LINKS TO THE GLORIOUS PAST

Browse the glorious past of ANGAR by using the following links forwarded by longtime enthusiast and active member of ANGAR, Indranil Bhattacharyya, who is now in Canada

http://picasaweb.google.ca/indranilbhattacherya/Angar_Phire_Dekha?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/indranilbhattacherya/Romroma_Ranchi?authkey=Gv1sRgCPbJ2efykMaS3QE&feat=directlink

A cosmopolitan organisation promoting wholesome culture and believing in the uplifting power of arts

THE LAST CULTURAL FUNCTION: 2009

Soumitra Chatterjee, the doyen of Bangla cinema and an international cultural figure in his own rights, enthralled the audience on the evening of 11-10-09 at CCL Jawaharnagar . The multifaceted genius – movie actor, dramatist and director, theatre personality, poet and performer recited poems of Tagore, Jibanananda and Sukumar Roy to bring about a rare cultural experience for the assembled Ranchiites. Hearing ‘Tota Kahini’ ‘Banalata Sen’ and ‘gandha bichar’ in Soumitra’s voice would remain as a memorable experience for the people who attended the function. Soumitra enchanted three generations- the old by the memory of his great theatre background, the middle-aged with the continual stream of his movies in which he re-invents himself every time, and the youngsters as the first action hero ‘Feluda’ created and directed by the legendary Satyajit Ray.

Dr Debjit Bandopadhyay, Riddhi Bandopadhyay and their very young son Riddhidev, along with their musical team, mesmerized the audience with all-time great hit songs from the Bengali theatre. They are doing a pioneering and laudable work of archiving this coveted facet of the golden age of Bangla culture.
Songs from ‘Sita’, ‘Shajahan’, ‘Tin paysar pala’ and particularly the last number by Riddhi –‘E jibone purilo na sadh…’ carried the audience to a different world during the event. The accompanying musicians displayed their excellence in bringing back the tones and tunes of the long-lost golden era with their modern instruments.

The event was arranged as Bijoya Milan of the Local Coal fraternity where the elite of Ranchi was also invited. ANGAR, the cosmopolitan cultural platform of CCL-CMPDI, under joint leadership of Ranjan Saha, CMD CCL and A K Debnath, Director, CMPDI hosted the evening.

Shri A K Debnath & Shri S Mitra, both directors, CMPDI, Shri T K Nag, director CCL, Smt Sujata Saha, wife of shri R Saha, CMD CCL, and other dignitaries from CIL were present in the occasion.

Earlier, on 19th sept 2009, in the CCL Gandhinagar auditorium, ANGAR had felicitated two great creative personalities of Jharkhand – Shri Prashanta Thakur, the Bishnupur Gharana sitar maestro, and Shri Haren Thakur, the acclaimed fine artist of Santiniketan school. Both of them were honoured by ANGAR for their long and wide social contribution through their performance, teaching and campaign in the respective domains of music and art.The two eminent persons were received with ceremonial chanting of Sanskrit slokas, amid the auspicious blow of conches, and were then traditionally felicitated with a vermilion smear on the forehead and with the burning flame of an earthen lamp. They were also presented with shawls and mementos and with felicitation letters which were read out before the full house. The entire ceremony was very solemn and touching.Shri Prashanta Thakur said that for him music is supreme and it can be a fountainhead of all-pervading joy for all. Shri Haren Thakur said that art has the capacity to elevate the entire humanity from the current conflicts to a state of peace and bliss. Both of them expressed their sentimental reciprocation at receipt of the honour. Afterwards, the students of Kala Bhavan, of which Prashanta Thakur is the Principal, gave a colourful and variety cultural performance. At the end, Debapriya Thakur, the worthy son and disciple of Shri Prashanta Thakur, presented a Sitar recital to enthrall the audience.Shri A K Debnath, Director, CMPDI and the driving force behind ANGAR, also handed over as donation, an amount of Rs Twenty thousand to Shri Haren Thakur for the funds of CARDS- Chhotanagpur Art Research and Development Society, which is doing pioneering work to propagate the positive values of fine art in the daily life of common citizens.The whole function was successful under the kind auspieces and in the august presence of Shri Ranjan Saha, CMD, CCL. Shri Shobhan Mitra, Director CMPDI and other dignitaries from CMPDI and CCL also graced the occasion.