Dilip Guha, New Delhi : SurAlaap Global Music Concerts organised a highly interactive and insightful workshop on Bengali Folk Music and Culture, with a special focus on the Sundarban Anchal, at Chittaranjan Bhawan, C.R. Park, New Delhi, last Sunday.
Founded in 2020, SurAlaap is a registered musical entity driven by the vision of connecting Indian music with global platforms. Under the able guidance of directors Jhilik Modak and Sudip Guha Roy, the group has built bridges with musicians, artists, and cultural practitioners worldwide, fostering intercultural exchange and creating new musical productions. For Bengali music, SurAlaap has curated a wide range of initiatives—Baul Milan Utsav, World Music Day celebrations, folk and kirtan workshops, and other programs across both online and offline platforms—bringing traditional forms to contemporary audiences.
Speaking about the event, the music Workshop Sudip Guha Roy shared: “This workshop was curated to highlight the struggles of the Sundarban Anchal, its cultural diversity, and the hidden musical treasures that have long remained underrepresented. SurAlaap has taken the initiative to bring this culture into focus and promote its richness.” On future planning, he said, “We are now steering efforts towards exploring Sufism and Kirtan, culminating in its biggest flagship event—Lalon Smaranotsav 2026”. Looking ahead, SurAlaap has partnered with musical entities across Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Iran, Bangladesh, Turkey, and various embassies, with many collaborative initiatives in the pipeline, he added.
The day-long workshop recorded participation of over 40 registrations from various parts of the Delhi/NCR region, from Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gurgaon and places of South and Central Delhi. As a part of SurAlaap’s initiative to promote the traditional roots of folk culture of India, SurAlaap worked selflessly to curate this event in an interactive and structured way. The workshop had four sessions, where invited faculty Dr Sanjoy Mondal (PhD in Folk of Sundarban Anchal) delivered a spectacular lecture, unveiling the hidden attributes of Sundarbans folk music, tradition and cultural diaspora.
It was jointly inaugurated by eminent musicians of Delhi/NCR like Mihir Basu, Adhir Das, Ashim Das, Shyamal Majhi, Anirudh Chowdhury and other faces who have been doing various activities on Bengali folk like Tapati Mukherjee from the Ujaan group.
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The workshop received spellbound feedback from participants and applauded the initiative of SurAlaap. There were a few regional people from Sundarban Anchal who shared their lifestyle and homeland stories. The musicians Biswajit Das, Ashok Waddar, Sumit Das and Sudip Roy set a remarkable ambience in the workshop with the tunes of Dhamsamadol, Flute, Dotara and percussion instruments.
In the evening event, it resonated with energy and tradition witnessed an unforgettable cultural showcase. The event featured an electrifying performance by Dr Sanjoy Mondal, whose artistry captivated the audience, alongside the eminent Baul & Folk singer Jhilik Modak, celebrated for her soulful renditions that embody the spirit of Bengal’s rich heritage.
The students of Shinjan Academy of Performing Arts, mentored by Smita Chakraborty, a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer from Delhi, performed two dances at the evening concert. The first was based on a fusion-based song titled “Rangila Bashi Te Ke Dake,” and the second was a pure folk dance called “Khejur Gache Hari Badho Mon.” Both were well accepted.
The newly formed and renowned music institute, Kalpataru group, performed at a musical concert in a heartwarming celebration of music and talent that left the audience spellbound. The event was a testament to the institute’s commitment to nurturing young musical talent and providing a platform for them to showcase their skills. The institute organised an annual function featuring a range of performances by its talented students
Speaking to this reporter, Partho Saha, Music director of Kalpataru, expressed his gratitude towards Jhilik and Sudeep of SurAlaap for allowing the young musicians to shine. “We, at Kalpataru, are working tirelessly to provide a musical platform to young and talented musicians,” he said. Partho Saha, who attended the workshop, expressed his appreciation for the event, saying, “I personally attended the workshop in the morning session, and it gave me immense pleasure. I’ll be very thankful to attend such workshops in the future.” The highlight of their performance at this event was by Team Kalpataru, who mesmerised the audience with two soulful songs. The first song, “Dhitang Dhitang Bole,” was a unique blend of three languages – Bengali, Malayalam, and Hindi, composed by the legendary Salil Choudhary. The second song, “Aaj Jibon Khuje Pabi,” a classic by Bhupen Hazarika, was equally well-received by the audience.
There were other groups of Delhi/NCR, like Sampan, Ujaan, Antorik, kids from SurAlaap, and a dance performance by Ankita Modak added essence to the event.
Organisers hailed the evening as a milestone in promoting cultural unity and artistic excellence, reaffirming their commitment to bringing diverse voices to the forefront of the performing arts. The event was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teachers and students of all the participating groups, who worked together to create a memorable evening of music and celebration.
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