JAATISHWAR !!!

When India was under the British Rule, an explorer of Portuguese family started exploring different parts of Bengal, the famous land for its enriched Art and Culture. Hensman Anthony had a hobby of music. Bengalis started liking his voice and named him as Anthony Firingi. Basically, any foreigner coming to Bengal from Europe was given the title, Firingi. At that time, there was the ritual of Sati Daaho in Hindu Community of Bengal. The rule was; if a Hindu woman became a widow when her age is below 50 years, then she was burned alive in the fire with her husband’s dead body. Anthony rescued a Hindu widow, Soudamini from that bloody Sati Daaho ritual and got married to her. Why a Gujarati Student of a European University decided to start a research work on Anthony Firingi? The soul of Anthony Firingi felt impressed and became nostalgic! ‘Pratham alo e phera, aandhar periye ese ami, chena nadir shrotey, chena chena ghat dekhe naami. Chena tobu chena noy, e bhabei shrot boye jaaye, khodar kasam jaan, ami bhalobesechi tomaye.’

Welcome to the ancient town of Farashdanga under Chandannagar, a famous French Colony of the ancient Bengal. ‘Woh sab samajh gaya, lekin Anthony kaun hain?’ The Gujarati student went to the Central Library of Chandannagar. ‘Kusal ektu dekho toh.’ The Assistant Librarian of the Central Library of Chandannagar helped the young man by telling the real life story of Anthony Firingi. ‘Derhsho bachor agey o ami tomaye khuje pather dhare klaanto hoye suyechilam ebhabei thik andhakaar e, ekhon tumi khujte ele! Derhsho bachor agey o ami tomaye cheye gaan likhechi, pukur dhare joler gandhe, bangle bhasha e chokh dhuyechi, ekhon tumi khujte ele.’ Under the British rule, the rhyme song, i.e. Kabigaan was very famous in Bengal. The singers of Kabigaan were popularly known as Kabiyaal. Anthony was getting attracted towards the Kabigaan and hence he decided to learn Bengali language and Bengali music to become a Kabiyaal. In a Kabigaan competition, two Kabiyaals fight with each other. Raja Gopimohan Deb used to enjoy the Kabigaan competition at the Thakur Dalaan of Shobabazar area. Haru Thakur was the famous Kabiyaal at that time and his favourite disciple was Bhola Moyra. ‘O se Bholanath noy re, se Bholanath noy, o jeh Moyra Bhola, Haru r chyala, Bagbazar e roy.’ Let us hear some Kabigaan from Haru Thakur’s voice. ‘Agey jodi sakhi jaaniten, Shyam er o pirit o garal o mishrito karon o ke jodi suniten. Kulabati bala hoiya sarala tobe ki o beesh bhrokiten.’ In any Kabigaan competition, there used to be 5 stages. These 5 stages are:-Bhabani Bishay (Devotional songs on Maa Durga or Maa Kali), Sakhi Sanglaap (Romantic songs on Radha-Krishna Premleela), Biraho (Sad love songs of common people), Kheu (Songs on mythological epics and gods) and Laho (Songs on personal attacks on others with negative criticisms).

Who constructed the Firingi Kali Mandir at Boubazar area of Kolkata? Why Mahamaya was thinking too much about pressing that ADD FRIEND button in Facebook? Anthony Phiringee of Facebook and Mahamaya of Facebook became friends in Facebook only! Rohit composed a new song. ‘Sahosa ele ki, e bhanga jibone, sahosa dile ki khabor jibone, e bhanga sahar jora, bhanga pathe r ekaante se sahasa ele ki e bhanga jibone.’ The Farashdanga Graduate Band registered their name for participating in the Bandemonium 2014 competition regarding the Maitri Bandhan program between West Bengal and Bangladesh. Anthony had his first Kabigaan competition against Jogyeswari, a lady Kabiyaal. The competition started. Jogyeswari sang, ‘Hole Jodi hole sakha adhistaan, hyere mukh galo dukh, duti katha boli praan. Bandi kore prem e khaanto hole krome krome ami kulabati naari, pati chara ki sohite paari. Nahi jano ghar baasa, ki basanta ki barosha, sati re kori nirasha, asati r asha puran.’ Anthony started singing, ‘Pran tumi ar pathe eso na, sudhu dekha debe bole ta bojhe na pran dekha debe. Aaj tumi jaar, basona tahar , kurao kurao basona.’ All the audiences shouted, ‘Sadhu Sadhu’ as Anthony won the musical battle.

