(From left) Singer Khagen Mahanta along with Archana Mahanta and Kulo Baruah during the cultural event in Rabindra Bhawan on Sunday. Picture by UB Photos

Aug. 29: Music and memories were the high notes of the cultural evening, Smritir Ekhila Paat, at Rabindra Bhawan last evening as the audience tuned in to singers Khagen Mahanta, Archana Mahanta and Kulo Baruah narrating anecdotes of their first movie songs and struggling days.

The musical evening started with Tarali Sharma singing Xoru xoru bokul phool, which took the singer trio down the memory lane. “This was one of the earliest songs by Archana Mahanta,” the presenter said.

Khagen Mahanta, who recently turned 70, recollected the days when artistes used to meet at studios and share their passion for music and life.

“I still remember a young Kulo Baruah in the sixties. We used to be neighbours in Guwahati then. One day, he rushed to my room, worry writ large on his face. He was terrified after getting an offer to audition in All India Radio,” he said.

It was then that Khagen Mahanta composed a song for Kula Baruah — Ei khyon jodi amoron hoi, tumi mrityunjoy hua; Ei khyon jodi xandhikyon hoi, xubho khyon buli bhabi lua — which was just apt for that moment. Baruah sang his way to everyone’s heart with his first audition and since then, there has been no looking back for him.

Next, young singer Sudipranjan Medhi sang Mayabhora ei dhara by Khagen Mahanta. From Bihu songs to biyanaam, lullaby to Borgeet, Mahanta has used elements of folk songs in his numbers.

When the singers were talking about biyanaam, the audience was treated to O phoolpah halise, jalise, by Malabika Bora. Archana Mahanta, who had given her voice to the original number, recalled how the song was designed keeping in mind biyageet. “This is a very special song. The tune is of a biyageet. The song takes us to the festive marriage mood and is a very happy number,” she said.

Others who sang during the evening were Zubli Baruah, Himlina Gautom and Anjanjyoti Choudhury and others. Choudhury’s anecdotes about his close association with Kulo Baruah made the evening even more enjoyable.

“I cannot forget my days with Kuloda — how we used to travel to different places and sing and how people appreciated his voice and I longed for the same appreciation. I still remember an incident when a young woman was recording my songs during a programme. After the show, when I went to thank her she said it was the best example of how not to sing a song that she wanted to make her students in music school listen to it,” Choudhury said, leaving many in the audience amused.

When he sang the popular number Eneke nasaba ajoli suwali, Khagen Mahanta rose from his seat and embraced him.

Organised by Nemcare Hospital, the evening was organised to acknowledge the contribution of eminent citizens in the field of medicine and culture. Dr Alaka Goswami, a senior gynaecologist of the state, and Bina Prasad, an eminent personality in the field of culture, were felicitated.