma’s an honest, simple, emotional song, quite unlike a Chandrabindoo number that has many dimensions to it. Ma will take you into a sentimental zone.
CYCLE THEME
(COMPOSED BY SHANTANU MOITRA)
Shantanu: I had told Anindya that he should have a theme with the ringing of bicycle bells. The ring has such nostalgia to it. Also, when you ring the bell, people move aside. That’s the first time as a child you feel empowered. You ring a bell, and something happens. This empowerment is what makes cycling so incredible. Of course, later in life you realise hardly anything is in your control (laughs). When we were talking about the theme, I didn’t know the whole story of the film. I just knew that the film was about four-five friends in north Calcutta, and based on that one-line idea I came up with the theme.
Text: Arindam Chatterjee
Which is your fave song in Open Tee Bioscope? Tell t2@abp.in