Tabla.Inc presents Rang
A Kaleidoscope of Music at Noti Binodini Mukto Mancha - Star Theatre
The vibrant spirit of Holi, the festival of colours, finds its musical echo in Rang, a concert series conceived and curated by Tabla.Inc. Born from the shared vision of Pandit Tanmoy Bose and Ms. Bonnya Bose, Rang is more than just a concert; it's a vibrant celebration of musical talent, a testament to the enduring power of collaboration, and a platform for the next generation of artists to shine. Since its inception, Rang has quickly become one of the most anticipated spring festivals, embodying Tabla.Inc's unwavering commitment to nurturing and promoting young musical prodigies.
Last year, Rang painted Kolkata with its vibrant hues, captivating audiences at the Star Theatre on April 7th, 2024. A collaboration with the students of the renowned Sarod maestro, Pandit Debojyoti Bose, the concert was a breathtaking fusion of musical styles, showcasing the depth and breadth of Indian classical music. The success of the 2024 edition laid the foundation for an even more ambitious and exhilarating event in 2025.
This year, Rang returned to Kolkata, gracing the prestigious stage of Noti Binodini Mukto Mancha erstwhile The Star Theatre on February 23rd, 2025. Once again, Tabla.Inc joined forces with the Bose Foundation, the organization founded by Pandit Debjyoti Bose, to present a program that promises to be a kaleidoscope of sound and emotion. The collaboration underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to fostering the next generation of artists and enriching the cultural landscape of India.
The 2025 edition of Rang boasted a diverse and captivating program designed to showcase the exceptional talent of young musicians. The concert opened with Taaltarang, a mesmerizing performance by the students of Pandit Tanmoy Bose. This segment showcased the exceptional talent nurtured within the Tabla.Inc family, with the masterful display of Char Taal ki Sawaari - a rhythmic cycle of 11 beats, performed by Saradindu Adhikary, Soumyadeep Das, and Arup Kumar Bag on the Tabla, and Sajal Das in Harmonium accompaniment. The meticulous compositions conceptualized by Pandit Tanmoy Bose, and beautifully performed by the senior students left an indelible mark on the audience, and left them wondering how such a complex tala could be played so effortlessly by the young talents.
Following Taal Tarang, the spotlight shifted to Panchanaad, a collaborative performance that brings together the students of Pandit Tanmoy Bose and Pandit Debojyoti Bose. A unique conceptualization infusing the timeless compositions of Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam with Classical Music, this unique segment stood as a testament to the power of intergenerational collaboration, showcasing not only the individual brilliance of each student but also the synergistic energy that arises when young musicians from different musical lineages come together.
The concert concluded with the captivating vocal prowess of renowned singer Anweshaa. Known for her signature tunes in the contemporary film landscape of India, Anweshaa wowed the audience with a serene classical rendition of Raga Madhubanti. Her performance promised to be a journey through the vast and expressive landscape of Indian classical vocal music. Her recital was beautifully complemented with the meticulous accompaniment of Emon Sarkar on Tabla, and Debasish Adhikary on Harmonium. The performance was a collaborative dialogue, a shared exploration of the raga's emotional landscape, leaving the audience spellbound by the beauty and synergy of their artistry. The unexpected classical performance served as a powerful reminder of Anweshaa's versatility and her deep connection to the rich traditions of Indian classical music. She concluded with a Dadra in Maru Behag.
The selection of the Noti Binodini Mukto Mancha at the Star Theatre as the venue for Rang 2025 is no accident. The venue's rich history and its reputation for hosting world-class performances provided the perfect setting for this exceptional musical event. The ambiance of the theatre enhanced the overall experience, creating an atmosphere of reverence and appreciation for the art form.
The choice of February 23rd, 2025, is also significant. Held in the vibrant prelude to Holi, the concert captures the essence of the festival's joyous energy and colourful spirit. The timing allows the concert to serve as a prelude to the festivities, setting the stage for a season of celebration and cultural immersion.
"Rang is more than just a concert; it's a celebration of the transformative power of music," reflects Pandit Tanmoy Bose. "It's a platform for young artists to showcase their talent, to connect with their heritage, and to inspire future generations. The collaborative spirit of Rang, bringing together students from different musical lineages, is a testament to the power of shared learning and the richness of our diverse musical traditions. We are incredibly proud of the talent we are showcasing, and we are excited to share this vibrant musical experience with the people of Kolkata and beyond. And believe me when I say this, this is just the start. Our audience is in store for some incredible showcases of our culture in the days to come."
