Dilip Guha, Sasraya News ★ New Delhi : The cultural evening of the ongoing 12th Bengal Mango Mela & Handloom-Handicraft Expo unfolded as a celebration of theatre, music, and the rich cultural heritage of Bengal on Sunday, 28 June 2026, at Chittaranjan Park Bangiya Samaj, C R Park, New Delhi, Organised by the Government of West Bengal, the evening featured two captivating performances that explored the many shades of love, nostalgia, and Bengali identity through drama and song. The Bengal Mango Mela & Handloom Handicrafts Expo features mangoes from six districts of West Bengal, including GI-tagged Himsagar, Lakshmanbhog and Fazli, along with premium and exotic varieties. The expo also showcases handloom and handicrafts by 60 award-winning artisans, complemented by a food zone offering mango-based delicacies and traditional Bengali cuisine, besides a series of cultural performances.
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The programme opened with the captivating Bengali monologue “Prem Karon Okaron…” (Love—With or Without Reason), a compelling Bengali stage presentation by Suddhasatwa and Chandrika. Through nuanced performances, the production brought to life the beauty, contradictions, and emotional complexities of love, drawing the audience into an intimate world of relationships and human emotions.
The evening then shifted to music as young vocalist Basudhara Roy Munshi took centre stage for a packed concert that seamlessly blended Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Bengali modern classics, Hindi favourites, and contemporary Bollywood melodies. Combining regional pride with cross-cultural flair, her vibrant performance transformed the Mango Mela into a lively celebration of Bengal’s musical legacy and its enduring universal appeal.
Blending timeless verses of love from Bengali literature with expressive narration and theatrical storytelling, the duo Suddhasatwa and Chandrika created an immersive performance that resonated deeply with the audience. Their evocative voices, graceful stage presence, and emotional interpretation transformed celebrated literary works into a memorable theatrical experience.
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The performance explored the many shades of love—its passion, longing, joy, sacrifice, and mystery—reminding the audience that love transcends reason, language, and time. Through carefully selected poems and prose, Suddhasatwa and Chandrika celebrated the enduring legacy of Bengal’s literary tradition, leaving spectators spellbound.
The recitations drew from the works of Pramathanath Bishi and rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam before moving to modern voices like Shakti Chattopadhyay and Mallika Sengupta.
Notably, the program included bold selections from Taslima Nasrin and Purnendu Pattrea, as well as verses by Binayak Bandyopadhyay. Their presentation also featured pieces by Rudra Goswami, Bibhas Roy Chowdhury, Tarapada Roy, Smaranjit Chakraborty, and others.
The evening’s biggest attraction was the captivating musical performance by Basudhara Roy Munshi.
As the venue, adorned with vibrant mango stalls, exquisite Bengal handloom and handicraft displays, and festive lights, buzzed with visitors, the auditorium gradually fell into complete silence when Basudhara Roy Munshi took the stage. She opened her recital with Rabindranath Tagore’s timeless “Maharajo E Ki Saje Ale Hriday Majhe,” her soulful rendition instantly enchanting the audience and earning resounding applause. Within moments, the atmosphere turned even more vibrant as spectators began clapping in rhythm to the popular “Dekhecho Ki Takey Oi Neel Nodir Dhare,” transforming the performance into a memorable musical celebration.
She moved seamlessly between Bengali classics and popular Hindi tracks. A tender ghazal, _“Salona Sa Sajan Hai Aur Main Hoon”_, by Asha Bhosle, gave way to the lilting “ Ae Ri Pawan,” her voice adapting from the earthy cadence of romance to the crisp emotion of Bollywood ballads.
What truly distinguished the evening was the thoughtfully interwoven spoken reflections that complemented the musical performances. Between songs, Basudhara shared a series of evocative pieces on love, longing, nostalgia, and the timeless bond between music and mangoes. Delivered seamlessly in both Bangla and Hindi, her engaging narratives resonated deeply with the audience, drawing warm laughter, reflective smiles, and, at their most poignant moments, a spellbound silence from the audience across the hall.
The middle of the set turned experimental with a _Kabir bhajan medley fused with Bangla gaan_, blending _“ Jara Halke Gaadi Hanko mere Ram Gaadivaale ”_ with _“ Jibone ki PabonaBhulechi she Bhabona…”. That was followed by Nazrul Geeti — “Bagichay Bulbuli Tui Phul Shakhate”_ — which had the audience applauding along.
