Kabir Suman’s tryst with Mahalaya

This Mahalaya, before Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s magical voice fills up the morning air, a treat is in store for Kolkatans.
Mahisasuramardini, which is being broadcast on All India Radio since 1932, will be preceded by Kabir Suman’s childhood reminiscings of the programme.
Confirming the news, Suman says, “Yes, it will be aired from 3 am. The programme not just has me talking about my childhood, but will be interspersed with songs that I have rendered.” So, one will get to hear the singer-songwriter talk about Mandrabahar, a rare instrument, which would be used in music at that time.“In fact, I was part of a Saraswati Puja programme in 1971, where it was used. Pankaj Mullick, composer of Mahisasuramardini, also directed music for it,” he says. Replete with anecdotes, the programme will go a long way in celebrating an era gone by. “Jago Durga, rendered by Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, used to be sung live by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. Once, during the rehearsals, he fell ill. Pankaj Mullick finally had to use Dwijenda’s voice. Out of the many recordings, what’s available is just one set,” he says.
For Suman, who became a regular broadcaster with AIR in 1968, it’s getting back to where he began. Says he, “I’m a child of AIR and for me it’s very special.” For us too, it’s no different.