A grand finale for this month-long arts festival in Kolkata

As the month-long AMI Arts Festival drew to a close, Kolkata witnessed a week of unforgettable performances that celebrated music in its myriad forms—from classical compositions to high-voltage rock. The festival’s finale week proved a fitting crescendo, bringing together legends, contemporary icons, and experimental musicians under one roof . Here's a look at the performances...

The comeback beat

Iconic Bangla band Paras Pathar finally reunited on stage. The comeback marked by a few additions and changes to the original lineup was made possible through the efforts of fellow band Prithibi and its vocalist Kaushik Chakraborty. Kaushik’s reflections on friendship, loss, and music as a connector set the tone. The reunited lineup, augmented with additional musicians, breathed fresh life into classics, with evocative flute interludes and deep, resonant bass adding new textures. Fans were treated to both the band’s timeless hits and the joy of witnessing a reunion steeped in emotion and camaraderie.


Hits, heart, and hints of nostalgia

Rock ensemble Agnee kept the audience hooked with a journey through their greatest hits. Light-hearted banter between lead singer Mohan Kanan and guitarist Kaustubh Dhavale, aka Koko, added charm, while soulful renditions of classics like Aahatein, Shaam Tanha, and Kaise Ho Tum struck an emotional chord. The two-hour set blended high-energy moments with personal anecdotes, giving fans a peek behind the band’s journey. Songs like Sadho Re and Kabira had the audience singing along.


Melodies of Migration and Memory

Composer Debojyoti Mishra curated a soulful evening at the KCC amphitheater, exploring the theme of migration. Opening with O Alor Pothojatri, the performance evoked hiraeth—a deep longing for home. Mishra’s own compositions, including music from Ramchand Pakistani, intertwined with global songs like 500 Miles and folk classics Faande Poriya Boga Kaande Re and Banana Boat, tracing journeys across borders and emotions. With contributions from vocalists including Portia Sen, the concert highlighted music as a vessel for loss, hope, and belonging, leaving audiences moved and reflective.


A rock-packed grand finale

Rock band Parikrama took the stage at Tollygunge Club for the grand finale delivering an evening brimming with nostalgia and raw energy. Following the untimely death of guitarist Sonam Sherpa in 2020, the current lineup features Subir Malik (synthesiser), Nitin Malik (vocals), Saurabh Choudhary (guitar), Abhishek Mittal (lead guitar), Gaurav Balani (bass), and Srijan Mahajan (drums)—performed classic rock hits from Pink Floyd, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and more. Guest appearances by violinist Sohail Ali Khan and Bangalore singer Megan Rakesh thrilled the crowd with Zombie and What’s Up.


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