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Swapan Dutta: Firmly rooted in Rabindra Sangeet

22 November 2005, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Novera Deepita
22 November 2005, 18:00 PM
Swapan Dutta performing at Rabindra Sadan. PHOTO: File Photo
Tagore singer Swapan Dutta traces his musical talent to his childhood. "My mother was my prime inspiration in music. I grew up listening to her songs. I think I have inherited her melodious voice," he reminisces. Early on he used to sing his favourite songs and play them on the harmonium. Later he began to learn classical music under Ustad Habibur Rahman alias Shathi. He was a regular singer in school and college functions.

However, his talent received a boost in the early 1970s when he joined Rajshahi University. While studying there, Swapan entered his name in a competition titled Raagshur. This was a part of the cultural week organised by the Rajshahi University Students Council. He secured the first position in three categories: Tagore, Nazrul and patriotic songs; he even won the second prize in folk song category. As a result, he became a champion in that competition. A nostalgic Swapan says, "This was the first time I got proper recognition in a well attended function."

Swapan is a contemporary of popular singers such as Andrew Kishore, and Fatema Tuz Zohra. The teacher who inspired him to go in for Tagore songs was Gulam Murshid. "He could identify which singer was best suited to a particular genre of music. He told me that I should sing Tagore songs," says Swapan.

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Soon after, in the special musical programme organised on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, he performed the songs sung by Bajjro Sen, the protagonist, in Shyama.

In 1980, Swapan returned to Dhaka and got admitted to Chhayanaut. However, he quit the organisation after four years. His first performance on TV was in 1977, when he performed the popular song of Hemanto Mukhapadhyay, Pother shesh kothay.

Meanwhile, he met popular singer Saadi Muhammad and in 1988 joined the cultural organisation Rabiraag which is committed to promote Tagore singers. Swapan says, "In a sense, Saadi is my mentor from whom I have learned the basic rules of Tagore songs. He taught me how to present the song with emotion."

Swapan has released two solo audio albums so far: an audiocassette Nana Ronger Dinguli in the early 1990s and a CD Shurey Shurey Tarey Khunji in 1997. He is also an active member of Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Shangstha. He has established a cultural organisation for child artistes named Anandadhara. He has performed in many stage shows in Kolkata and Agartala organised by different cultural groups, including Dakkhini, Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Shangstha and Mitali in popular venues like Shantiniketan and Rabindra Sadan.