Mitali De is a prominent name in the music scene of Assam. With her exploits in the Indian classical music, she has carved a niche for herself, and her stage performances in various fora as well as her much sought after classical-based albums are proof of her popularity. Her audio album Gokulchand, that featured some Borgeets, the land’s musical gems created by the Vaishnavite saints Sankardev and Madhabdev and other composers, and the Raga-based Assamese modern song album Phagune Phaku Khele were huge hits with the listeners.

On February 9, the auditorium at the No. 4 gate of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra at Panjabari, Guwahati was agog with a function under the auspices of Saptak, a leading socio-cultural organisation of the city. Attended by some well known figures of the Assamese music world and an august gathering, the function also saw the release of Mitali’s latest offering to the Assamese music lovers — Natun Niyar, an album of modern songs, based on Ragas of Indian classical music.

The album was released by noted classical vocalist Nandita Sarma in the presence of distinguished guests like lyricists Jyotinath Sarma Bordoloi, Kirtikamal Bhuyan and Kamal Kotoky, and singer Zubeen Garg. She praised the efforts of Mitali saying that in this era of modern sounds, Natun Niyar would surely bring a whiff of fresh air into Assamese music. Kirtikamal Bhuyan and Zubeen Garg also spoke eloquently about the singer, who has been devoting herself wholeheartedly in infusing classical flavour into Assamese music.

Earlier, Mitali’s guru Mandira Sarma Lahiri lit the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the function, where the former performed a vocal on the Maru Bihag Raga. She was accompanied on the tabla by Nitul Krishna Goswami and on the harmonium by Ratan Hazarika. Another highlight of the evening was an innovative programme by upcoming danseuse Arhi Kaushik, who performed two dance numbers based on two songs of Natun Niyar.

Recorded in Kolkata under the supervision of Pandit Shyamal Lahiri and Mandira Sarma Lahiri, the album has eight soulful numbers based on Sivranjani, Kirwani, Hansadhwani, Hindol, Emon Kalyan, Kedar, Rageshree and Bharabi Ragas. Besides the Lahiris, the other composers are Zubeen Garg and Asha Sarma Kotoky. The lyricists are Sadananda Gogoi, Dwipen Kakati, Jyotinath Sarma Bordoloi, Kamal Kotoky, Hiren Bhattacharya and Kirtikamal Bhuyan.

Mridumoloy