Indira Gandhi Culture Centre (IGCC) organised an event titled ‘Remembering Tagore’. The event featured songs by Iman Chakraborty from India and recitation by Samiul Islam Poluck of Bangladesh. The programme was held on March 12 at IGCC, Gulshan in the city.The artistes were accompanied by Iftekhar Alam Pradhan on tabla, Robins Chowdhury on key board, Kamrul Ahmed on flute, Shakil Mohammad Dipon on guitar and Ujjal Das on octopad. Anjali sang the song Barisho Dhara Majhe.The famous poem Anjali and song Barisho Dhara Majhe warmed up the environment at the very beginning. Then Poluck started reciting from the holy Vedas before moving onto the Tagore with all his luminance. His solemn venerations sounded with parable beats to Banabibi. Basonti He Bhobon was the song that paired with the recitation in this second phase through the sweet vocals of Iman. Almost ten more phases followed where everytime poems by Tagore were coupled with songs penned by him to balance the tempo and feel of the evening. Nirjhorer Shopno Bhongo, Sharir E Ruh are the poems to name a few. The poems occasionally rotated around classical Sanskrit to magnify the effects Tagore can impose on his audience both in terms of content and rhyme. So dialogues from Chitrangada and Shivastotram found apt companions to elucidate their messages.
But songs did the best part as can be expected from “Prochondo Gorjone,” “Fagun Haway Haway”, “Rangiye Dao”, “Jodi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ashe” etc. Thus Tagore was reminded time and again throughout the programme. The poems also brought inspiration from western translations like Songs Offering. Compositions of Christina Rosseti honouring Rabindranath did not go amiss as well. Bhanusingha Thakurer Padabali wrapped up the evening in both poetic and singing renditions.Iman Chakraborty is a highly acclaimed Rabindra Sangeet and folk singer from Kolkata. Her style of singing, her stage presence and her quality of voice has been widely appreciated. She started learning music from early childhood. She completed her Master’s Degree in Rabindra Sangeet from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. She secured the First Position in the National Scholarship in Rabindra Sangeet in India and won the Best Female Singer Award from the All India Radio in 2007. She is a graded artist of All India radio and a regular performer in different TV channels of India. She performs regularly for various FM Radio Stations in India and has also sung playbacks for several TV serials. She has performed in Kolkata and other parts of India, UK, USA, Bangladesh and SingaporeShe has released several albums such as Praner Khela, Roho Saathe, Boste Dio Kache, Tomay Gaan Shonabo etc. from HMV and Saregama.Samiul Islam Poluck started to learn recitation at a very tender age. He has trained under Mahidul Islam, Paroma Banerjee (Shantiniketan), Satyanath Mukhapaddhay, Barun Chand etc. He did a four-year diploma course in recitation from Bangladesh Shilpakala academy Faridpur from 1998-2002. He was a Gold Medalist in “Jatiyo Shikkha Shoptaho” in 2001. He is one of the talented artists of Bangladesh who performed in Rabindra Sadan on invitation of West Bengal Culture Ministry. He has performed in Indian Council for Cultural Relations programmes in Delhi, Kolkata, andDhaka, Eastern Zonal Cultural Center, Kolkata, Nazrul Mancha, GD Birla Shbhaghar, Gyan Manch etc. He has worked with Bangladesh Betar and Television. He has performed with different eminent artistes of India and Bangladesh such as Rezwana Choudhuri Bannya, Indrani Sen, Bratati Bandapaddhay, Manomoy Bhatyachariya etc. His albums are Chader Hashi, Aji E Bosonte. He has traveled abroad for performances and also performs in Bangladeshi and Indian stages and TV Channels.
