Essex Indians is a community group which work continuously towards community cohesion and sharing cultural diversity within community. Uttorsuri – Generation Next concert is their flagship project and each year it is celebrated at prestigious venue of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, West Kensington.
On 23rd June they staged their fifth edition of Uttorsuri concert. Programme was divided in two parts. First half staged an outstanding performance of brother and sister duo Rishii Choudhury and Samyami Choudhury Sharma. They presented a performance called ‘Freshly Brewed’. It was a multi-sensory experience of Tabla, Dogor, Nagara by Rishii and Harmonium, flute and vocal by Samyami.
Major attraction of the show was a unique concept shows ‘Showers of peace’, conceptualised and directed by leading classical vocalist of India, Mr Sounak Chattopadhyay. 2018 is the 100th year of the First World War. This programme was dedicated to all ithose who lost their lives at the war.
He mesmerised audience by his expertise of singing diverse genres of songs starting from Rabindra sangeet, Classical bandish, Bhajan and fusion medley with western songs like heal the world.
Songs were well chosen and performed by local community artists under his capable guidance. Arya, Anirban, Ujjwal, Shreya, members of the Bandal Mainline band, presented chorus.
Other singers included Soma, Shryeoshi, Sayantini, Oishi, Rudrayyan, Shreosi and Teerna who participated in famous Tagore songs, Imagine by John Lennon and Heal the World by Michael Jackson.
Ms Sahana Bajpaie, a celebrity Bengali singer in UK and recent winner of The Bengal's Pride Awards, presented two immensely beautiful songs.
Programme had an array of dance, narration, recitation and theatrical presentations. There were different genres of dance choreographed BY Pritidipa, Ahana, Anashmita and Raj Lakshmi and performed by Gunjita , Roopkatha, Ritisha, Rajlakshmi,Anashmita, Ahana, Moumita, Kavita, Moumita Pritidipa and Cid Saha. Dance presentation were a visual treat to all, western , traditional and contemporary dance forms were used.
Narrators connected the concert with beautiful thread of poetry, theatrical presentations which included Tagore’s poetry, poetry of Wilfred own, modern Bengali poetry, real life talk of victims of terrorist attacks. Participants were Solan, Shrey, Shreya , Rounak, Risheen, Gunjita, Tista, Pratik, Dipankar, Sanchita and Suman. Renowned elocutionist Samya Karpha and Biplab Dasgupta also participated in this project.
Grand finale was Michael Jackson’s famous number performed by more than forty artists live on stage.
Mr Suresh Kumar and his wife Mona Kumar were present as the chief guest.
The event was dedicated to fund raising for Humanity Hospital, Kolkata. Dr Arpita Ray, cultural secretary and trustee of Essex Indians, coordinated the whole event.
