Bhupen Hazarika and Mousumi Saharia

Guwahati, Nov. 2: The magic of balladeer Bhupen Hazarika?s compositions spreads across continents, from the Brahmaputra to the Mississippi. What young singer Mousumi Saharia is attempting is larger than the span of the legendary singer?s music.

Hailed by Hazarika himself as ?my own reflection?, Mousumi has launched the biggest project of her career ? a complete research on the immortal creations of the balladeer ? which will be encapsulated in a book and accompanied by a series of audio albums.

Scheduled to be completed in five years, the research work will be the first of its kind to put the entire musical work of the icon ?in perspective?, 24-year-old Mousumi said.

?Each of Bhupenda?s songs are beautiful paintings, depicting the vibrant life, culture and people of the region,? said Mousumi. ?Thus my attempt will be to focus in depth not only the musical details of each of his songs, but the beautiful philosophy embodied in each one of them.?

?It?s a huge responsibility to bring the very music, lyrics and rhythm of a signature voice. I have kept my fingers crossed and am hoping for help from all sectors to realise my dream project,? said the award-winning singer.

Recently, Mousumi joined the maestro at the centenary celebrations of Ban Theatre in Tezpur to get valuable tips from the Dada Saheb Phalke awardee himself.

Both the albums and book will move in tandem to bring out the rich body of musical work of the legend more clearly and elaborately.

?I will try to re-record almost all his songs in a series of albums, taking due permission and help from the legend himself,? said Mousumi.

Till now, Mousumi has recorded 24 popular numbers of the legend in three of her albums titled Akashi Ganga (2003), Manuhe Manuhor Babe (2004) and the recently-released Buku Hom Hom Korey.

Apart from regular stage performances, she has rendered her voice to more than 100 audio albums. Hers is also an oft-listened to voice in Assamese television soaps and popular musical serials like Jhankar, Sangeet Sagar, Lohor and Gettimalika.

But playback singing is one genre where she herself admits to being a rookie, having lent her voice to only one film, Agnisakhi, in her two-decade-old career. ?I ha-ve consciously decided not to remain too much under the public glare,? said Mousumi.