Launch Holo... Kailasheyer...

A few tense pensive moments before the start of the event... no matter how many times I have stood on stage to compere an event... I still get stage frights...





Calling on the cast and crew of the film "Kailashey Kelenkari"








The Release Box being handed over & opened...







Sabhyasachi says a few words.... regarding the experience of shooting the film..







Mr. Sandip Ray... talks about the film & his future plans...









Thanking the Press... & the guests...from the podium







An autograph from Sabhyasachi .. for Mohua, my colleague from Big Music.




Biplab Chatterjee... among one of the first persons to arrive... he was very upset with the unavoidable delay, to start the event... & spoke to me very rudely when I went to him, in order to apologize... however he was later sorry & apologized to me...




With Biplab , Bhibhu Da & Shouvik .. chitchatting...






Shouvik, who was a nervous wreck at the evnet as this was his first Mega Home Video Launch... tells me something in hushed tone..




With JK & Partho da.... just chilling...






Thank god.... Its over & I am home free... feeling the breeze ... standing at the rails of Floatel.

A KODAK MOMENT!
The Kailashey Kelekari Team with the Big Music Team..

Baritey, Kojagari Lokkhi Pujo

Hothat decide korlaam je barite lokkhi pujo kora uchit... tai ey baar Kojagari Purnimaar din...
Shob jogaar kore... shara din uuposh kore... shondhey bela pujo korlaam... khob bhalo laglo....

Pujo Maneyi...

Pujo maneyi... Mayer aasha...
Pujo maneyi... Khushi...
Pujo maneyi... notun jama
anek anek beshi...

Pujo maneyi... Pushpanjoli
shokaaler chaan serey
Pujo maneyi... bhog khawa
shob kaaj pheley

Pujo maneyi... dhunor gondho
phool, chandan, jol
Pujo maneyi... melaye jabo
shobai miley chol!!!

Pujo maneyi... adda-aashor
parar more more
Pujo maneyi... ghutre jawa
babar haat dhore

Pujo maneyi... pandel ghora
jege raat-bhor
Pujo maneyi… dhaker aawaj
kataye ghumer ghor

Pujo maneyi… chobi tola
Mayer protimaar
Pujo maneyi… ekkeybare,
bhandha gorur chaar

Pujo maneyi... shober sheyshey
aashche botchoor aabar…
Pujo maneyi… mishti mukh
Shubho bijoyaar!!!

A Rare Cameo...

In the age of ... Fashion weeks... Haute Couture... Bridal shows... Makeovers & Cocktail parties... where a chipped nail or a mis-matched clutch bag can get you a printed tongue lashing in one of the leading 'gossip glossies'....
There exist, these moments... where differences are so stark that it stares you in the face... and yet we wear horse’s blinkers… and walk about non-challently within our own selfish world…

Pujo Porbo...

Tulo Megh, kore chuto-chuti,
Sharoter nil akaashey.
Mridu hawaye dole kash phul.
Sheulir gondhe, kalo bhromorer gun-gun

Baddir awaze bhenge galo ghum
Khushir phoyara chute uthlo prane…
Pujo aasheche… pujo aasheche, bole galo kane.

Shankho dhwani janalo, Debir agomon
Paancho pradeepey porlo ghee…
Shuru holo shlok paath
Bajlo kanshor ghanta

Pushpanjalir alo ebaar pala.
Hajeer hoyeche jone-jone koto lok,
Janate tader bhakti…
Tara chaye, Mayer ashirbaad o kripa dristi.

Mongolmoyee r kache, kore kar jod…
Mongol kamona kore…shudhu din bhor.
Ektu shukh ar shantir aasha,
Ayi niye e to shobar bechethaka.

Mahishashur Mardini, taar dosho-bhuja vesh
Kanchan borno, kunchito kesh.
Aalokito mukho-mondol, potol chera chokh…
Montro - mugdho kore, amay, hazaar hok.

Binaar taare dhore niye tan,
Ma Saraswati janaye nijer abosthan

Kamal ashone, Ma Lakkhier biram…
Dhoner Debike janayi shador pronaam.

Kumar kartik er shundor roop,
Jayno golaper paprite, ekti shishirer bindu.

Shankha- chakra- gada- padma hathey…
Shree Ganesh thik royeche shathe.

Khushir aamez choriye gache deek digantoye
Manusher kolorob, bhenpur aawaz shona jaye duur theke.
Notun shaaj poshakey, khayla kore shishura…
Mukhe tader haanshi…
Tader chokher chamak, haar manay akaasher tara der…

Char din… thik, char din mot…
Dukkho bhule shob hoyeche ek jot
Khushir khaya bhashate chay
Ma amader, aasheyi to tai…

KOLKATA (11) - Agomoni

"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu,
Sakti rupena sanksthita...
Namasteshwai, Namasteshwai, Namasteshwai namo namaha."
These chants work as a catalyst in waking up the sleeping Bengali spirit!!!
Perfuming the air with gaiety...
It is the start of a long season of festivities...
The most aupicious occassion of Durga Puja...
It's almost as if everyone loses control... everything else takes a backseat... especially work...!!!
I saw the 'Pandal' being crafted very beautifully in my Locality....
Coloured with the same brush... by the virtue of being a Bengali.. I went to the pandal, on the way back from office...., to take a sneek peak before the unveiling of the deity on 'Maha Panchami' day...
My senses erupted in a roit of colours... as I looked at the Deity....
Even half finished.. I knew.. it would be beautiful...
A very 'Totem pole-ish' appeal.... reminds me of the one I saw in Germany...

A beautiful representation of Ma Durga... with her children (Devi Saraswati, Devi Laxmi... Kumar Kartikeya & the lovable Lord Ganesha... (I quite like the balancing act on the bull's horns...)

Mahisasur here.... reminds me of the Bhutan Dragon....!!!

Painting work in progress... with only a few days to go... Artists are trying to finish the work on war footing...!!!!

Artist adding final touches to the deity of Ma Durga...

After seeing this.. I am eagerly waiting for the pujas to arrive..!!!!!

"Debi Pokkhey r holo agomon…
Khushir hawaye dulchey Kaash Phul
Jhir-jhir borshaye roder lukochuri…
Kokhono ba, chutey byraye,
Shoroter nil aakashey, shadaa tulo megh…

Aaste aaste gore utheychey parar morer Mondop…
Ma yer aashar opekkhaye…
Aalok shaaj, shojjaye jhol-mol kore mahanagori…

Agami Pujor din gulo tomaar bhalo katuk…
Tomake r tomar priyojon der janai, Sharodiya Preeti O Subhechha…!!!
Bhalo theko… Aanondo koro…
Eti
Rimi"