Mrs. Bonnya Bose adds, "The success of Rang is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, the exceptional talent of our young artists, and the unwavering support of our audience. We are committed to providing a platform for young musicians to flourish, to share their passion with the world, and to inspire future generations to embrace the beauty and power of Indian classical music. Last evening at Rang, I was quite emotional to see how brilliantly our young performers brought alive the cultural heritage of the city and the nation. I must mention Anweshaa’s vocal prowess here, for her versatility left me speechless, as it did the full house audience."
Rang 2025 promises to be an unforgettable evening of musical brilliance, a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of tradition and innovation. It's an opportunity to witness the next generation of artists taking center stage, to immerse oneself in the rich tapestry of Indian classical music, and to experience the transformative power of art. For lovers of Indian classical music, and for anyone seeking an evening of cultural immersion and artistic excellence, Rang is an event not to be missed. It's a celebration of colour, sound, and the enduring spirit of creativity.
RANG..Holi Celebrations
Indian Classical Music has its essence in its ragas which are sung in the different time periods of the day and season. But a deeper understanding of the term shows us that the root of the lexeme 'Raga' is 'Rang'. It is the colours of the temporal existence that make the essence of life joyous and rejuvenate our soul with the touch of spring. It is with that note Tanmoy and Bonnya Liberal Arts Foundation (Tabla.inc) collaborated with the Bose Foundation for Art and Culture (BFAC) to celebrate the essence of _Vasant_ - "Rang" at the historical venue of Nati Binodini Amphitheatre (Star Theatre) on the 7th April, 2024.
The evening had its importance so far as the essence of 'Rang' was concerned as it soothed the soul of the august audience present in the pleasent summer evening. The day has its importance as the evening began with a homage to the great legend Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar Ji since it was his 104th birth anniversary. Pt Tanmoy Bose paid his offerrings by reciting one of Pandit Ji's compositions - the famous 'Ganesh Parhant'.
The opening rendition was presented by the young students of Pt. Tanmoy Bose who presented a Tabla-Lahara, popularly known as 'Taaltarang' curated by Pt. Tanmoy Bose himself. The young minds presented not only traditional compositions based on Teentaal, but they enthralled the evening with the facilitating spirit of the colours of the Spring. It was followed by a Sarod and Tabla recital on Raaga Vasant, presented by Monit Paul and Arkadeep Das, students of Pt. Debojyoti Bose, and Pt. Kumar Bose respectively.
The mid evening session becomes musically penultimate as Ms. Moupali Chowdhury presented a beautiful Hori composition based on Raga Desh followed by a Thumri in Raaga Kafi. She was accompanied by Mr. Aarchik Bannerjee on Tabla, and Gaurab Chatterjee on Harmonium who were equally marvelous in their own respective renditions.
As the evening continued, more audience gathered to express their love for the art and the artists. They were welcomed with 'Gulal' marking the hues of Spring. The ultimate session was a collaboration where the students of Pt. Tanmoy Bose and Pt. Debojyoti Bose jointly presented a musical orchestra celebrating the essence of Spring with the lyrics by the most prominent poets of our Bengal- Rabindranath Tagore, and Kaji Nazrul Islam.
The whole event was not dedicated only towards the celebration of Spring but the main moto of behind these events is to promote young aspiring musicians of Indian Classical system to perform more and more to preserve the cultural heritage of India.
Pt Tanmoy Bose, Founder Director of Tabla Inc and the Percussion Maestro was of the opinion that " Those who support this system of Open Thought process in any education, they will excel in understanding of the greater art surely. They will create the backbone of the corpus and will bear the torch for the next generation".
Ms. Bonnya Bose, the Creative Director of Tabla.Inc expressed her happiness towards the excellence she sees in these young minds who performed brilliantly, and opines that "The primary essence of Indian music is to sooth our soul and make our life colourful with the rang of the ragas. I am happy that these young boys and girls have been able to provide us that wonderful experience. In fact, the idea to present the whole event in an Amphitheatre symbolized the open thought process which the young children need to have to shape their ideologies and musical minds. "
Pt. Debojyoti Bose said: "We are to help the buds and petals so that one day each of these children become a full grown tree. The nourishment is needed so that they can bear the legacy of our own heritage".
