There are a very interesting connection between monsoon and music. It was Chandrima Bhattacharya, Sidhu and Satinath Mukhopadhyay who celebrated this monsoon a bit different way. MONSOON ON AIR a musical which was staged on 25 July, at Satyajit Ray Auditorium ( ICCR ), 6 PM onward. It’s all about songs of rainy season, stories behind making of many of those songs, poetry on monsoon and one very interesting medium which has been entertaining us over the years that is radio. Yes. It’ s radio which gifted us so many noted artistes , radio presenters, memorable songs even some memorable all time hit programmes as Binaca Geet Mala, Maan Chahe Geet, Anurodher Asor, Aap Ki Farmaish and so on. There was a time when we had radio as the only medium of entertainment. Listeners had a very close association with this medium. They used to send letters to listen to songs of their own choice and more of that to listen to their names before the song through the presenter’s specialmention. We used to fall in love with many voices even not seeing them in person. Presenters like Ameen Sayani is one of the living legends of radio. The same way Kolkata radio also had Sravanti Mazimder that we can consider queen of radio. She even was responsible for a few popular radio shows besides some commercial jingles as Oasis , Boroline and so on.
Monsoon on AIR was about a journey of radio till the age of private FM stations emerged into the scene. Songs those got an immense fame back then and are still popular was performed by Sidhu ( Mon Kharap Kora Bikel Manei Megh Korechhe, Elo Borosha Je, Ekdin Birshti Te Bikele ) who is known for his association with Bangla band Cactus. It was definitely an unusual concert for him. Chandrima Bhattacharya ( Barishon Ki Pani Se, Tapur Tupur Sara Dupur, Birshti Birshti Brishti ) a noted vocalist from Assam was the key person behind the show and besides she sung some ageless melodies of monsoon. It was Satinath Mukhopadhyay an ace radio presenter who played the key role being the presenter of the journey. To make the journey more authentic some unique sound effects like AIR’s signature tune, commercial ads as Nirma, Lijjat Papad, Liril soap, Philips were played as commercial breaks . As a whole it offered a trip down memory lane experience. It was conceptualized by Sudipta Chanda. It was presented by C-Quel.
