Kolkata to host music festival to identify the roots
The festival would be held from Aug 1 to 4 at Rabindra Sadan campus and Gaganendra Pradarshanshala in the city's cultural hub.
“Sohoj Parav is a non-profit collective effort to bring in one platform different cultural traditions and performing arts with the aim to create a knowledge hub,” said singer Lopamudra Mitra.
Popular personalities like filmmaker Gautam Ghosh, singer Srikanta Acharya, folk singer Parvathy Baul and Joy Sarkar (music director, song writer) were present at the press meet to announce the festival.
Sohoj Parav is a ‘root music festival’ where the Kolkatans will get the opportunity to recognize the rich musical culture of the region. It is billed to be a festival where the urban would come in touch with the splendor and diversity ingrained in the cultural foundation of India showcasing the creative spirit of the nation.
The musical festival will have almost all sorts of root music like Kirtan, Baul, Bhawaiya, Bhatiyali, Fakiri and Chau from different genres of music, including Rajasthani folk, Assamese Shastriya Dance and South Indian classical and folk mix.
Sohoj Parav will also be graced by Subha Mudgal in the inauguration programme and Kailash Kher in the closing ceremony. Other popular personalities like Girija Devi, Mame Khan, Parvathy Baul and Latif Shah would add verve to the festival.
On Sohoj Parav, Gautam Ghosh said, “I appreciate this initiative taken by Dohar and Lopamudra to instill in us our cultural roots. We have divided our culture in many layers and that’s why they go missing. Through this ‘Sajajiya’ root I hope we all will be able to create a culture without divisions.”
When asked about the effect of Sohoj Parav on the younger generations, Jay Sarkar, music composer, who is also the husband of Lopamudra, said, “It is our duty to instill the essence of culture within the younger generation. Lopamudra and Kalikaprasad have really worked hard for this cultural festival.”
A performance by folk singers like Sangeeta and Parvathy Baul added melody to the press meet.
Kalikaprasad of Dohar fame stated, “We can desire cultural universality, but not at our cost. Equal treatment is essential. If I can play the Blues, then why not let Baul music find voice in you?”
When asked about the innovative idea of Sohoj Parav, Srikanta Acharya said, “I am really looking forward to this festival and I wish we will be able to revive this festival in future to create an impact on the urban minds”.
(Reporting by Shubhashree Hom)
In image: Singer Lopamudra Mitra
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
