'Music lovers are more attracted towards Tagore songs now'--Adity

Adity Mohsin

Adity believes that Rabindra Sangeet is attracting a large following. According to her, there are three reasons for this phenomenon. " The media has promoted this genre and attracted the audience on television, radio, audio cassettes and VCD. Secondly, the practice of Tagore songs is on the upswing because of an increasing number of training schools and institutions. Lastly, greater flexibility in rendering Tagore songs has popularised this art form. Because of the change in expression, style of singing and presentation, music lovers are more attracted towards Tagore songs than in the past," she maintains.

Adity began singing Tagore songs when she was a little girl. She started to take music lessons in Bulbul Lalit Kala Academy when she was 12 and took the basic lessons of music there till 1989. Saadi Muhammad was her mentor for quite a long time till 1991. Then she got the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship from the Indian Government. After completing the six years course in Shantiniketan, she returned to Dhaka and started her career as a full-fledged Tagore singer.

In her Shantiniketan days she had many gurus who helped her specialise in Tagore songs: Kanika Bandyapadhaya, Nilima Sen, Swastika Mukhopadhaya, Gora Sharbadhikari, Anup Ratan Bandyapadhaya and Mohan Singh Punjabee.

Adity retains fond memories of Shantiniketan. In a moment of nostalgia, she said, "The environment hasn't altered. However, there are certain changes. For one, the eminent teachers who were renowned singers as well are no longer around. The present talented performers do not match up to legendary artistes such as Ashish Bandyapadhaya and Kanika Bandyapadhaya. What's more is that the exemplary teacher-student relationship of the earlier years is missing."

Going down memory lane, Adity said, "I enjoyed studying music at Shantiniketan because of the green, quiet and beautiful environs. We had total freedom and enjoyed our studies." Homesickness was kept at bay because there were many Bangladeshi students who used to organise special programmes on occasions such as Victory Day of Bangladesh, Independence Day or International Language Martyr Day. Indian students also took part in those programmes.

The students of Shantiniketan used to go to different places to perform Tagore songs outside Kolkata, including Saithia, Rampurhat, Burdhawan and Baharampur. Adity says, "People used to wait for us eagerly. The audience was accomplished and enthusiastic.

In comparison the intellect of the Kolkata audience was high. Each and everyone in the audience was aware of the origin of Tagore songs; they listened to the songs carefully and criticised the performances appropriately."

Adity supports the idea of making music videos of Tagore songs. Her logic: if it is appropriate and goes with the song there is no reason to object. But making of the video should be standard and artistic. And the director has to be adept in realising the true essence of the song.

Talking about the Rabindra Sangeet scenario in our country, she points out that in Bangladesh very few Tagore singers have reached the popular heights of those such as Saadi Muhammad, Rizwana Chowdhury Bonnya or Papya Sarwar. So today the question about taking it up as a profession is still too early.

About the quality of a Tagore singer, Adity feels that one should have the basic idea about the genre, and the ability to perform methodically. Adity emphasised, "Above all a performer should sing with sincerity. A Rabindra Sangeet singer must be able to empathise with the feelings behind a Tagore song."