PUDUCHERRY: Even as Pakistani Gazal Singer Ustad Ghulam Ali could not perform in Mumbai owing to a political storm, Bangladeshi Baul singer Shajahan Munshi has been hitting the right chords to connect himself with the audience here.
At a Baul retreat, organised by the Ekthara Kalati Team at Aurodhan Gardens here, Shajahan Munshi, the 65-year-old blind singer from Bangladesh has been singing along with Indian Baul singers Parvathy Baul, Biswanath Das Baul, Lakshman Das Baul and Nitai Chandra Das to the accompaniment of the percussion. Munshi, who also sings self-composed songs performs jugalbandhi with his Indian counterparts. The Indian style is influenced by the Vaishnavites whereas Bangladeshi music is premised on contribution of Sufi singer Lalan Fakir.
With the singers exploring the rich tradition of Baul songs, their philosophy and facets, the participants too have been coming from far and near to get a feel of it.
The Baul songs cover a wide variety of poetic themes and ideas, conveyed through puns, metaphors and playful application of the Bengali language. They reflect the perspective that the whole universe is a divine play.
The performance has attracted Australian Kate Ben Torim from Melbourne (working at an Art Centre), Julian O’Brien (resident of Auoville), Jane Brunette, a writer from San Francisco, , Tomomi, a student of Art from Japan to come here and experience its mystique.