RANG at Moram (1 & 2 March, 2023)
Celebration of Holi in a way is to let the colors touch the soul, besides the 'abir khela' and ‘ful dol’ were the sthought behind "Rang 2023" which was such a two-days' event organised at Moram by Tabla.inc and Art Illuminates Mankind on 1st and 2nd March, 2023.
On the first day, it started with a Baul Akhra by music maestro Pt Tanmoy Bose, Sadhan Das Bairagi, Maki Kajumi, alongwith their fellow students and other musicians. This session, accompanied by thandai, was followed by a classical music session by the students of Viswabharati University. Shalini Mitra presented Raag Kaushik Dhwani and the famous Dadra (Rang Sari Gulabi), accompanied by Shiladitya Chattoraj (student of Pt. Tanmoy Bose) on Tabla. Naresh Bagewadi played Raag Kaafi on Sitar alongwith Biswajit on Tabla. When the entire Moram was filled with such music, another pleasant performance of Tagore's song & dance and Esraj by students of Vishwabharati and Shri Sudripta Tagore, Principal of Shantiniketan Shishu Tirtha School respectively. Finally the day ended with mesmerizing Baul songs by Kartick Das baul, Sadhan Das Bairagi, Maki Kajumi, Radheshyam baul, Akkash Fakir and Krishna Das Bairaggya.
The second day started with the prayer through Hari Nam Sankirtan followed by the customary Prabhat Pheri through the red soil roads of Debanandapur. Touch of Abir and the fallen palash flowers on the roads made the morning vibrant and colourful. Villagers happily joined the walk and played with abir. Rang gave an experience of pottery to the participants by giving hands-on experience to the interested ones. It was a matter of great excitement and satisfaction to them in shaping the lump clay by the potter's wheel. It's spring and thus the sunny days are still not that hot in Birbhum, so post lunch, the bandmates of Paridhi and the Bauls enjoyed an impromptu jamming session where folk songs and semi-classical songs got fused. When the air was full of rhythm and the festive spree, the evening session started with an amazing segment of Manipuri dance, performed by the students of Sangeet Bhavana ( Vishwabharati) under the guidance and supervision of their respected teacher, Prof. Dr. Sumit Basu. The segment consisted nine dance performances and a special performance of Chitrangada by Tuhin Garai and Ankita Das. Following that, the Bangla Band Paridhi, gave an outstanding performance that included their own compositions as well as some folk songs of Lalon Fakir. Krishna Das Bairaggya joined the band, on request to sing a folk song of his own composition, based on Jhumur.
Lastly, the Rang 2023 came to an end with Baul songs of Radheshyam Baul and Krishna Das and a joyous Abir khela, where the participants and hosts and all present there enjoyed thoroughly and had that touch of the colours in their heart.
Bonnya Bose, the director of Tabla.inc mentioned, "We are looking forward to organizing such an event every year, hopefully in a larger scale." The founders of Moram, Mr. Gopal Poddar and Mrs. Sonali Chakraborty, being happy with such a response has already started to plan the one for the next year, only a year to go before they give us another such experience in the lap of nature in association with Tabla.inc.
RANG - Celebration of Colours
Tabla.inc, Wasabee and Oopsroops presented Rang - a collective gathering with some of the most popular icons of the entertainment world. This event was envisioned to be a celebration of the colours in our daily lives. Wasabee was vividly colored with garlands of flowers, bringing about the essence of Holi. The guests started their chit-chat over a cup of tea, which soon grew out to be a wonderful session of sharing anecdotes and speaking about some unique experiences. Pandit Tanmoy Bose produced a vivid rhythmscape on his pandeiro, while Mr. MK Singh recited one of his own creations "Meghdutam". Smt. Subhamita Banerjee and Sri Upal Sengupta sung their hearts out through their beautiful songs on colour and love. The theatre and television personalities, namely Sri Debshankar Haldar, Sri Subhasish Mukhopadhyay, Smt Tnusree Chakraborty and Smt Ramanjit Kaur spoke about the ever-changing scenario of the art world. The session was moderated by Smt Bonnya Bose and Smt Roopsha Dasguupta, who added to the fun with their spontaneous repartee. The fantastic adda session drew a heartwarming conclusion in the form of the song "Purano Shei Diner Kotha", sung in unison by all the guests. All in all, it was an evening full of joy and laughter, one to remember for a long time!
