| Debojit sings for Subansiri Subansiri is a new album  presented by SB Nilakshi under the banner of NB Production. The album carries eight melodious songs tuned by SB Nilakshi, with the lyrics of six songs by herself and the other two by Dr Aroop Kumar Sarma. Debojit Saha takes the album to dizzy heights by lending his baritone. Sangeeta Kakati has nicely rendered the theme song Subansiri, supported by Dharani Tao, who renders in Mishing language. Another remarkable song is Bajok doba by Mausam Gogoi, which is expected to enthuse the new generation towards service to the motherland. Upcoming singers Padmanabh Bordoloi and Sudipta Bharadwaz, supported by Trin and Tanmi, are impressive. Kokila Goswami’s Kuwali phali is also appealing. Credit must also go to Rupam Talukdar and Arup Dutta for music arrangement. |
| Musical evening It was a musical evening with a  difference. Internationally acclaimed Assamese violinist Manoj Barua was felicitated on his birthday, July 28, through music presented by his students, singers and well-wishers. The programme began with a group violin orchestra by Barua’s junior disciples, who played the tune of the Assamese national anthem O Mor Aponar Desh. The other programmes included piano recital by Ghana Deka, tabla by Satyapriya Roy of Tripura, and songs by Rupjyoti Oja and Rosy Brahma. Barua’s group ‘Wave’ performed a group violin recital. The highlight of the evening was, of course, violin recital by Manoj Barua, who kept the listeners spellbound through his mastery over the instrument. The concept and planning of the programme, held at Amalprabha Bhawan at Beltola, Guwahati, were by Purabi Sarma, a senior disciple of Barua. |
| Awahon’s offbeat play The stage rehearsal of the  much awaited offbeat play  Bhool Nubujiba Bhupenda is going on in full swing in the premises of Awahon Theatre at Pathsala. The play with a difference is based on the life of an ardent lover of legendary Bhupen Hazarika’s songs. The drama ends in tragedy. There is a strong impact of Dr Hazarika on all the sequences. Some of his evergreen songs are inserted meaningfully in the scenes. Mridul Bhuyan, Aaimee Barua and Aditi Bhuyan appear to be doing full justice while portraying the major characters. Mention may be made here of Mridul Bhuyan, the hero, who has successfully performed the challenging role by sensitively emoting all the nuances of the character. Asked why he has chosen the subject, Krishna Roy, producer of Awahan Theatre, said: “While touring with my theatre, I met many admirers of Bhupenda’s songs and I had an idea to pay respect to them through a drama. Finally, Pabitrada (Pabitra Deka) put forward the planning and concept. Abhijit Bhattacharya penned the script and is directing it. I am confident the public will definitely appreciate it.” The other two plays for the new session of Awahan are Ras and Abhijit Bhattacharya’s Suranjana. The artistes of Awahan for the coming session are Mridul Bhuyan, Aaimee Barua, Kumar Deep, Aditi Bhuyan, Dulal Sarma, Bhupen Deka, Kushal Saikia, Pratima Saikia, Riju Devi, Dibyajyoti Bharali, Kishore Pathak, Mridul Bora and Hemanta Kashyap. Music has been composed by Narayan Barua and Debeswar Sarma with singers Trishna Devi, Queen Das and Jiten Sarma. Jini Mahalia is the choreographer. Art direction is by Nuruddin Ahmed, who has also done the sets along with Anupama Roy. |
| Manipuri dance gurus felicitated Three eminent gurus of Manipuri dance – Shashi Singha, Madhusudan Singha and Dhansen Singha, were felicitated at a function held under the auspices of Prerona at Rabindra Bhawan, Guwahati on July 25. The function held on the occasion was inaugurated by Sabin Rajkhowa, newly elected secretary of the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. While addressing the gathering, he said that he wishes to make Kalakshetra a prestigious institute of national level. He also assured to patronise dedicated and devoted artistes. The three gurus were felicitated by Rekha Talukdar, a prominent Manipuri dancer, who also started the programme with a Guru Vandana. The students of Manipuri Kalakendra presented a variety of dances. |
Apurba Kumar Das