Robir kotha kobir gaan
Chandrabali Rudra Dutta and Papiya Adhikari
Bhavna; Rs 40

This album adds to the recent spate of albums that looks to combine Rabindranath’s poetry and songs. The greatest problem with most such albums is that the effort at bringing the two together doesn’t always work well ? the poetry often creates discord rather than harmony with the songs. Thankfully, Chandrabali and Papiya work well as a team, each complementing the other in her rendition. Chandrabali tackles Tagore’s nature myths well, especially in Mono mor megher shongi. Papiya’s voice pipes a bit on the higher pitch, but holds out well in most of the pieces.

grishmer deshe vishmalochan
Alak Roychoudhury
Prime Music; Rs 42

Grishmer Deshe Vishmalochan is an assembly-line version of some choice parodies, with everything from love intrigues to a Bengali’s Anglophile habits being lampooned roundly. Alak Roychoudhury does well to not go overboard easily with his diatribe? always a danger for any parodist. The tunes are mostly catchy, covering the whole gamut from mock-kirtan to mock-kheyal and ganasangeet styles. If there’s a problem with the album, it’s the repetition of themes. For example, the Bengali’s idiosyncratic habits are hammered in through too many of the songs. The novelty wears a bit thin after a point, but it’s still worth a few laughs.

Satadru Ojha

Aamio ekaki tumio ekaki
Nila Majumdar
Gathani; CD Rs 45

Sung by Nila Majumdar this CD is a collection of 14 choicest songs by Atulprasad Sen and Rajanikanta Sen ? well known poet-composers of the 19th century. The album includes 10 Atulprasadergaan and four Kantageeti. Patriotism, devotion and love form the main subject of Atulprasad’s songs and representative songs have been included in this album. Nila gives voice to some of the most popular songs like Bolo bolo bolo shobe, Eka mor gaaner tori, Hao dharamete dhir among others. Rajanikanta Sen is said to have been greatly influenced by Rabindranath Tagore, mainly by his devotional songs, but his songs also had a uniqueness. The songs, Ooi bodhir jabanika, and Tumi arup sharup, are great examples.

Madhuparna Das