As Sufi music is braving fundamentalists’ wrath and conquering new territories, it’s time bauls of Bengal pluck their dotara strings and strike notes in unison with their counterparts. Occasioned by a special screening of Willian Dalrymple’s Sufi Soul: The Mystic Music of Islam (British Council, December 17), a recital by Paris-based Paban Das Baul opened up possibilities of further musical exchange between the two forms. Jalaluddin Rumi and Bhaba Pagla share the same humanitarian mission and a stoicism bordering on sublimity. With Mimlu Sen on the khanjani, the baul sang the philosophy of severing all sorts of attachment with the mortal world en route to the realm of bliss. It is this transcendental streak that distinguishes his music from the more earthly Sufi strains that found a worthy crooner in V. Ramaswami that afternoon.
Anshuman Bhowmick
Sudip Banerjee’s exhibition ‘My Country Village’ has a set of untitled paintings in acrylic, either on board or canvas, depicting landscapes. There is also some lonesome and lovely woman who stand alone bare-breasted, often with flowers in one hand, sometimes gazing at a lotus pond or a paddy field. Banerjee has tried to combine the simple lines of child art with the wild hues of German expressionism. The fusion of two styles creates a great deal of confusion. Raw colours explode, and unruly lines race through the length and breadth of the surface, creating textural disturbances. Yet there seems to be a sort of harmony that somehow saves most, if not all, the works from structural failure.
Sandip Sarkar
Bharatnatyam exponent Anjana Banerjee, along with dancers from her institution Nrityakutira, presented Shantir Doot at G.D. Birla Sabhagar on December 26. A tribute to Jesus Christ in a classical dance-drama style seemed to indicate that choeography is simply what dancers offer on stage, even though they are meaningless presentations. A group of enthusiastic dancers with synchronised footwork looked beautiful, but their presentation seemed unrelated with the theme. Bannerjee may be sincere in her intent, but her production lacked depth and dynamics. Though packaged with attractive names like Arjun Chakraborty (Father), Moubani Sorcar (Angel Gabriel), Amit Jacob Chowdhury (Joseph), the presentation failed to convey the message of peace.
Sharmila Basu Thakur
