About The Event
Rediscover Tagore’s timeless musical world as Javed Akhtar’s evocative Hindi-Urdu translations come alive through Sangeeta Datta’s renditions in a soulful evening of music, poetry, and conversation.
'Anant - Tagore Transformations: Poetry, Song and Music' celebrates Rabindranath Tagore's timeless legacy through a unique presentation of his songs in Hindi, translated by legendary poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar. Akhtar introduces the project and reads his evocative translations, while writer, filmmaker, and Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sangeeta Datta performs the songs, accompanied by Manas on keyboard, Shankar Nandi on tabla, and the chorus from Shahana School of Tagore Music and Culture. A BAITHAK UK production, the programme has been presented in London, Oxford, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Mumbai, with the accompanying album released by Zee Music.
Trained in Rabindra Sangeet, Datta brings Tagore’s distinctive union of poetry and melody to audiences across generations, awakening cherished associations for some while opening a doorway into his world for others. The music, arranged by internationally acclaimed sarod player and composer Soumik Datta, brings traditional and contemporary sounds into an imaginative dialogue. Selected singers from the Sahana School of Tagore Music join the opening and closing compositions.
Originally presented in London, Oxford, Kolkata, and Santiniketan, ‘Anant’ has since been showcased at cultural and literary platforms across India and Europe. Its Mumbai presentation carries special resonance, returning the project to the city where Soumik Datta was first introduced to Rabindra Sangeet and where Sangeeta Datta continued her training in the genre. The evening concludes with an audience interaction exploring Tagore’s enduring influence and the creative journey of carrying his work into another language.
This performance is supported by Reliance Foundation.
