At a lavish occasion at Ahindra Mancha, the much-awaited first song Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi, from Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s movie “Binodiini-Ekti Natir Upakhyan was unveiled. Actress Rukmini Maitra gave a stunning live Kathak performance at the event, bringing the song’s complex emotions to life on stage.

“Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi”, which is set at a crucial point in the movie, depicts Binodini Dasi accepting Gurumukh Rai’s assistance, a man who plays a key role in realizing her ambition of opening her theatre. In keeping with the film’s objective, Binodini Dasi is shown as a strong artist who persevered in pursuing her art despite emotional difficulties rather than as a victim of her circumstances.

Written by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, Sourendro-Soumyojit composed the music. The song has been sung by Shreya Ghoshal.

The rich heritage of Hindustani classical music is deeply ingrained in the song. Based loosely on Raag Manjh Khamaj, the piece evokes the grandeur of a bygone period by incorporating elements of Kathak. Manisha Basu, Souvik Chakraborty, and Avyaan Roy created the choreography.

Our goal was to produce a song that combines modern beats with the grace of traditional Indian melodies. Composers Sourendro-Soumyojit stated that the song’s core feelings, “abhimaan” (pride) and “viraha” (separation), are exquisitely entwined with the Radha-Krishna metaphor, mirroring Binodini’s attempts to gain recognition and respect as an artist.

The song Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi is painstakingly crafted to capture the spirit of the time. The Hindustani-language lyrics take listeners to a distant era while reflecting Binodini’s internal conflict. It is picturized as a mujra sequence in the film.

“This song is a sincere homage to Binodini Dasi, the most renowned stage performer in Bengal. It captures her enthusiasm and tenacity, which inspire generations to come. I am sure that my audience will love Rukmini’s graceful performance impersonating the role of a Courtesan. She looked ethereal in the song” said the director Ram Kamal Mukherjee.

The song is now available on major streaming platforms. Presented by Dev Entertainment Ventures and produced jointly by Pramod Films and Assorted Motion Pictures, Binodiini – Ekti Natir Upakhyan will be released on 23^rd January 2025.

Priyanka Dutta