Music, memory and identity converge in emotional ode to Bengal's spirit
In a stirring celebration of music, heritage, and patriotism, the music video of
Amar Sonar Bangla
—sung by Jonaki Mukherjee—was launched at an evocative event held at a city restaurant recently.
The evening was a confluence of nostalgia and reverence, celebrating Bengal's rich Baul tradition while offering a fresh rendition of one of the region's most iconic anthems.
Graced by Jonaki Mukherjee, composer Debojyoti Mishra, and Baul singer Gautam Das Baul, the event paid homage to the timeless musical spirit of Bengal. The evening resonated with emotion as it brought to life the cultural and spiritual essence of the region's folk roots.
Amar Sonar Bangla
, composed by
Rabindranath Tagore
in 1905 during the Partition of Bengal, holds a unique place in history as the national song of Bangladesh. The tune is inspired by the Baul composition
Aami Kothae Pabo Tare
, written by folk singer Gagan Harkara. As a tribute, Gautam Das Baul performed this original folk piece, honouring its creator and reconnecting audiences with the song's spiritual ancestry.
Jonaki's rendition offered a powerful reimagining of the classic, imbued with emotional depth and a contemporary voice.
The arrangement, created by Debojyoti, skillfully blended traditional Baul influences with classical orchestration—bridging past and present to engage a new generation.
'Reimagining
Amar Sonar Bangla
felt like a spiritual responsibility,' Mishra shared during the launch. 'We wanted to reconnect people with the depth of our roots using the language of music. It is a tribute to the soul of Bengal.'
Echoing this sentiment, Jonaki added, 'This song is woven into the cultural identity of our people. Singing it was not just a performance for me—it was a personal journey filled with emotion, reverence, and pride.'
The evening concluded with a heartfelt musical performance that left the audience moved, carrying forward messages of unity, peace, and pride.
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Time of India
10-08-2025
- Time of India
Curzon line softened, song replaced: Story behind Ray's Tagore docu
1 2 Kolkata: A politically loaded sentence about Lord Curzon softened, a Tagore song swapped out for another, a newspaper leak triggering an official letter seeking an explanation, and a denied request for bereavement break—these were just a few of the challenges Satyajit Ray navigated while making his 1961 documentary on Rabindranath Tagore . Commissioned for the poet's birth centenary and produced by the Films Division of India, the film—seamless on screen—was, as the recently digitised archive records reveal, shaped by tight deadlines, careful oversight, and the push and pull of process. Ray, responsible for directing the film, worked in close consultation with an advisory committee. Among the most engaged was Amal Home, chief producer of the Tagore Centenary Programmes. His extensive feedback on Ray's script led to a number of significant changes. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata With the archival file recently digitised and made easily accessible, the story behind the making of the film has come into sharper focus. One of Home's suggestions was Ray's choice of 'Amar Sonar Bangla' as a chorus during the depiction of the movement during 1905 partition of Bengal. The Tagore scholar advised against it, suggesting that the song could "make Tagore out as a provincial patriot" and recommending 'Bidhir bandhan katbey tumi' instead—a song he said was more representative of the mass protests at that time. Another important edit was made to a line describing Curzon's partition policy as "cunningly designed" to create division. A note from the committee recommended substituting the phrase with "likely to induce a rift," deeming the original wording too strong. "At the present time it does not appear desirable to stress that aspect," an information and broadcasting ministry note said. As Ray managed these revisions, he was also dealing with personal grief. In December 1960, during the production, his mother passed away. Ray wrote to the Films Division requesting for some time "on account of bereavement". His request was denied. A few weeks later, he again wrote to the Division, saying he needed "a little rest". That too was turned down. In the midst of these pressures, Ray received a letter from the Central Board of Film Censors asking him to explain how a newspaper article had appeared discussing the film even though it hadn't yet received a censor certificate. Ray replied that the article had been written without his knowledge and was likely based on a private technical screening. "I do not know who he is or why he thought fit to write about the film," he wrote. The film was completed on schedule and released during the Tagore centenary year in 1961. Documents related to the production—including correspondence between Ray and the Films Division, and script suggestions —are preserved in the National Archives of India. Together, they offer a detailed record of the process behind the film. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
