Anup Ghosal and (right) daughter Debjani campaign in an open-top jeep in Uttarpara last week. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

■ Who: Anup Ghosal, in a pink and blue kurta teamed with a tricolour stole and sneakers.

■ What: A karmi sabha on the terrace of a half-constructed building that houses the Raghunathpur panchayat office on the ground floor. Almost a hundred faces comprising party workers and panchayat samiti members squat on the ground covered with plastic sheets, waiting for Ghosal to come and take his place on a wooden bench placed in the centre.

■ The company he keeps: The singer turned Trinamul Congress candidate for Uttarpara leaves his Gariahat home at 2pm, accompanied by daughters Anupama and Debjani and a police guard. The girls pack a jar of biscuits, puffed rice, a flask containing steaming tea and strips of medicines into a bag for the afternoon trip.

Anupama and Debjani are their father’s shadow, taking calls, planning his meetings, reminding him to have his medicines and joining him in singing at the karmi sabhas.

“I am trying to juggle my exam invigilation duties to be here with my father,” says Anupama, the elder of the girls and an assistant professor at WB National University of Juridical Sciences. The younger one, PhD student Debjani and a visiting lecturer at Rabindra Bharati, says: “I have to be on the phone all the time. The calls are from various parts of Uttarpara, requesting us to go visit them soon.”

At the karmi sabha today, Anupama and Debjani will be singing Cholo amra shobai miley mishey gaayi ma mati manusher gaan, a song specially composed, sung and recorded for Mamata Banerjee.

■ Stopovers: Ghosal makes two stops during the one-hour-40-minute drive to the venue from the heart of Calcutta — first at the Uttarpara Municipality office and then at a water treatment plant on the way. The twin stops are a part of his familiarisation routine before the march from the railway station at Makhla, to be followed by the karmi sabha meet at the panchayat office.

■ The welcome: Some Trinamul supporters have gathered around an open-top jeep decked with party flags and banners, waiting for Ghosal to take his place before the procession begins. Along the route from the railway station to the venue of the meeting, people have lined the streets to welcome the singer-turned-politician.

“Dada, ektu opore taakiye haath ta naran (please look up and wave at the crowd),” advises one of his aides, pointing to a crowded balcony.

As the campaign caravan wounds its way through the narrow lanes of wards 20, 21, 22 and 23, supporters follow Ghosal’s jeep either on foot or on bicycles adorned with flags and cut-outs of the Trinamul symbol. Every now and then, workers steering the procession burst into slogans urging people to vote for “bishishto sangeet shilpi (eminent singer) Dr Anup Ghosal”.

■ The Goopy-Bagha effect: Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne finds greater resonance than the Ma Mati Manush slogan as Ghosal rides Satyajit Ray’s fantasy tale with political undertones to strike a chord. His first words are “Maharaja tomakey selaam, mora Bangladesher thekey elaam…” — a song from the Ray classic — as he makes his way up to the karmi sabha terrace. The gathering knows there’s entertainment in store for them today.

“Aaj kintu ‘Paaye pori baagh mama…’ shunbo! (Today, we must listen to the ‘Paaye pori baagh mama…’ song),” screams a woman.

Ghosal, armed with a hand-held microphone, reminds them: “Amar joy maaney Mamata Banerjee-r joy (My victory is Mamata Banerjee’s victory)! If I win, I would like to come and live in Uttarpara for at least three days a week.”

Then it’s back to Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne. Raising questions, making statements and insinuating resemblance between reel and real life, Ghosal brings to life Halla Raja and his evil minister. First up: Raja koren tombi tomba/ mantri moshai kishey komba/ proja peye ashtorombha/ holo heen bal/ tora juddho korey korbi ki ta bol? Next song: Ek je chhilo raja, taar bhari dukh …dukhho kishey hoy?

“Do you know why the king is sad?” he asks, before giving the answer himself. “Because Mamata Banerjee is coming to take his place at Writers’. So if you want to make that happen, you have to vote for me and make her hands strong!”

