Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1061 Sun. May 27, 2007  
   
Culture


'Alok-er Jhornadhara': Fireworks of music in Australia


Shurolok Music Appreciation and Performance Group of Melbourne staged its annual programme "Alok-er Jharnadhara" celebrating the Bangla Naboborsho 1414 and Rabindra Jayanti recently, at the Karralyka Theatre, one of the premier concert halls in Melbourne.

Members of Shurolok performed songs of Poncho Kobi (Tagore, Nazrul, Atul Prasad, DL Roy and Rajnikant), as well as traditional folks songs. The programme was directed by Chanchal Khan, a Rabindra Sangeet artiste and trainer. Noted sitar artiste Rahul Chatterjee (from Kolkata) and tabla player Farid Uddin (from Dhaka) performed at the event. Three cultural groups of Melbourne, Natya Kala Mandir, Kathak Abriti Kendra and Bangla Language and Cultural School also participated at the function. The programme was dedicated to the memory of music exponent and journalist Waheedul Haque. Chanchal Khan paid his homage to Haque through the rendition of a tappa Jara Bihan Belaye Gaan Enechilo Mon-e.

Shurolok, founded by Bangladeshi expatriates, aims to reach out to several facets of performing arts vocal and instrumental music, dance and overall appreciation of music -- as a means to harness creativity in the society. "Music will be the common thread in this link," remarked Chhobi Hossain, the President of Shurolok. Most Shurolok singers have had prior training at Chhayanat, Robiraag, BAFA, Nazrul Academy and other reputed music schools in Bangladesh. Chanchal Khan, Nirupoma Rahman, Farzana Shathi, Mohsin Habib, Zakir Morshed, Nafisa Sheela, Shahid Rahman, Priyanka Khan and Rani Karmakar form the core Shurolok group of performers.

Shurolok aims to inspire the new generation of Bangladeshi Australians to take up and tread the track of authentic Bangladeshi culture.

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Members of Shurolok perform at the programme