Debojyoti Mishra, a well-known music director, spearheaded the recent “Music Pathshala” music festival. Recently, a gala musical was held at the Satyajit Roy Auditorium (ICCR) to celebrate Music Pathshala—an institution, a dream, and a journey. Debojyoti Mishra‘s ideal institution is Music Pathshala. He imparts his knowledge to everyone. He served as maestro Salil Chowdhury’s assistant for thirteen years and assisted other music directors as well. Performers honored numerous Bengali music legends during this music festival.

Pujo songs were the focus of this two-day music event on the first day. It is customary in Bengal to release songs related to Durga Puja. Once upon a time, right before the Pujas, well-known and up-and-coming artists’ original Bengali non-film songs were published. They were played on gramophone recordings in many houses, in Puja pandals, and on the radio. Later on, that medium changed. Even in the age of digital streaming and long-play albums, classic puja songs continue to evoke sentimentality and appeal.

On the first day, Birendra Krishna Bhadra-Pankaj Kumar Mallick-Bani Kumar’s timeless creation Mahishasuramardini and many other puja songs were performed.

On the second day, tribute was paid to legendary music composers like Salil Chowdhury, Satyajit Ray, Sachin Dev Burman, Sudhin Dasgupta, Rahul Dev Burman, and many others. Along with singing, there were instrumental performances on both days. The choir sang Bajlo Tomar Alor Benu, O Alor Pathajatri, Ami Cholte Cholte Theme Gachhi (Chaitali Roy), Pagol Hawa (Tanushree Banerjee), Ami Chiratore  (Manotosh Bhowmik), Piya Tora (Chandrila Basu Chowdhury), Mathura Nagarpati (Aishita Banerjee) ) Jao Pakhi Bolo Tare (Debdatta Roy), Guru Dohai Tomar (Priyanka Shiladitya), Ke Abar Bajai Banshi (Paramita Mukherjee), Rahe Na Rahe Ham (Chayanika Dutta), Aro Dure Chalo Jai  (Debopriya Mukherjee), Ja Re Ja Aamar Asha (Sulagna Bose) are worth a mention.

According to Debojyoti Mishra, Rituparno Ghosh once advised him that he needed to open his music school. “I have to impart what I’ve discovered. In this classroom, students are taught the practical application of music while they work on various musical projects. It broadens one’s professional field experience. My students have professional singing roles in television serials and commercials, and they sing in a number of my films” said Mishra.

The festival was indeed a grand celebration of music.

Priyanka Dutta