By IANS
New Delhi : It was a pleasant February evening which complemented the ambience created by dancers, singers and musicians from Assam who weaved a web of magic around the capital’s audience at the Festival of Arts from the Banks of Brahmaputra programme at the India International Centre Sunday evening.
In her soulful voice, which could carry the sky-high notes and immediately touch some lower ones with equal élan, noted Assamese singer Madhumita Acharya Biswas sang some of the well-known compositions of the legendary singer and composer, Bhupen Hazarika.
Whether it was the peppy Bengali number “Dola” or the slower melody “Dil Hum Hum Kare” from the film Rudali, Biswas, with her harmonium, charmed the audience, nearly 200 of them tapping their feet to the beats.
Another singer, Dhritiman, sang some modern Assamese songs and Hindi numbers. The programme included a repertoire of different Bihu songs of the Boro and Mising communities of Assam as well as folk songs of Goalpara, Kamrup and Sivasagar regions of the state.
There was also a dance drama presentation in which artistes, adorned in bright Mekhla Chadars and ethnic jewellery like the ‘dhol’ necklace and ‘gam kharu’ (thick bracelet), told the love story between a prince and a princess of Assam, through their dance.
Astha Kapoor who was among the audience said that she enjoyed the dance drama the best.
“I liked the dance drama the most because despite no language being used, the dancers, by their sheer hand and body movements, told the story beautifully. Raw talent, that’s what it was,” Kapoor said.
The Kshatriya dance was also much appreciated by the audience who were mesmerized by the elegant movement of the dancers.