Gautam Chattopadhyay helped me find my voice: Bonnie Chakraborty

In a quick chat, Bonnie Chakraborty talks about where Bangla music is headed. Excerpts...
You were a member of Krosswindz, before you left for Chennai and finally, Mumbai. How has the journey been?
I started out with western pop then took up hardcore rock. It was Moheener Ghoraguli's Gautam Chattopadhyay , who made me understand that it was through Bengali music that I could find my voice.I started taking interest in folk music. But then, I did not want to limit myself by to a particular genre. So, I left for Chennai and then Mumbai. And with Usri (my wife) giving birth to our son, that journey is now something entirely different.
Don't you think Bengali folk music is going through a phase when it is being accepted by urban audiences more than ever before?
Yes. In fact, folk music is being used in films and also, Bangla bands are improvising on it. Besides, the urban audiences are also growing a taste in folk music.
Do you think any particular person or event is responsible for that?
Folk culture cannot be suppressed for a long time. But yes, some people are responsible for its popularity. While Gautamda's contribution is endless, I have helped make it popular in my own small way .
So, to which direction is Bangla music going?
This is an exciting phase. There was a time when Kabir Suman and Nachiketa changed the face of Bangla music, after which the Bangla bands took centrestage. Currently , it is the Bengali film music that is making all the right noises.
Do you think Bangla bands are going through a difficult phase?
I would not go into that. Bangla bands still exist, but in a different way . Many of the former band members are currently doing film music, so that's a positive thing. You can see the range, the variety .
What's keeping you busy?
I am devoting all my time and energy to my band, Bonnie Chakraborty Live. We are working tirelessly on a few singles that we plan to upload on YouTube. The songs are a combination of folk music of many countries. There will be some influence of Hindustani classical music as well.