Gangasnan
Kalpana Patowary,a distinguished Indian playback and folk singer,is renowned for her dedication to preserving the socio-reforming folk art of Bhikhari Thakur, a cultural legacy rooted in Bihar.Kalpana's commitment to reviving endangered languages is evident in her work with rural tribal dialects of Northeast India, including Deori, Bodo, and Brajavali, through which she challenges cultural preconceptions and highlights India's rich linguistic diversity using an innovative musical approach. Over the years, she has written and performed more than 16,000 songs in 30 endangered Indian vernaculars, underscoring her dedication to preserving linguistic heritage.
Kalpana Patowary's global impact is further highlighted by her performance of Indian traditional music in five languages during the 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Queensland, Australia. Her melodic audiovisual renditions serve as an enduring effort to preserve India's rich intangible cultural heritage. As the foremost practitioner of Bhikhari Thakur's Lokgayan tradition, Kalpana has made significant strides in reviving the legacy of this Bhojpuri social crusader and playwright.
Kalpana Patowary holds the distinction of being the first woman to record and produce Bihar’s Chhaprahiya Purvi folk music, a tradition previously dominated by male artists. In an era of globalization, her determined efforts to revive, research, archive, and reintroduce this nearly extinct oral folk tradition have garnered national recognition. Her work has played a pivotal role in bringing the intangible folk music of Bhojpur to the cultural forefront of India, while also connecting modern India to the Girmitiya Diaspora in countries such as Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, and Tobago.
Kalpana Patowary,the folk vocalist and music composer this time creates the melody on the lines of Bhikhari Thakur, The Shakespeare of Bhojpuri Literature beautifully intertwining with Indian Jazz pianist Louiz Banks,and emerges a fusion forever -Gangasnan. 'Gangasnan' will be releasing during the world's largest spiritual gathering 'Mahakumbh 2025'
The Ganges, also known as "Mother Ganges” is a sacred river in Indian culture. Ganga river is associated with both life and death. Sanatani hindus believe that the Ganges' waters have healing and purifying powers. People bathe in the Ganges on special days to achieve spiritual merit, and perform other rituals such as throwing ashes of loved ones into the river.
A song of Repentence,Kalpana’s “Gangasnan” depicts the urge and quest of every sanatani hindus for the mighty Ganga not only in this lifetime but also even after death.Although death marks the end of a human's journey, soul's journey does not end and returns to this world in many forms, gets new birth as blessings to finish the unresolved issues from the previous births. As a sacred rite in Hindu mythology, Ganga Snan entails a dip in the sacred Ganges River, which is said to wash away sin and hasten the arrival at nirvana. According to ancient beliefs, this ritual purges one's spirit, mind, and body in preparation for the afterlife or freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
“Gangasnan” is an International collaborative work on Bhojpuri Musical History till date by bringing artistes from multiple cultural backgrounds both musically and visually together. it's got a jazz blues piano intro..then the vocal entry of Kalpana Patowary.The song has synth fillers right through out the song which is the signature style of Louis Banks which gives a momentum symbolic of the river Ganga with Drums solos by Gino Banks and sarangi by legends like Dilshad Khan.The second music is very strong and anthemic with rock guitar by Kush Upadhyay and French horns.. choir voices and strings......it's a great build up...then the western blues pop vocals sung in English by Joe Barua and finally the up tempo finale with Louis Banks solo flights against Kalpana Patowary vocals with great improvisation with piano backings with Sheldon D'Silva’s strong bass parts.
Gangasnan shot in and round the cultural hub Kashi and Prayagraj is directed by National Award winner filmmaker Samujjal Kashyap.
The musical features Santi from Santander Cantabria,Spain and Surush Sacha from Denmark.The project also features now late Ramagya Ram who was 115 year old legend folk artiste from Bihar India.
Along with Bhikhari Thakur the song is also penned by Arunav Deka composed by Bhikhari Thakur & Louis Banks.
CREDITS
Jazz Blues Piano & Synth Fillers: Louis Banks
Drums: Gino Banks
Lead Guitar: Kush Upadhyay, Bass Guitar: Sheldon D'Silva,Sarangi: Dilshad Khan
Video Director: Samujjal Kashyap
Cinematography: KM Sugeth, Nagen Baishya
Featuring: Louis Banks, Gino Banks, Kush Upadhyay, Rammangiya Ram, Ramanand Paswan, Arashmid Patowary Khan, Surush Sacha (Denmark), Shanti (Spain)
Mixed & Mastered by Gautam Chakrabortty Meet Brothers Mumbai
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