The annual celebration of World Music Day, an invalu able addition to the city’s cultural calendar, organised by the socio-cultural organisation 'Octo Creation' for the seventh consecutive year, was observed on June 21 at Shraddhanjali Kanon situated near Radha Govinda Barua road, Guwahati. The festival is the brainchild of Rajiv Kalita, who is a well-known tuner and music arranger. This time, the main theme was 'In Rhythm With The World'. Noted singer Pragyan Barua flagged off proceedings in the evening with a classical number followed by Bhaskar Ojah's lightning fast finger-playing of multiple instruments like Tabla, Mridanga, Khool, Drum, etc. One of the most progressive blues bands of Asia 'Soul Mate' enthralled the evening crowd with their intriguing interpretation of blues-based songs.

But the highlight was the rendition of songs in regional and even foreign languages by talented singer Dr. Sangita Kakati. It gave the audience an irresistible taste of Dr. Kakati's versatility and range. Dr. Kakati belted out a mixed variety including Assamese semi-classical, Khasi, Sindhi, Gujrati, Ghazal, Jhumur, Goalparia, Assamese modern songs besides songs in Irish, German and French. The two songs rendered in German and French languages were of the traditional variety. The instruments used in these songs were piano, guitar, drum, African instruments among others. Interestingly, Dr. Kakati is also undergoing training in western classical music under London's 'Associate Board of Royal School of Music'. She is now learning to sing songs in such foreign languages as Spanish, Scotish, Chinese, Mexican among others under the tutelage of renowned pianist and western classical music exponent Ghan Deka.

By Kalpana Patowary

Kalpana Potawary is a popular Assamese singer and Bhojpuri icon, also ha ing notable presence on Bangla and Assamese music landscape. Her most talked about latest album on legendary Bhojpuri cultural personality Bhikhari Thakur has been released by one of the top music label in the world, Virgin Records/EMI Music, London. The disks is out now and  available across the globe. The album 'The Legacy of Bhikari Thakur' explores Bhojpuri artistic tradition and Bhikhari Thakur.

Bhojpuri is a lokbhasha or folklore spoken in 14 nations all over the world and in major towns, cities of India. It is widely spoken in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Lokbhasha is a document of society, civilization and culture.

Bhikari Thakur was a Bhojpuri author popularly known as the 'Shakespeare of Bhojpuri Literature'. Thakur was born in a barber-family on December 18, 1887 at Kutubpur (Diyara) Village in Saran District now in Bihar. He is best known for the creation of the twentieth century theatre form 'Bidesia'. Bhikari Thakur was a barber (a backward Caste) who abandoned home and hearth to form a group of actors who dealt with issues of confrontation: between the traditional and the modern, between urban and rural, between the haves and the have-nots. Appreciative native Bhojpuri audiences consider Bhikari Thakur as the incomparable founder father, propagator and exponent par excellence of this form. He was a folk poet, a folk singer, a folk dancer and an actor.

The immense desire to keep the legend alive and to introduce to the world the real Bhojpuri music, Bhikhari Thakur became Kalpana's passion. It was a matter of huge pride and honour for Patowary to have clinched a deal with EMI/Virgin Records. Not many have ventured in such a musical exploration. ''My aim is to reach the classes, introduce Bhikari Thakur's work and legacy on an international platform. Bhojpuri music isn't just about double-meaning songs — even I have sung so many'', explains the artiste, who has also sung and produced the album.

The album comprising nine tracks is out and has been launched in France and Mauritius and will be launched in London as well, according to the singer. ''I felt there was a need to raise awareness regarding his work.'' All the tracks on the album were written by Bhikari Thakur and Kalpana, using minimal acoustics, in order to retain the original flavour. The album starts from 'Bhikari Parichay', an auto-biographical narrative rendered by Kalpana. In one of the tracks, 'Kalyug Prem', Bhikari Thakur talks about the anguish of women whose husbands have taken to drinking. While staying in Calcutta on work purpose, Thakur saw the difference between the social conditions of his village and Calcutta. When he came to learn of Raja Ram Mohan Roy's social work, he was deeply affected. He came back to his village a changed man and formed Bhikari Thakur Natak Mandali. He went around performing his plays with a view to raise awareness.

Kalpana was lucky to find a dancer from that troupe in his village. ''Now 98, he helped me a lot. I documented him and then tried to authenticate and check the pronunciations and spellings in the book 'Bhikari Thakur Ratnavali' by Rashtra Bhasha Parishad. There was hardly any material available on him in the market.''               