The setlist spanned more than one hour. A bilingual segment paired _“Kagaz Ke Do Pankh Le Ke Uda Chala Jaye Re”_ with _“Disha Hara… Kamon Boka… Je Kon Prem Er Bhab Jane Na, earning some of the loudest cheers. Later, she slowed things down with _“ AajPhir jeene ki tamanna ”_, _“Mera Kuch Samaan Tumhare Paas Pada Hai”_, and closed the main set with a rain-soaked _“Ab ke Sawan aiseBarase ”_ that had couples swaying under the string lights.
Attendees stayed long after the final note, sampling mango delicacies as Basudhara met new fans. For many, the evening captured the festival’s spirit: rooted in Bangla culture, yet open to every rhythm.
The festival organiser noted and remarked that the response exceeded expectations. “We wanted energy and connection. Basudhara gave us both. Families, students, elders — everyone was singing. The mix of languages meant nobody felt left out.”
Basudhara Roy Munshi was born and brought up in New Delhi and has been learning music since the age of four. She completed her schooling at Delhi Public School, Faridabad, and went on to pursue both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music from the Faculty of Music, University of Delhi.
She graduated and earned her Master’s in Hindustani Classical Music from Miranda House and the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts at Delhi University. She got an academic award in 2023 for securing the highest cumulative marks in the University Examinations for the B.A. (Honours) Hindustani Classical Music course, 2nd runner-up in 92.7 FM Big Golden Voice season 6.
Over the years, she has had the opportunity to perform with several bands and musical projects, including The Anirudh Varma Collective, Delhi Indie Project, and many more.
She got her Musical training under Padmashree and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Vidushi Sumitra Guha, a celebrated Hindustani Classical Vocalist.
Among Notable performances, awards, and her musical style, she had the opportunity to perform at prestigious platforms such as Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, Noor Festival of Lights (Dubai), Jaigarh Festival, Emirates
International School (Dubai), Abhivyakti Arts Festival Ahmedabad, KNMA Music Festival, Bazme Virasat Festival Prayagraj, HCL Concert New Delhi, Kerala Arts and Crafts Festival, NMACC Mumbai, Delhi Kabir Festival, Swaranjali Akashvani Bhawan,
Her recent achievements include receiving an “A” grade in the Light Music Category at Akashwani Bhawan, All India Radio, New Delhi. She has also had the opportunity to perform for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Shri Amitabh Bachchan, and several other eminent personalities.
Speaking on the occasion, she spoke about what makes her music unique. She said: “I’m someone who doesn’t believe in musical boundaries; I simply love good music, whether it’s a timeless classic or a contemporary hit”.
“As a vocalist, I enjoy exploring a wide range of genres. My heart lies in Bollywood music—both classic and contemporary. Being a Bengali, I also deeply enjoy singing Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, and other Bengali songs. Along with that, devotional bhajans hold a special place in my musical journey. I believe music has no boundaries, and I love expressing myself through every style that resonates with me.”
For the past three years, she has been pursuing music professionally as a full-time career. She leads her own band, Purana Playback, through which the band celebrates timeless melodies and live performances.
Regarding her music band, Purana Playback, the names of the band members are Ishan Sharma on Tabla and Percussion, Vaibhav Agnihotri on Guitar, Krishna Prasanna on Flute, Soumendra Goswami on Sitar, Chandrajit Das on Piano, and Chirag Gulati on Bass Guitar, she informed.
“Special instruments used, like Tabla, Sitar, Sarod, and Flute, are generally used in my live shows. In Mango Mela, I had Tabla, Flute, and Guitar in arrangements.”
On asking how long she has been performing together with these members, she told us, I’ve been performing with these musicians for several years across different bands and projects. Over time, we’ve built a great musical understanding and a strong bond, both on and off stage. That made it easy for me to bring them together for my own band, Purana Playback. Today, they’re an integral part of the project, and together we bring every show to life with the same passion and teamwork.
In her message audience she thanked every one says -“ Thank you for all the love and support. As long as you keep listening, I’ll keep singing with all my heart. I hope my music continues to bring a smile to your face and a melody to your memories”.
