“Eto alo tobu eto chhaya charpashe
Joto alo jolechhilo sob nibhe gechhe
I hear the siren wailing over the sky
why the sky has moved so far away…Ó on this stanza of the song titled “Postman” the expression of the poet cum singer and composer the more it touches the heart of his listeners the more it takes them along a with him to a journey to the land of an esoteric world within, very much alive inertly, which is neither to be seen or touched literally but yet it does so in a miraculous way, immaculately to deal with his hidden secrets and wounds, wounds with oozing blood, in despair and frustration, and to face the pain and makes him stand face to face with his own agonizing moments of truths.
Shantanu Biswas is the prodigal son of our current era who writes, composes and performs al his magnificent songs, of his album {which is the second one at a streak} proving his multifarious talents and capacities of such magnitude where he can keep his listeners bemused and leave them in a state of self-seeking lovers longing for the beloved ones. But that love and all those heart wrenching longings need not to be meant for material of someone of flesh and blood. Sometimes it’s his political aspirations, sometimes it’s just the long lost time when he used to spend his time with some one really who would have been his muse, though he tends to present it very solemnly and discreetly.
“See, how my beloved country has fallen into an unfathomable hue and cry …” are such lines which he presents in such a somber manner that it leaves us with no doubts about his compassion and love for the fellow countrymen and their sufferings besides his political beliefs, and it also leaves a mark on his poetic ability to put forward something in a very delicate manner as well. His usage of similes, metaphors, his total making and compositions of the lyrics makes them unique uin nature from the rest of the flocks. Yes, I find his a bit loud in his usage of such metaphors and similes. And thus it makes his songs more of a cluster of poems, then just mere songs. Some of his picturesque and treatment of words used in such a poetic manner compels a listener to get nostalgic, if I may dare to say.
The Cultural Revolution that took place worldwide during the 70’s became the symbolization of ‘Freedom’ and ‘Personal Liberty’ and almost turned into the ‘Songs of an angry generation’ during the 80’s. Our cultural trends also started taking its own shape under the tremendous influence of these eras. And during the 90’s it became almost a ‘un-pinned-live grenade’ which was about to explode. This is the time when we got the taste of western grunge rock, heavy metals, death metals, alternative rocks, hip-hops, etc. and certainly they have expanded our cultural dimensions and enriched our own variations in this arena. This is the time when numerous underground bands and artists evolved from all walks of life. The lyrics, music compositions, and performances, everything was very different in taste and of course they spoke of the time, the life as it was then.
But then what? Something always happen when the worst is expected or even vice-versa. It’s kind of a natural paradox. As long as this cultural trend was concerned, well, things really changed in an unexpected way. People seemed to be bored out with same sort of monotonous grunge rock, heavy metals, death metals, alternative rocks, hip-hops, etc. or the common folks with their kind of mainstream songs. All of a sudden, on a deserted day, came a soothing rain, on a mundane piece of land, devoid of good music and good lyrics and good taste, after a long yearning, as if after a long years of prayers to the Holy One. There they were a new group of completely new musicians, with new concepts, lyrics, tunes, and presentations. They came and the won the heart of the people and completed what was so far left unattended and barren. Shantanu Biswas is one of those who rocked the boat. His title song of this album “Postman” is undoubtedly one of the best he produced here, and since according to the principles of dramatics, tragedy is the best dramatic quality, the pathos, and the lamentations and grievances for the beloved and dearest one, indeed would enthrall the listeners beyond anyone’s reasonable expectations.
“Kotha aar gaan aar hahakaar niye
Ami tomake ekechhi
Se kotha, se gaan aaj sob theme gechhe …” this is a certain loneliness, this very personal urge and sadness, in its finest aesthetic form, which is absolutely absent in our recent songs.
“Tumi chhuye dile hobe rupantor
Tumi chhuye dile bhangbena kono ghor
Tumi chhuye dile chikchil balukona
Tumi dube gele chand aar uthbena …” the second song among all these ten songs in this very album, seems so rich in context, so truly romantic but yet a heart wrenching song which sucks up all your aspirations to stay alive but nevertheless shows its light to guide you to come out fight back, no matter how hurt you are emotionally, how dejected you might feel. This is an extremely romantic song with an appropriate musical compositions and surroundings. But eventually the seeking mind inquires, who is that “You”? And why don’t we just leave Shantanu Biswas to answer this mysterious question!
Shantanu Biswas though has his own capacity to create his own music of new trend, but it seemed to me that in some extent he was a bit influenced by the Indian musicians of the 70’s. Those who seek gimmicks this album is not for them. Shantanu Biswas’s music is soft, tender, soothing and for those who look forward to them. He could portray himself in his own songs, which only a few performers can really do. And this is his true achievement.
Leave Your Comments