■ What next: Ghosal intends shifting base to Uttarpara after he files his nomination and stay there till the polls are over.

RAPID FIRE

■ How much has your routine changed since you started your karmi sabha visits to Uttarpara?

I used to wake up in the morning, do some exercise, practise my singing, take a shower and sit down to write for my three publications. I also had my stage shows. But I am so deeply involved in this job now that I can’t spare time for anything else. Since March 22, I have been going there (Uttarpara) every day for workers’ meetings and rallies, sometimes early morning or in the evening. It’s tiring. I will go and stay in Uttarpara till the elections are over. We have already rented a flat.

■ Was it the party or Mamata who insisted that you contest the Uttarpara seat?

Mamata Banerjee is the party and the party is Mamata Banerjee. She asked me to contest the Uttarpara seat and I fulfilled her wish.

■ How familiar are you with Uttarpara?

I am very familiar with Uttarpara because from the beginning of my career in 1971, I have performed in at least 12 to 14 concerts in that area, including one at a book fair last year. Uttarpara is a very culturally conscious region. People here like to listen to Rabindrasangeet, Nazrulgeeti and good modern songs, not the larelappa kind.

■ Are you getting song requests?

Yes…. Gaan korei toh golata dhorey gechhey (My voice has become hoarse singing songs). I am having to sing without a mike at so many places, which has affected my voice. I sing songs from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and Hirak Rajar Deshe. I am also singing Ma mati manusher gaan. I recorded that song with my daughters and gifted it to Mamata Banerjee on a CD before Holi. She liked it a lot. The lyrics are by a retired Delhi-based IAS officer, Botokrishna Dey, and I have composed the tune. We have been singing the song at all meetings and rallies.

■ What is it that you fear about your rival Srutinath Praharaj?

I have no apprehensions because I have never come across the gentleman. We might be on opposite poles but I don’t think he’s my antagonist. He can be my friend. I am getting positive vibes from the people of Uttarpara, but we have to wait and see the actual response.

■ What is your campaign strategy?

Sherokom kichhu nei (There is nothing as such). We are just following our leader’s slogan: Amra notun Bangla gortey chai (we want to build a new Bengal).

■ Your foray into politics was a bit of a surprise…

I thought to myself: onek din toh gaan bajna korchhi, ebar tar shongey shongey ekta notun dimension jodi ashey jiboney (I have been singing for a long time, so I thought why not add a new dimension to my life). I needed a platform to do something for the people.

Mamata Banerjee called me 14 days before announcing her list of candidates and said: “Anupda, apnar naam ami select korechi Uttarpara constituency-r jonnye, apnake daratey hobey (I have selected you for Uttarpara constituency, you have to contest). My reaction was: “Ami toh bhai politics-e notun, kauke chini na (I am new to politics, I don’t know anybody). But she assured me that her people would be there and that they were very dedicated workers who would help me find my way. I was inspired and took up her proposal.

■ But why Trinamul?

I like Mamata Banerjee, that is why. I have known her for nearly 20 years. I have always liked her but I could not come to the forefront for various reasons that I don’t want to get into right now. Under her leadership, I am quite confident that Bengal will do well. She’s very dedicated, tenacious and also very honest.

■ Do you turn to Mamata for advice?

She is our leader and our first and foremost duty is to keep her informed about everything. She is intelligent enough to guide us.

■ How have your family and friends reacted to your turning politician?

They are happy but a bit concerned as well because of all the unrest around us.

■ If you win, what would you like to do for your constituency?

I would try my best to develop Uttarpara and its neighbouring areas. I have already heard about some of the problems. The MLA’s Local Area Development Fund is small but I would like to do something for the slums around here.

We will try to collaborate with MP Kalyan Banerjee in Uttarpara’s development. I would personally like to also teach music to talented boys and girls from the constituency.

Mohua Das