Monsoon Dreams dazzles Hyderabad
Tanusree Shankar, the legendary dancer and choreographer of international acclaim and a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, led her company through an enchanting repertoire. The first half of the performance featured a series of her iconic choreographic pieces, including Ganesh Vandana, Shiva, Serenity, Court Dance, Cloud, Wrishya Vihar, and Amity. These performances explored a spectrum of moods and themes ranging from divinity and peace to the grandeur of royalty, environmental beauty, and women's empowerment.
Each piece was underscored by the distinctive compositions of the late Ananda Shankar, Tanusree's husband and an avant-garde musician in his own right. The unique fusion of traditional Indian rhythms with contemporary instrumentation lent the ballets a modern yet rooted energy, which was met with thunderous applause from a packed audience.
The second half of the evening was dedicated to a captivating dance ballet titled Chirantan, inspired by the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Known for his poetic portrayal of love, peace, and human unity, Tagore's ideals were brought to life through expressive choreography, compelling music, and rich symbolism. Chirantan conveyed a vision of hope, spiritual awakening, and the triumph of love over hatred—especially poignant in today's world.
A highlight of the segment was the evocative narration and voice-over by none other than Amitabh Bachchan. Coupled with the soul-stirring music by Debajyoti Mishra, the ballet unfolded as a tribute to the enduring relevance of Tagore's message: a world free from fear, guided by truth and compassion.
Chowrangee, the organiser of the event, is a Hyderabad-based cultural platform that aims to spotlight India's artistic heritage through inclusive and innovative programming. Inspired by the spirit of Bengal yet inclusive of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds, Chowrangee is dedicated to fostering meaningful cross-cultural dialogues. Its curated offerings span theatre, dance, music, and visual arts, making it a rising force in Hyderabad's cultural scene.
Backed by the not-for-profit Bengal and Beyond Foundation, Chowrangee remains committed to presenting high-quality, immersive performances that unite communities and celebrate shared human values. Monsoon Dreams stood as a testament to this mission, leaving the audience spellbound with its lyrical storytelling and artistic grandeur.
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India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Next year, stay at Bengal hill home where Rabindranath Tagore did radio recital
Long before the world was knitted together by the internet and even before mobile phones became ubiquitous, telephone lines were a luxury reserved for India's major urban centres. Yet in 1938, in the remote, cloud-kissed hills of Kalimpong—now a district in West Bengal—Rabindranath Tagore's voice travelled across the airwaves, reciting a poem live for All India Radio (AIR).What made that broadcast remarkable wasn't just the poem itself—it was the infrastructure it ushered in. For the poet to go live on air from his residence in Kalimpong, telephone towers were installed in the region, cutting through the isolation of the hills for the first as the West Bengal Heritage Commission works to restore the very mansion from where Tagore's voice once echoed into the homes of thousands, this forgotten story is finding its way back into collective house is known as the Gouripur Mansion, a two-storeyed building nestled in the tranquil lap of Kalimpong. It then belonged to the zamindars of Gouripur, a region in present-day Mymensingh, Bangladesh, and over time became a cherished retreat for the Bard of Bengal. Between 1938 and 1940, Tagore stayed at the mansion on at least three occasions, and it was here that his 77th birthday was celebrated. The date, 25th day of the month of Baisakh in the Bengali calendar, fell in mid-May that late litterateur and traveller Prabodh Kumar Sanyal was present in the mansion that day. In his book Debatatma Himalaya, he describes what it felt like to be inside the house when Tagore read out his poem Jonmodin—or Birthday—live on AIR, which was then headquartered in poem now resides in the anthology Senjuti. According to Sanyal, who was 33 at the time, the occasion was momentous not just because of the literary value of the poem but because it led to a breakthrough in the region's connectivity. 'There was no telephone in Kalimpong—it was inaugurated for this occasion. Telephone poles were installed in the hills of Kalimpong for the past few days. The telephone authorities have spent quite the money for this purpose,' he wrote in the 10th chapter of the first part of his was not alone that day. Sanyal noted that the poet was accompanied by his son Rathindranath, daughter-in-law and painter Pratima Devi, author Maitreyee Devi, and a close circle of admirers and friends. It was a quiet gathering, yet it would leave an indelible mark on the history of the Majumdar, assistant professor of comparative literature at Jadavpur University, says that history records how important this house was in the life of Tagore. 