Ruddhasangeet by Bratyajon

A year before his death Rabindrasangeet exponent Debabrata Biswas encapsulated his disappointments and frustrations in his autobiography Bratyajoner Ruddhasangeet (stifled song of the outcast). Three decades later, a different Bratyajon is presenting a different Ruddhasangeet, a play on Debabrta Biswas’s struggle with establishments. Bratya Basu’s Bratyajon is going to present the premier show of their first theatrical production ‘Ruddhasangeet’ at 6.30pm on March 20 at the Academy of Fine Arts.

What is Ruddhasangeet? In Bratya Basu’s words, "Rudhhsangeet is a chronicle, a saga. The flavor of mass music, the fashion Rabindrasangeet, the spread of popular music and their liaison with both, the singer and the persona Debabrata Biswas, are all represented in this play. A journey of thirty years through the thick and thin of the artist's life and limelight are given the freedom of voice, the liberty of stage and a course of light. Providing and extra edge to the play is an original and rare treat involving both verbal and physical expertise."

Apart from Debabrata Biswas, some other fascinating and celebrated characters which appear in the play are Hemango Biswas , Salil Choudhuri, Ritwick Ghatak , Sambhu Mitra , Bijon Bhattacharya Tripti Mitra, Suchitra Mitra , and Manjushree Chaki Sarkar.

Synopsis of the play

The greatest and most popular singer of Bengal, perhaps even India is Shri Debabrata Biswas. On the foundation of his life and experiences, which reflect the reality and subsistence of the pre-independence Bengalee community, stands the subject and theme of the play Rudhhasangeet.

The artist's involvement with and severance from Gananatya Sangha, his renunciation of the communist party, differences with the music board of Biswabharati University and his inexorable rise to fame, his opposition against socially renowned institutions, all echoed through the many associations he shared are some of the notable areas of focus within the many levels of this play. In general, Rudhhasangeet bears a historic testimony to the lives of Bengalees in East Bengal, to their social, economic, and political ups and downs through almost half a century.

For the pertinent Kolkata Corner page, please click here.