07-08-2025
- Time of India
Music, memory and identity converge in emotional ode to Bengal's spirit
Jonaki Mukherjee's rendition of 'Amar Sonar Bangla' was launched at a city event, celebrating Bengal's Baul tradition. Composer Debojyoti Mishra and Baul singer Gautam Das Baul graced the occasion, honoring the region's musical spirit. Mishra aimed to reconnect people with their roots through music, while Jonaki expressed the song's cultural significance and her personal connection to it. In a stirring celebration of music, heritage, and patriotism, the music video of Amar Sonar Bangla —sung by Jonaki Mukherjee—was launched at an evocative event held at a city restaurant recently. The evening was a confluence of nostalgia and reverence, celebrating Bengal's rich Baul tradition while offering a fresh rendition of one of the region's most iconic anthems. Graced by Jonaki Mukherjee, composer Debojyoti Mishra, and Baul singer Gautam Das Baul, the event paid homage to the timeless musical spirit of Bengal. The evening resonated with emotion as it brought to life the cultural and spiritual essence of the region's folk roots. Amar Sonar Bangla , composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 during the Partition of Bengal, holds a unique place in history as the national song of Bangladesh. The tune is inspired by the Baul composition Aami Kothae Pabo Tare , written by folk singer Gagan Harkara. As a tribute, Gautam Das Baul performed this original folk piece, honouring its creator and reconnecting audiences with the song's spiritual ancestry. Jonaki's rendition offered a powerful reimagining of the classic, imbued with emotional depth and a contemporary voice. The arrangement, created by Debojyoti, skillfully blended traditional Baul influences with classical orchestration—bridging past and present to engage a new generation. 'Reimagining Amar Sonar Bangla felt like a spiritual responsibility,' Mishra shared during the launch. 'We wanted to reconnect people with the depth of our roots using the language of music. It is a tribute to the soul of Bengal.' Echoing this sentiment, Jonaki added, 'This song is woven into the cultural identity of our people. Singing it was not just a performance for me—it was a personal journey filled with emotion, reverence, and pride.' The evening concluded with a heartfelt musical performance that left the audience moved, carrying forward messages of unity, peace, and pride.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Time of India
Tribute to Bhowanipore's Guru Dutt on centenary
1 2 Kolkata: Guru Dutt was not born in Kolkata but the city had lived in him since he shifted here and grew up as a Bhowanipore resident. Fluent in Bengali and an avid reader of Bengali literature, Dutt married iconic Bengali singer, Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri, and filmed at least two of his cult movies in Kolkata. To commemorate his centenary, film enthusiasts from across India will gather for a day-long event at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity on Friday. Richa Agarwal, chairperson of the centre, described "Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye Toh: Remembering Guru Dutt" as a space to reflect on cinema and not just a tribute. After completing his schooling in Kolkata, Dutt took up a job of a telephone operator in the city in 1942. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "He watched Bengali films at Jyoti theatre next to his home, attended jatras, heard Baul songs and watched the dance dramas of Uday Shankar that had a deep impact on him. He admired the work of PC Barua, Debaki Bose, Nitin Bose, Phani Mazumdar. In his own cinema, we see the influence of these film-makers," said Ira Bhaskar, former dean of School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, who will deliver the keynote address. Bhaskar will present the programme's keynote address, titled 'Affect, Authorship, and Ideology. Dutt's association with Uday Shankar's School of Dance and Choreography in Almora impacted his work. JU professor Madhuja Mukherjee, who will also deliver a talk at the event, said Dutt's 'Pyaasa' is set in Kolkata. The song, 'Jaane kya tune kahi' featuring Dutt and Waheeda Rehmanwas shot at the Prinsep Ghat. Stories abound about Dutt's friendship with novelist Bimal Mitra whose 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam' was adapted for the 1962-classic. It was partially shot at the Indo-English castle of the Gaines in Dhanyakuria. "Guru Dutt began to remake Nitin Bose's 'Saathi'/'President.' When he died in October 1964, he was remaking this film as 'Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi'— set in Kolkata — with Mala Sinha and Tanuja as his co-stars. As he died, it was finished by his team, including his brother Atma Ram and released as a Guru Dutt production in 1966 with Dharmendra playing his role," Bhaskar said. Dutt had also started shooting his Bengali directorial debut titled 'Gouri', based on the life of a sculptor. But the project was shelved. "Geeta Dutt sang for all his films. In many of his films, SD Burman and Hemant Kumar composed the music," Bhaskar added.
