Kaal Boishakhi jhor…

I know, the header is for limited understanding. But I can’t find a better way to express my excitement in this weather. As I sat in my varenda an hour ago, the dark sky got my hopes up for a lovely rainy day. Then the winds started blowing strong and fierce.

Everything around is being blown away and the children are screaming out of excitement and youngsters are running out to the roof to get wet in the heavy shower which has just begun.

\”neel nobo khone asharo gogone\”{the arriving fearless storm}

If only I didn’t have to worry about my final’s in the following week, nothing could have stopped me from running to the rain. So I’m enjoying the rain staying indoors listening to Rabindrasangeet and a plate of raw mango mixed with chilli and salt. yummm!!

An Adaptation

SD Burman, the famous music director of India is also known for adapting the tunes of his songs. This song is an adaptation of a very well known song of Rabindranath Tagore, “jodi tare nai chini go sheki”

The lyrics of this song translates to express the thoughts of an uncertain mind wondering about his or her  soul mate. How would the person be? What would bring him into my life? If I don’t, would he recognize me? Would he be someone who’s already around me but I’m unable to recognize him?

Beautiful as it may seem. Even though SD Burman has adapted the tune but he hasn’t really met up to the feel of the song with the lyrics. There are many more examples of Hindi songs, some even recent, adapted from Rabindrasangeet. Although the original’s are ever so incomparable.

\”jodi tare nai chini go sheki\”{waiting for the unknown}

Mood rejuvenator

So after that depressing encounter with the remix video, I needed to set my mood right. This particular song always seems to neutralize any  sort of  mood I maybe in.

\”Koto baro bhebechinu apona bhulia\”{The further I move away,the closer I get to you}

It’s about someone whose shy. Someone whose secretly in love. Ready to sacrifice more than she has to offer. Unable to uderstand how she should express her feelings. Or whether she should at all on the first place!!!

Remix,a spoiler.

I came across this music video which is a remix of one of the most beautiful songs by Rabithakur “Paagla haoar baadol dine”{on the days of wilder winds}. I ask the readers of this post, was such remix really necessary? Was it worthed? Did it make sense at all?

Frankly, I felt the entire essence of the song was lost. We have Shahana Bajpai singing Rabindrasangeet in a very modern and ‘not boring’ manner.But she never spoiled the actual feel of the original. I really hope such sort of distortion of legendary works are not continued further. It’s simply not fair.

I have given along the unremixed version of the song for a better comparison.

\”paagla haoar badol dine\”{on the days of wilder winds}

A blissful wait..

\”Tomar khola hawa\”{The winds of love}

The song reminds me of someone who was truly in love. Even though short lived, it was magical. I could see the twinkle of happiness in her eyes, feel the joy of a happy person she had become. She was in every way above all.
The words of this song defines the very essence of being in love. How willing one becomes to do anything and everything for the person they love. Ready to face the world and tackle all hardships. Where does all the strength come from? Even death seems to be as simple as candy.

I walk a lonely road..

Windy, cool and rainy evenings always get me thinking. Random thoughts about my life. Silent soliloquies are normal for such a day. Todays thoughts were ones which probably every ’single’  ponders in solitude.

‘Being single’ was a personal choice but that doesnt stop me from wondering who and how ‘the person’ would be!! How do I want him to be? What would I be to him? Would it be a fairy tale love story?!!….wait…..I am dreaming too much…

\”Tumi shondharo meghomala\”{You are the person of my dreams}

It’s the song. This always happens to me and I start asking sensible, insensible questions. Robithakur uses such beautiful phrases to describe ones soul mate, that for once it makes you wish your beloved would sing this song for you.

The song makes you feel as if  you’re the most important person in the world for your better half. Someone, he or she cant live without. A precious possession, who becomes the power of your prayers.

Joyous rush of air

\”Oi je jhorer o meghe\”{The storms are here}

Pahela Boishakh is gone, but the air of jubilence still lingers. Despite the smothering heat and scortching sun, not many people stayed back indoors. I can still see people walking around in red and white dresses.

The Dhaka residents have been craving for a few drops of rain for a while now. Every evening, the gloomy sky and a rush of cool air lifts up our hope of rain, but alas!! Although it is the time for storms. And already other parts of the country are getting hit by rough storms.

When storms hit Dhaka, I enjoy it the most. Just like the song explains, I too can feel the wilderness of the storm. Standing in the veranda, open hair blowing wildly with the wind, splatter of rain on the face. How can anyone miss so much of life!!

Step into 1416

\”Esho hey Boishakh esho esho\”{Welcome new year}

The song has become an anthem for the first day of the new year. The day begins with this song, continues through out and ends with it too.
Why shouldn’t it! Robithakur explicitly defines all that can be possibly imagined to be done on such a festive day.

Women dressed in ‘laal paar shada shari’ (white saari with red border) and men in punjabi.’Paanta eilish’(soaked rice with fried Hilsha). Rally with colorful festoons and models. Streets flushed with color and happiness.

Just like me, many around Dhaka woke up before the sun to be all set to welcome the new year. It feels incomplete without attending the “Mongol Shovajatra” at 6 am in Dhaka University area.

“Mongol Shovajatra” is a traditional rally which the students of Dhaka University organize religiously every year. The students of Charukala creat colorful and different kinds of masks and creatures. Each creature sybolizes a certain cultural myth and belief. From the making of these artifacts to seeing them being appreciated on the day, every step is full of fun and enthusiasm.

All radio stations and cable channels play Robindrosangeet throughout the day making each moment more memorable. Personally I feel, no other nation can celebrate the welcome of a new year with so much jest and enthusiam as we Bangalee’s do.

Bangalee’s who love to have fun!

I went for my ‘pahela boishakh’ shopping today to almost all the popular boutique and shopping complexes around Dhaka. I am not a big fan of shopping in this irritating humid hot weather. But I couldn’t help but enjoy the jubeelence that was spread in the air among the crazy shoppers.

Tomorrow is the big day and it seems everyone is getting ready to welcome the new year with lots of colors and falvors.
What was most exciting for me was the fact that every where I went, all I heard was Rabindrasangeet. It felt like the day was meant to be welcomed and celebrated only by his music.

Every collection of clothes and jewelery looked lucrative to me. It was a nerve racking decission to select the one that I would finally settle into. Then another mind boggling decission to match the jeweleries with the sari I bought. If  I had the ability, guess I would have bought every piece I loved. And trust me, the numbers wouldn’t be small!!!

Chayanot

The culture driven people of Bangladesh know where to run to for quenching their thirst. I’m talking about Chayanot undoubtedly.
It is the center of all the traditional, folk and contemporary music and dance. Every year a remarkable number of candidates apply to be accepted in Chayanot. But only the ones recognized by the ‘gurus’ as having the passion for pursuing their gift, is selected.
In almost every national occasions, Chayanot arranges cultural programes which last the entire day. The most important and elaborate of them all is Pahela Boishakh, the first day of Bengali calendar. Chayanot is acknowledged as to do the official inauguration of the day.