Kolkata celebrates Bengal’s cultural heritage through music and poetry

Bengal's rich cultural heritage found a unique expression through FoKobita, an evening that celebrated the seamless blend of Bengali folk music and poetry at Uttam Mancha on May 23. The event brought together acclaimed recitation artiste Sutapa Bandyopadhyay and folk singer Tanmoy Biswas for a performance rooted in the state's literary and musical traditions.The name FoKobita is a fusion of the words Folk and Kobita (poetry), reflecting the concept behind the programme. Through recitation and song, the artists explored themes of love, humanity, nature and the cultural identity of Bengal.Sayan Majumdar, organiser of the event and founder of the organising committee, said, “For the past nine years, ThinkBiz Marcom has been engaged in digital marketing, and a significant portion of our work involves collaborating with renowned artists and performers. Through these interactions, we realised the need for a platform that could help artists reach a wider audience.”Opening the evening, Sutapa Bandyopadhyay recited Rabindranath Tagore’s Baul before moving through works by Kazi Nazrul Islam, Dwijendralal Roy, Subodh Sarkar, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Joy Goswami and Mandakranta Sen. “Poetry is not merely recitation; it is a medium that connects human emotions with Bengal’s deep-rooted cultural essence,” she said.Complementing the recitations, Tanmoy Biswas performed popular folk songs including O Gramer Nowjowan Hindu Musalman, Chander Gaye Chand Legechhe and Bhromor Koiyo Giya. “When folk music intertwines with poetry, the experience becomes deeply intimate and resonates strongly with our culture,” he said.The evening highlighted the enduring appeal of Bengal’s folk and literary traditions, bringing them together on a single stage for contemporary audiences.