With an aim to revive authentic Odia music tradition and create some soulful Odia songs that can appeal to music lovers of all categories, leading cultural organisation Swara Bichitra launched its second music album Alaap at the Jayadev Bhawan here on Sunday.
Celebrated Odia actor and MP Siddhant Mohapatra released the album in the presence of eminent personalities from the Odia music and film industry including laxmidhar Palit, Mitali Chinara, T Souri, Swara Bichitara chief advisor Nrusingha Mohapatra and journalist Pradosh Pattnaik.
The evening went vividly melodious with performances by noted and new singers like Gourishankar, Amrita panda, Moushumi, Aswini Mohanty on popular Odia and Hindi songs.
In a critical period when youth have turned face from Odia music and the Odia music is entangled in the web of copied and remixed albums,
Alaap is considered as a welcome initiative to fill the void by three young talents Binay, Kuldeep and Biraj. Alaap is a composition of nine songs of different tastes and moods enriched with direction of Binay and Kuldeep and word composition of Biraj with supports from music enthusiast Aswini Mohanty.
Though the album aims to be a trendsetter in the Odia musical world, its very first song Janena drastically misses its essence. Pronunciation of the non-Odia singer is responsible for creating such a void in the song that claims to have a classical touch with a soulful voice of Bollywood singer Javed ali.
Another version of the very same song sung by Biraj came out quite well. The Bhabuchhu ki duet in Amrita and Binay’s voice, Puni to Barasa re by Rajesh and Sonam, the solo by Kuleep in Kahin Aaina are quite impressive. Na Mora Malli is an interesting blend of western rap and Odia folk tune.
Though a couple of compositions seem familiar to relate with many Bollywood or South Indian film songs, overall the compositions are soothing. The lyrics written by Biraj are well composed by Binay and Kuldeep.
After the huge success of its first album Arohan, Swara Bichitra did take another bold attempt in relying on young musical talents for its second one Alaap.