For Kalpana Patowary, it was the most esoteric singing moments of her career while rendering those songs. She was very careful and particular while maintaining the raw Bhojpuria accent of Bhikhari Thakur’s time.

Action-Romantic Assamese film
Hiya Diba Kak

The first schedule of Rajiv Bora's second offering 'Hiya Diba Kak' wrapped up after a long stretch of shooting on June 27. A romantic story with commercial ingrediants like song-dance, action-revenge, 'Hiya Diba Kak' has just three songs left to be picturised. The shooting of this film will be completed once the three songs are canned in mid-August.

The main artistes of the movie - Jatin Bora, Angurlata and Bhranti Medhi are busy with their rehearsals for the new mobile theatre session. Jatin Bora has worked in an action-romantic movie after a long time. The film, with it's share of intrigue and romance, has a lot of action sequences that dominate the better part of the film. It's unlike anything that leading hero Jatin Bora has done in the past. He has been proving himself as one of the most bankable actors in Assamese cinema who can play any kind of role given and has gifted us lots of hits. Director Rajiv Bora is quite happy with the final results. With some nail biting action scenes and interesting storyline, the movie has got what it takes to succeed at the box-office. Padmarag Goswami too has worked hard in a negative character.

The film is produced by Sarju Acharjya under the banner of 'Jeevandhara Production'. The story, script and dialogues are written by Rajiv Bora. Veteran artistes like Abdul Mazid, Biju Phukan and Nipon Goswami are of the view that Rajiv Bora has grown tremendously as a director since his debut feature 'Tumar Khabar'. As the title suggests 'Hiya Diba Kak' is a romantic film. There are obstacles in the way of love, which is quite natural. Love birds Abinash and Chayanika too encountered obstacles in the form of trouble-maker Mrinal. So action is imminent. A lot of attention is paid to action scenes which were choreographed by Nepal's Astamaan Maharajan and his associates. Assam's well-known exponents of martial arts and action directors Pradhan Deori and Dhruba Barman are there as well.

The two heroines of 'Hiya Diba Kak' Angurlata and Bhranti stay in Nirlaj Girls Hostel. But the hero Jatin Bora is actually in love with Angurlata. Bhranti's love is completely one-sided. A lot of new faces make their way in 'Hiya Diba Kak' as college and hostel life forms an important part of the story.

There are a string of popular names and several newcomers in the cast of artistes - Abdul Mazid, Biju Phukan, Nipon Goswami, Jatin Bora, Angurlata, Bhranti Medhi, Nikumani Barua, Reena Bora, Arun Hazarika, Atul Pasoni, Padmarag Goswami, Pal Phukan, Arup Baishya, Lipika Bora Medhi, Jeet Sarma, Dhruba Barman, Sukapha Rajkumar Chetia, Jatin Jeet Bora, Pradhan Deori, Rupali Devi, Agnita Thakuria, Ranjita Das, Chiranjit, Jiten Khanikar, Manju Dutta, Namrata Sarma, Parijat Chatterjee, Archana Arpi, Amar Nath, Junjun Bora, Smrita Bora, Priya Kashyap, Snigdha, Swapna Chaya, Devjani Das, Jyotsna Kalita, Parbin, Shiny Goswami, Saju Ahmed, Dulal, Firoz Medhi, Bubu Das, Bhaben Das, Julius Gogoi, Manoj Gogoi, Bharat Raj, etc.

The film is cinematographed in cinemascope with the Red M X camera by Siddhartha Barua. He is assisted by Pradip Sengupta. Naba Kumar Das is expected to take part in the song picturisations. Music is scored by Polash Gogoi and Sanchayita (Kolkata). The songs were rendered by Javed Ali, Shaan, Sanchayita, Shanta Uzir, Jublee and Dikhu. Choreography by Jini Mohalia, Pankaj Ingti and Bappa Ahmed. Costume designer Lukumoni Gogoi. Make-up by Uday Mandal. Hair styling by Manipur's Miki Thaksonai. Art direction by Pankaj Bezbarua. The chief assistant director is Lohit Dutta. Assistants are Sumanta Bordoloi, Jayanta and Bhabesh Deka. Editing will be done by Kaju. Production controller Arun Sonowal. Arrangement by Gunajit Nath.