An evening of music and remembrance honouring pioneering women artistes

Paying tribute to the pioneering women of Bengali theatre and cinema, Avinetri Konthe Rabigan (Rabindra Songs in the Voices of Actresses) was presented recently as part of Karigar Utsab. Conceived, scripted, directed and presented by Riddhi Bandyopadhyay, the programme celebrated the actresses who popularised the songs of Rabindranath Tagore and left an enduring mark on Bengal’s cultural landscape.The production revisited the lives and achievements of legendary artistes including Kanan Devi, Sarajubala, Sadhana Basu and Kankabati Devi, who broke social barriers and established themselves as respected performers during a time when opportunities for women in the arts were limited. Their journeys helped pave the way for greater acceptance of women in theatre and the performing arts.

Adding a musical dimension to the evening, students performed several memorable songs associated with these actresses. Among the highlights were Kanan Devi’s Aaj Sabar Range Rang Meshate Hobe, Sadhana Basu’s Na Na Go Na, Koro Na Bhabona, and O Je Mane Na Mana from Prayaschitta, linked with Kankabati Devi and produced under the direction of Sisir Kumar Bhaduri.The programme also highlighted Kanan Devi’s musical training under Rabindranath Tagore and Pankaj Kumar Mullick, acknowledging the role it played in shaping her distinguished artistic career.

Blending music, narration and historical reflection, Avinetri Konthe Rabigan honoured the courage, talent and contributions of these trailblazing women, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire generations of female performers in Bengal.“An Ode to Bengal’s Pioneering Women of Theatre and”