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Sunday Classics: What does a Bengali song have to do with The Beatles and Bob Dylan?

Here’s some tea for your Sunday!

Do you remember The Beatles’ iconic cover of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band? 

And the cover art of Bob Dylan’s John Wesley Harding? 

Well, there’s a vibrant Bengal-connect to both! In a recent video that’s created quite the buzz on social media, American producer Janapriyan Levine breaks down the connection between both albums and Bengal’s baul singers. Accompanying the tea, are a few fun facts on the making of the albums, the songs and the relationships between The Beatles, Bob Dylan and the bowls. Janapriyan Levine drew inspiration from music on these albums to composes his tune Pare Cholo featuring Bengali baul singer Bapi Das Baul. Listen to the song here.

Amongst the 71 icons on the cover photograph of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the four lads on Bob Dylan’s John Wesley Harding are a few faces with roots in West Bengal. Wondering who (and how)? Tune in and find out.

_{^{- Lygeia Gomes}}