'There is detailed description of this house in the book Kobir Abas (or House of the Poet) by Suranjana Bhattacharya. We thank the commission for taking up the task to restore it,' he this same Gouripur Mansion would also become the site of Tagore's last summer in Kalimpong. During his final stay in 1940, he fell severely ill. According to scholars, his condition was so critical that many feared he would not survive the night. But Tagore, then 79 years old, held on. Though he would never recover fully, he returned to Kolkata, where he passed away a year later in building that bore witness to both poetic triumph and personal tragedy has since endured decades of neglect. It suffered particularly during the years of political unrest triggered by the Gorkhaland movement. As the hills settled into relative calm, the West Bengal Heritage Commission took up the responsibility of restoring the house. According to Alapan Bandyopadhyay, chairman of the commission, preserving this site has always been of cultural importance. 'The Gouripur House, holds much significance for Bengalis and the cultural history of the state. The work of restoration is being done and we plan to set up a Tagore museum here,' he restoration is being carried out in two phases at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 5 crore, led by the public works department of the state government. When the house reopens—likely by next year—it will not just be a museum. The two-storeyed mansion will also include six suite rooms, to be operated by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited, inviting travellers to stay in a place where history lingers in every state government hopes to weave this mansion into a broader tourism circuit that celebrates Tagore's legacy in the hills. Roughly 37 km away lies the poet's other retreat in Mungpoo, Kurseong, which has already been restored and welcomes tourists. Together, the Gouripur Mansion in Kalimpong and the Mungpoo House could offer a parallel Tagore trail, drawing cultural enthusiasts from across the visitors eventually step into the restored Gouripur Mansion, they will be greeted by a bust of Tagore—silent, watchful and timeless. It will stand as a sentinel to the past, reminding them that long before satellites orbited the earth or mobile towers dotted the landscape, a poet's voice was strong enough to bring technology to the hills. And that in doing so, he didn't just write history—he broadcast to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Indian Express
Renowned classical vocalist to perform at Varsha Ritu Sangeet Sandhya
The Indian National Theatre, in collaboration with the Durga Das Foundation, will present 'Varsha Ritu Sangeet Sandhya 2025' on August 2, to celebrate the arrival of the monsoon, featuring renowned classical vocalist Vidushi Kalapini Komkali. The concert will pay a heartfelt tribute on the birth anniversary of Navjeevan Khosla, patron of Indian National Theatre. Speaking about Kalapini, Vinita Gupta, honorary secretary, said that Kalapini is a vocalist endowed with a melodious and richly textured voice and is widely recognised as one of India's finest vocalists. Daughter and disciple of legendary musician Pandit Kumar Gandharva, she also received training from her illustrious mother, Vidushi Vasundhara Komkali, and not only learned the techniques and grammar of music but also inherited a deep capacity for creativity and contemplation. Kalapini's musical lineage is most evident in the emphasis on the rendering of the band hush (composition) and its expression and meaning. She has a rich repertoire of ragas and compositions, further enriched by her presentation of traditional folk songs of the Malwa region, which reflect the local culture and heritage. The Sagun and Nirgun bhajans (devotional songs) she presents are compositions of various saint-poets, which bring an ascetic and spiritual flavour to her music. She is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which she received in 2023. The programme, open to all, will be held on August 2 at the Strawberry Fields High School, Sector 26 at 6.30 pm.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
When Sharmila Tagore lost control of her car and almost ran into Shashi Kapoor: 'Do that again and Jennifer will come to you for money for milk'
and had shared screen space in many movies like 'Waqt', 'Aamne Saamne', 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa' and more. They made a great on screen pair, just like Tagore's onscreen pairing with as well. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While fans loved to see Sharmila and Shashi Kapoor together onscreen, they also shared a great bonding off screen. Talking about the memories with him, Sharmila Tagore had once recalled an instance when the actress lost control of the car during 'Suhana Safar' shoot. She almost ran into Shashi but thankfully, nothing happened to him. He was safe, but later the actor put his sense of humour to display as he said that if she ever does that again, his wife Jennifer Kapoor would come to her. Tagore opened up on it during a chat with author Aseem Chhabra during the launch of his book, Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, The Star'. The actress said, 'We were shooting Suhana Safar, and there was a scene where I was supposed to drive downhill, and Shashi was to jump out of the way. But something went wrong—I just could not control the clutch and brake and sped into a culvert. While the poor light man holding a reflector fell, Shashi remained unscathed. Later, he quipped, 'Do that again, and Jennifer will come to you with three children and say she doesn't have money for milk!' He could always joke, and yet remain cordial and respectful. " The 'Amar Prem' actress added further, 'Shashi would constantly tease me because I would argue a lot with the directors on the sets. Each time, he'd remind me to get on with it—don't bicker, just do it! This is what I've learnt from him. When you are doing a film for money or to help a friend out, be clear about the motives and then finish what needs to be done. When you come to the set, and are aware of the limitations of the script or the director, don't expect pigs to fly. "
