Music from West Bengal
From Baul to Rock: A Cultural Tapestry of Sound
One of the most culturally endowed regions of Southeast Asia, Bengal has been carrying with it an affluent musical legacy over millennia. It drives its strength from the amazing colors and the scope of its wide arching sweep. Music artists from Bengal, it is interesting to note, have taken every opportunity to weave their creations around the prevalent social fabric of the time.
This adaptability has meant that the works that were contemporary when they were first created also retain their emotional warmth to this day.
The introspection suffused in the Baul, mirroring the wandering soul’s quest for peace, has been one of the most influential musical traditions. Fronted by soul-searching mystics, the word Baul may have its roots in the Sanskrit word “Vyakula” or “restless.” On its own, the Baul is quite a remarkable musical thought process, offering a clear idea of the amazing element of spirituality in Indian art forms. At its purest, the Baul form is performed best when the mind and the ultimate beloved merge. The oral tradition has survived centuries and is now the subject of study for many scholars from across the world. Ektara, dotara, khamak, duggi, dhol, and manjeera are the commonly used musical instruments that decorate this hauntingly rich music form. Cultural icon Rabindranath Tagore readily referred to the Baul in several speeches across Europe in the 1930s.
The soulful calling of boatmen, the Bhatiali, has been the base of many popular music compositions that floated into film music across the country. One of the most prominent Bhatiali-influenced music composers is the much-loved Sachin Dev Burman. Hits like “Sun Mere Bandhu Re,” “Mere Sajan Hai Us Paar,” and “Safal Hogi Teri Aradhna” have been some of his finest works in his large repertoire. Describing the Bhatiali as the “song of the earth,” the unforgettable composer paid a loving tribute to the musical form, brandishing his affinity for the land he came from.
Folk music forms like Bhawaiya from the northern part of Bengal bring forth the rustic romance of the region in its most luscious silhouette. The splendorous variety of music played and performed during the Durga Puja including the Baul and Kirtan- a Vaishnav tradition, adds to the piety. Shyama Sangeet- songs conjured in honor of Goddess Kali spruce up the vibrant festivities.
Another remarkable aspect of music from Bengal is the most eclectic, Adhunik Geet. Rooted in the timeless Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti it is open to influences from the West, and has ushered in a new wave blending traditional folk with contemporary sounds. Covering a wide range of modern issues both introspective and every day, Adhunik Geet, thrives on catchy tunes and poignant lyrical content. Patriotism, nature, love and contemporary changes are depicted in these songs with unparalleled panache. It is quite the bridge between tradition and modernity and has caught the fancy of legendary artists like Manna Dey, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay. Shana Bajpaie and Shrikanth Acharya are among the most loved Adhunik music artists today
How could one talk about the music from Bengal without mentioning the multi-talented genius of Shri Rabindranath Tagore, who could be credited as the biggest modern cultural ambassador of Indian soft power across the world? To excel at art forms as varied as literature, music, and painting at the same time is perhaps unheard of on this side of the planet. It is difficult to pin down his genius as a product of a particular era, as it transcends multiple eras.
His prolific musical output of over 2,000 songs goes against the widely held belief that much time has to be spent creating a lasting work. Laced with ornate yet understated embellishments like the murki and meend, he also, apart from creating melodies, constructed his own set of six rhythms or taals. The wide universe of thinking he explored depicts his racing mind that set out in all directions and yet managed to crystallize all of it into a unified, appealing creation for the world to savor. Some of the important areas he dwelt upon through his works include spirituality, patriotism, and the workings of the human mind.
Trying to bracket his talent in a few words is akin to bottling a tornado. Kishore Kumar, is the purest distilled, talent who achieved the unthinkable and with absolute ease. Making superstars, with his delectable yodeling, soulful singing, music composing and poignant lyrics, Kishore Kumar remains a timeless icon whose legion of fans continue to swoon. It’d be only stating a fact when you say that his connect across generations is what affords him a unique position in world entertainment
Indian classical music has also seen the overwhelming presence of luminaries from Bengal. One name that immediately comes to mind is the abundantly talented musician Pandit Ravi Shankar. Along with his command over the instrument sitar, which became synonymous with him, his influential personality turned many millions towards accepting the depth of Indian classical music. It would not be an overstatement to say that the popularity of Indian classical music across the seven seas is due to the contribution and effort of Bharat Ratna, Pandit Ravi Shankar. Such was his influential charm that popular music bands, including The Beatles, came under his aura and turned their minds eastwards. Indian classical musicians across generations owe much of their worldwide popularity to him.
A wide film music catalogue that continues to enchant Bengali music lovers is another facet of the music from. It is common to find many of the hits previously recorded for Bengali films waft their way into Hindi films.
With the distorted Guitar banging its chords in 1978, there echoed a major new sound on the music landscape. Moheener Ghoragui became one of the earliest rock group from Kolkata who often classified their music, given the various influences they carried as Baul Jazz. By the 90’s among others Krosswindz, Cactus, Fossils, Chandrabindoo, have been greeted by flailing arms and screeching voices by audiences.
From Classical to folk to Adhunik to Rabindranath’s universally acclaimed sublime works, music from Bengal has woven a rich tapestry of sounds that continue to reverberate across the global musical landscape. Fusion, experimentation, are all a part of this mix that will continue to haunt the youth and the seasoned music lovers because there is a song and a sound for everyone from the vast repository of Bengali Music.
Vibhav Rao
