On Sunday evening, the 2 November, the stage at The Bhavan in West Kensington came alight with electrifying performances by almost fifty artistes, in a unique, creative and path breaking production by The Tagoreans to celebrate their 60th anniversary. Curated in English, this one-of-a-kind musical, Confluence: Rabi & Salil’, paid a homage to the creative works of the timeless genius Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore whilst commemorating the birth centenary of legendary Indian composer Salil Chowdhury, two towering figures whose songs continue to stir hearts across generations.
The Tagoreans, the oldest Bengali cultural organisation in the UK (established in 1965), very successfully portrayed a heartfelt “Confluence” of the poetic, lyrical, philosophical and stylistic similarities and differences between some of the popular and acclaimed compositions of these two Indian musical legends – Rabi and Salil.
This production was beautifully conceptualised and scripted by the Tagoreans, showcasing the extent to which both these maestros were hugely impactful and influential in their times – as lyricists and composers par excellence; masters of innovation, experimentation and effortless fusion: and pioneers, who helped create their own, unique musical genres that have remained hugely popular and relevant through the years.
A houseful audience was thrilled to witness an innovative presentation of songs, dances and recitations. The programme opened with a moving choral rendition of “Dui Haatey Kaaler Mondira Jey’’ by Tagore reminding that the cymbals of time in a steadfast rhythm pulsate through creation eternally. This was followed by its contemporary echo in Salil Chowdhury’s 1958 composition “Duronto Ghurnir Ei Legechhey Paak”where the imagery of a cosmic dance was portrayed accompanying the constant rhythm of time. The performance by the dancers was nothing short of mesmerising; their dynamic choreography perfectly complementing the powerful vocals. These evocative songs, enhanced by soulful dance choreography, lifted the concert to a new emotional and artistic height. The stage design featured an original visual backdrop by resident artist Arka Mukhopadhyay, whose artwork deepened the audience’s immersion in this cosmic imagery of time and creation.
In one of the most poignant song pairings of Tagore’s iconic composition “Krishnakoli” and Salil’s “Shei Meye” the audience was mesmerised with a pulsating performance by Aniruddha ‘Sasha’ Ghoshal, one of the most versatile musical performers of today’s generation, whose soulful rendition of Tagore’s dark village maiden “Krishnakoli”, the Krishna Flower, seamlessly transitioned into Salil Chowdhury’s spirited composition “Shei Meye” depicting the tragic effects of Bengal famine of 1943 on Tagore’s once beloved Krishna Flower. The heart-rending dance composition of Shei Meye choreographed by the senior Kathak guru Sujata Banerjee combined the musical finesse and emotional resonance of the composition and brought the piece to life with a vivid, storytelling choreography. Sasha, who also led the singers, had painstakingly taught the intricate nuances of the songs to a team of dedicated, committed and talented singers – the resident Tagoreans choir – for over a year.
The highlight of the second half was the children’s segment portraying a beloved Bengali fairy tale — the story of seven princes turned into champa flowers and their sister Princess Parul’s quest to save them. This timeless narrative was beautifully reimagined through Tagore’s poem enacted by child artistes who stole the hearts of the audience. Their expressive movements accompanied by the enthralling recitation by a young performer captured the innocence and wonder of childhood, earning thunderous applause. Salil Chowdhury’s contemporary song version, Saat Bhai Champajago jago re, based on the same fairy tale, performed by two young artistes evoked a wave of nostalgia across the audience.
In this unique production, The Tagoreans had collaborated with three different dance companies in London. All the dancers were skilled and brilliant and mesmerised the audience with Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Rabindrik and folk dance styles. The excellent synchronisation between the dancers, singers and musicians contributed to an outstanding and perfectly harmonised production. The incredibly talented accompanying musicians included local talents of first and second generation Indian and Bangladeshi accompanists as well as visiting musicians from India. The production was also unique in the sense that among the dancers, singers and recitation artistes several were born and brought up in the UK- daughters danced with mothers, two young brothers sang a duet of Tagore song soulfully, two second generation sisters made a heartfelt rendition of a Salil Chowdhury composition and a father and a daughter enthralled the audience with their expressive recitation, making the production truly inter-generational.
All through the evening, the audiences around were unanimous in their praise and appreciation of this phenomenal concert. The feedback from almost every member of the audience was overwhelmingly positive.
Their sentiments succinctly and beautifully summarised by one regular patron and connoisseur of the arts, Sonali Mukherjee: “the show was truly an enriching experience. I have always known how deeply Salil Choudhury was influenced by Rabindranath Tagore, but the way you brought that connection alive on stage was remarkable. The confluence between Salil’s musical philosophy and Tagore’s timeless essence was beautifully woven together — subtle, soulful, and deeply thoughtful.
“It was evident that a lot of hard work and heartfelt coordination went into every performance. The artists didn’t just perform; they poured their hearts into every note and every expression. We came back feeling moved, inspired, and grateful to have witnessed such a meaningful celebration of two creative geniuses intertwined in spirit.”
Kudos to the Tagoreans for another stellar, path breaking, innovative and spectacular production, regarded by many audience members as the best in the organisation’s long and impressive array of creative works over the past 60 years. The audience will certainly be looking forward to their next cultural offering in 2026 - expecting to be just as enriching, fulfilling, exciting and entertaining as ‘confluence’ has been in 2025.
