| Musical tribute It is unusual and unique in many  ways. The Lakshyadhar Chowdhury-Usha Chowdhury Trust has released a CD of songs titled Gaanor Pohorot on September 7 on the eve of Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s birthday at the Sankaradeva Kalakshetra auditorium. The very first song in the CD is dedicated to Dr Hazarika, penned by Dr Saurabh Kumar Bhuyan, tuned by Dr Amarjyoti Chowdhury and rendered by Debojit Saha. Another song is dedicated to another legendary figure, late Puroshottam Das – also written and tuned by him. The other songs in the CD are dedicated to famous filmmaker-music director late Brajen Barua, popular singer – late Jayanta Hazarika and celebrated singer Dipali Barthakur. The album was released by noted music director Ramen Barua. An unusual variety show was held on the occasion, which included a part of Lakshyadhar Chowdhury’s famous play Raksha Kumar, impressively staged by a few children, and directed by Anupjyoti Chowdhury, who also suitably compered the show, songs by Anjanjyoti, Namita Bhattacharya, Mousumi Saharia and others. Tarulata Das, a versatile singer of yesteryears, stole the show with her rendition.Earlier, a website – www. lakshyadharchowdhury memorialtrust.org was switched on by Kanaksen Deka, president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha. It was announced that as the CD is not meant for sale, one can download the same. Dipali Barthakur, Sabitri Das, wife of late Puroshottam Das, and Tarulata Das were felicitated by the organisers. The function was attended by Mamoni Raisom Goswami, Lakshyahira Das, and Dilip Kumar Hazarika, among others, who dwelt at length on the contributions of the Lakshyadhar Chowdhury -Usha Chowdhury Trust. |
| New album Popular musician Mrinalkanti is  currently busy in the making of a new Assamese album featuring upcoming singer Bandish and Mumbai’s Shreya Ghosal. Billed Goon Goon, the album has been produced by young cultural worker Nipul Das and photographer Dhrubajyoti Das under the banner of ND Production. It will have eight songs with varied tastes. Mrinalkanti has penned seven of them, while the rest have lyrics by Diganta Bharati and these have been tuned by Mrinalkanti, Diganta Bharati and Bandish. The album is set for release this Puja season. |
| Achievement Amrita Phukan has successfully  completed the Visharad course conducted by the Bhatkhande Vidyapeeth in Bharatnatyam and was placed in the first division. She recently performed her arengetram under the direction of Nrityangana Pranamika Das, founder of the Sangeet Nritya Kanan at the ITA Centre, Guwahati and has received a trophy and certificate from Kalakshetra, Chennai. Amrita learnt Bharatnatyam under the guidance of Padmashree Puspa Bhuyan till diploma standard and later did her Visharad course as a disciple of Aparajita Gogoi. Amrita, presently a student of Anthropology in Cotton College, is the daughter of Bhaskar Phukan and Dipika Sharma Phukan of Bamunimaidam, Guwahati. |
| Instrumental album After his well-received instrumental  album Jhankar, versatile guitarist Dhrubajyoti Taid, popularly known as Kaju, has come out with another album of tunes on the guitar titled Somoloy, which can be said to be a valuable addition in the arena of Assamese music. Produced under the banner of Pragash Production, the album contains eight evergreen songs of popular singers, like Bohagate aahibi chenai, Nahar phula botorote, Asomire chotalote, Asomi aai rupahi, etc. Special mention may be made here of the tunes of two songs by late Jayanta Hazarika and eminent singer Khagen Mahanta. The album bears the testimony of Dhrubajyoti Taid’s expertise in playing the guitar. |
Apurba Kumar Das