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“Kobir
Aangone Raager Aalo”
Sounak’s debut album was released on the 2nd of May 2007 in
Crossword bookstore Kolkata. “Kobir Aangone Raager Aalo”, is a first
of its kind in the sense that it is a combined compilation
of both Hindustani Classical music and Rabindrasangeet, both
Sounak’s forte. The album was launched by his Gurus, the Kirana
Gharana maestro – Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khansahab and the famous
Rabindrasangeet exponent- Pramita Mallick. Senior academician and
teacher Subhas Chowdhury graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
The masters showered their blessings on Sounak in front of a packed
audience in Crossword. The opening ceremony was followed by a short
and succinct recital of Raag Desh and Rabindrasangeet based on the
same Raag, by Sounak.
KOBIR AANGONE RAAGER AALO – The Concept.
When the idea of launching an album was first suggested, I wondered
if I could juxtapose both my subjects in the same compilation, but
finding out a relevant thread which will effectively and logically
bind the whole theme together was what I was looking for. I did not
want a repetition of the “Bhanga Gaan – Mool Gaan” concept (Original
Oriental or Western melodies which directly inspired Tagore for his
compositions), which has already been attempted by a number of
artists. It was while playing with such musical ideas that the
concept first suggested itself.
Being a student of both Classical music and Rabindrasangeet I have
had the opportunity of looking at both the musical forms from
proximity. Any given Raga manifests itself in totally different
forms when portrayed in Classical music and in a Rabindrasangeet.
 Tagore
was always in favour of liberating music from its shackles and
giving it new forms. What made Tagore’s music so different was his
lofty philosophy on one hand and his creative genius on the other,
which was reflected on his ability to assimilate various forms of
Indian and world music and fuse his ideas to create a new genre
altogether different. The various ingredient components underwent a
complex chemical change and retained a just a subliminal flavour of
their own, but they could not be distinguished in their independent
elemental forms. The apparent divorce between the two subjects is
just apparent and it requires rather a catholicity of taste and
education to grasp the common note between the two genres.
Thus was born “Kobir Angone Raager Aalo”, literally meaning a ray of
color (Raga) on Tagore’s courtyard. The album contains six Ragas and
six of Tagore’s compositions based on those same Ragas. The Raga and
the Rabindrasangeet have been placed side by side for the listener
to understand the difference in the two musical idioms. I would just
like to make a special mention of the Raga Bahar and the third song
– “E Ki Koruna”. Bahar is a Raga of the spring in India and is
portrayed as having a very brisk if not frivolous character. But the
respective Tagore song – “E Ki koruna”, is a devotional song which
is rather a restrained and tacit expression of the poet’s awe,
spellbound that he is at God’s bountiful creation. The last one
Bhairavi is my personal favourite though.
“Bhara Baadore…”
No other season possibly
inspired as much awe in Tagore as did the rains. The rains with its
mystic profundity has been reflected beautifully in his writings –
poems and songs.
His songs on the rains have always remained one of the most popular
themes among singers and audiences alike. After the success of his
debut album, P&M records decided to come up with the second album,
“Bhora Baadore…” a collection of songs and recitations of the Rains;
jointly with the legendary elocutionist Gouri Ghosh. The album was
launched by stalwart Rabindrasangeet Singer Sumitra Sen in Kala Kunj
auditorium – Kolkata.
Sounak along with Gouri Ghosh offers a new experience in “Bhora
Baadore…” too. Combining essences of Raag in a very unique way,
never before attempted in Rabindrasangeet, Sounak uses his voice as
an instrument to orchestrate his own songs. “Aji Srabon Ghono Gohon”,
“Kotha Je Udhao Holo”, “Heriya Shyamolo Ghono” and “Aji Jhorer
Raatey” are songs to watch out for.
Hope you enjoyed the songs and please feel free to share your comments
and views with me.
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