Vocalist Kamalini Mukherji will perform Rabindrasangeet at Rashtrapati Bhavan to commemorate Tagore’s 154 birth anniversary. She tells Shrabasti Mallik how the Nobel laureate was influenced by western music
Rabindrasangeet (songs by Rabindranath Tagore) has inspired multiple generations and vocalists. Even after decades, it continues to enthrall young people who try to give their own version to music that was written and composed a century ago. Meet Kolkata-based Kamalini Mukherji, who is going to perform at Rashtrapati Bhavan to commemorate 154th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. She is one of the young leading vocalists who is wowing her fans with her style of singing and also her experimental work in Rabindrasangeet.
Even before she was mature enough to understand the meaning of Tagore’s songs, she was interested in his music. “There was something very serene and calming about them, something that made me stop everything that I was doing. I was a notorious child and the only thing that stopped me from getting into mischief was my mother breaking into his song Rim jhim ghono ghono re,” said Kamalini.
When she began understanding the meaning of the songs she ardently sang as a child, she realised that Tagore’s lyrics were evergreen and mesmerising. He had this unique ability to capture the most sensitive of emotions and depict it through his songs, she said. “They covered every emotion and every sentiment that a person can possibly feel in his or her entire lifetime — love, anger, sadness, betrayal and patriotism. Even joys of festive celebrations flowed through his pen. These are emotional contexts, sentiments and expressions which are universal and timeless. People from any generation and any strata of society can identify, associate and connect to these songs. That is what makes his compositions truly cosmopolitan and modern,” shared Kamalini.
Now it is her mission to take Tagore’s music to the world. Besides Bengal, “there is a big international market for Rabindranath’s music.” “People in foreign countries are aware of Rabindranath’s music and sometimes they take more interest in it than Indians. But we have not given them much of his works and not shown them the diversity of his thoughts,” said the vocalist who divides her time between US and India.
Tagore may have kept his compositions traditional but they are now being adapted to modern times. The harmonium is being replaced by the keyboard; guitars are taking the place of the esraj and the sitar while tabla has surrendered to drums. Kamalini reminded us of what the bard believed in — bhanga aar gora (break and reconstruct). This unique feature of the bard is reflected in a few of his songs like Bhenge mor ghorer chabi niye jabi ke amare, which have two sets of music notations. He was also largely influenced by western music and incorporated them in his compositions.
The music of popular song Purano sei diner kotha is an adaptation of the Scottish song Auld lang Syne, written by Robert Burns. “Rabindranath always welcomed change. He used to break and recreate his own works. His notations are so versatile that they can be adapted to any instrument. But there is certain purity to his compositions that should not be changed — like the taal and tune. Experimentation should not go to a point where they attempt to tamper with the essence of the song and the composition. There should be modernisation, which is intelligent,” she said.
The artiste who has had shows all over the world is preparing for her show at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, organised by Seher. “It is no less than a blessing to be able to sing Rabindrasangeet in front of the president,” she concluded.