Renowned Rabindra sangeet exponent Kanika Bandopadhyay, who was fortunate enough to take music lessons from Tagore himself, spoke of her first meeting in Calcutta and with Tagore. “In 1937, Gurudev was sitting on the stage, on the day Barshamangal was being performed at Chhaya cinema hall. I stood beside his chair and sang Chhaya ghanayichhe bonay bonay. I was singing well but I wonder if Gurudev realised that I was nervous. Once I looked at him and he began singing with me. To be honest, I was very angry. Why did he sing with me? Today I think that is also my achievement. On a stage in Calcutta, when I was only 13, Rabindranath himself was singing with me. I never got over my fear of Calcutta. But that image of the first event in Calcutta is still bright in my mind.”
Lyrics:
ছায়া ঘনাইছে বনে বনে, গগনে গগনে ডাকে দেয়া।
কবে নবঘন-বরিষনে গোপনে গোপনে এলি কেয়া ॥
পুরবে নীরব ইশারাতে একদা নিদ্রাহীন রাতে
হাওয়াতে কী পথে দিলি খেয়া–
আষাঢ়ের খেয়ালের কোন্ খেয়া ॥
যে মধু হৃদয়ে ছিল মাখা কাঁটাতে কী ভয়ে দিলি ঢাকা।
বুঝি এলি যার অভিসারে মনে মনে দেখা হল তারে,
আড়ালে আড়ালে দেয়া-নেয়া–
আপনায় লুকায়ে দেয়া-নেয়া ॥
English translation:
Shadows engulf the woods as the clouds growl above
How did you, Keya, manage to sneak in through the downpour?
On a sleepless night, in response to silent gestures from the east
Which way along the wind did you release your raft?
The raft of Ashar (June-July)’s unique randomness…
The nectar smeared in your heart was hidden in a moment
out of which thorny fear?
A telepathic meeting with the one for whom you planned a rendezvous
Exchanges behind the scene,
Exchanges by hiding oneself…
Some useful information:
Written in: June-July, 1923 at Santiniketan
Age of the poet: 62
Published in: Pravahini (The Cycle of Seasons), 1925
Parjaay (Category): Prakriti (Nature)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): Barsha (Monsoon)
Taal: Kaharba
Raga: Pilu
Notation: Santiniketan Patrika
Swarabitan: Vol. 30
Notation by: Dinendranath Tagore
Purpose of the presentation:
Tagore’s music resonates with people from all walks of life. His songs are performed at cultural events, religious ceremonies and social gatherings, reflecting their enduring popularity. In an effort to bring home this treasure trove to the non-Bengali population and Bengalis around the globe, Brainware University offers a selection of Rabindrasangeet in this presentation. It is enriched with details on the songs and relevant anecdotes.
Sung By
Sri Phalguni Mookhopadhayay Chancellor, Brainware University Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is the founder-Chancellor of Brainware University, founder-Chairman and Managing-Director of Brainware Consultancy Private Limited and founder-Chairman of Webguru Infosystems Private Limited. He did his schooling at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, and graduated with honours in Economics from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He completed his masters in Economics from Calcutta University and MBA from IISWBM, before joining Hindustan Lever as a management trainee. He worked as a market planner for the ABP group for nearly a decade before striking out on his own and successfully launching two private limited companies and one University. Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is a self-taught digital artist, a versatile photographer, a filmmaker and a weekend singer who has already recorded 78 songs and is now immersed in a project to popularise Tagore songs among a global audience.