Anthony kept on winning the Kabigaan competition. Anthony composed a famous Agamani song on Maa Durga. ‘Jai Jogindra, Jai Mahamaya, mahima aseem tomar, ek baar durga bole je daake maa tomaye, tumi karo taae bhava sindhu paar. Maata ee salil e bhaver kule, durga durga bole bipad kaale, tobu santaan er mukh chaaile na maa?’ Why the Bengali Hindus warned Anthony when Anthony decided to perform Durga Puja at his own house? The Bengali girl met the Gujarati boy again! Anthony had his last Kabigaan competition against Bhola Moyra. Bhola Moyra sang, ‘Ogo chandramukhi, krishna sukhe sukhi, tomaye sadaai dekhi saadh sabakaar. Bidhi ei korun ghuchuk shyam biraha, rai tomar, rai tomar. Chinta naai chintamanir, biraha ghuchilo eto diner por, antare jurao go kishori, he re antare paaka bangshidhar.’ Anthony replied, ‘Je shakti hoyite utpatti, se shakti patni ki karon, kaho dekhi bholanath, er bisesh bibaran. Jano na ki se bham ee tomar shivani, tomare garbhe dhori ami, ekhon holem tomar ramani. Samudra manthan kaal e, beesh paan korechile takhon dekechile durga bole, rakkha karo aaponi, chole chile beesho paan e bachalam stannya paan e, sei din bhule ki bolecho janani.’ But, Bhola Moyra was not in a mood to accept defeat so easily. Bhola Moyra bounced back by singing, ‘Tui jaat firingi jabar jangi, ami  toke paarbo na toh tauraate, sonh re bhrastha boli spashto, tui re nasto maha dusto, tor ki eesto kali keshto, bojge ja tui jishu khristho srerampore er girja teh.’ After an emotional pause for a few seconds, Anthony Firingi counterattacked by singing, ‘Kristey ar Christ e kichu tofaath naai re bhai, sudhu naam er fere manush phere, keho katha soney naai. Amar Khoda jeh; Hindu r Hari se, oi dekho shyam daariye ache, amar manab janam shafal hobe jodi raanga charan paai.’ Bhola Moyra accepted the defeat and gave respect to Anthony by giving the garland of flowers to him and hugged him. Everyone shouted, ‘Sadhu Sadhu.’ Farashdanga Graduate Band performed their song in the Bandemonium 2014. ‘E tumi kamon tumi chokher taara e aayna dharo, e kamon kanna tumi aamaye jakhon aador karo. Janmer ageo janmer poreo janma tumi emon, surer o gabhir surey padabali r dharon jamon. Esechi ageo ami jakhon tumi padmabati, kobekaar punthir shlok, tomar matoi ashrumati.’ How Soudamini got killed? Why Kusal was behaving like a mental patient? After seeing whom, who appreciated the similar ending of two stories as a “JAATISHWAR”?

THE LITTLE MERMAID !!!

‘I will tell you a tale of bottomless blue. Look out, lad, a mermaid be waiting for you in mysterious fathoms below.’ Sebastian, the court composer started the concert. The singers started to sing. ‘Ah! We are the daughters of Triton, great father who loves us and named us well.’ King Triton was the father of seven daughters; Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Attina, Adella, Alana and Ariel. As per the norms, Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton was about to have her musical debut on that day, but, alas, she was not there in her shell at that moment. Ariel and Flounder were researching inside a desolate ship. ‘Excitement, adventure, danger lurking around every corner.’ A Shark attacked them, though they managed to remain alive. Scuttle taught Ariel to comb her hair with a fork and to use the pipe as a musical pipe. Ursula was keeping strict vigilance on the little Princess by taking the help of Flotsam and Jetsam. Ariel apologized to her father as she forgot about the concert. Flounder’s extra information made King Triton furious on Ariel. King Triton warned Ariel that she must not go near the surface again. Sebastian said, ‘Uuh! Teenagers! They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.’ King Triton gave a special responsibility on Sebastian’s shoulder. ‘Ariel needs constant supervision.’

Everyone was celebrating the birthday party of Prince Eric on the ship. Grimsby gifted a statue of Eric to Eric. Eric was still in search of a perfect girl for himself. Grimsby rightly said, ‘The entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled with the right girl.’ Ariel heard Eric’s statement; ‘Oh! She is out there somewhere. I just haven’t found her yet. Believe me, Grim, when I find her, I’ll know. Without a doubt, it will just hit me like lightning.’ Yeah! Yeah! You were quite right, Eric. The lightning and the thunderstorm took place at that very moment. The ship was on fire and was about to drown, though all the sailors of the ship boarded safely into a life boat. But, Max was stuck in that ship. Eric went back to that fiery ship to rescue Max. Max was safe, but, Eric was in trouble. Eric was getting drowned but Ariel rescued him at the right time and took him to a sea shore. Ariel was staring at senseless Eric and gradually started falling in love with him. ‘What would I give to live where you are? What would I pay to stay here beside you? What would I do to see you smiling at me? Where would we walk? Where would we run? If we could stay all day in the sun! Just you and me and I could be part of your world.’ When Grimsby and Max saw Eric, at that moment; Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian were hiding behind the rocks. Sebastian requested Flounder to keep it as a secret. King Triton must not know about Ariel’s new love story. On the other hand, Ariel’s heart was not in her control anymore. ‘I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I know something is starting right now. Watch and you will see, someday I will be part of your world.’

Ursula started making a master plan as Ariel fell in love with Eric. Females are expert in understanding the body languages of other females. Ariel’s sisters understood that Ariel has fallen in love with someone. They informed about it to King Triton. King Triton called up Sebastian to know the name of Ariel’s lover. Why King Triton became furious on Ariel and destroyed all her collections which were kept inside a cave? When Ariel was weeping out of sorrow, Flotsam and Jetsam suggested her to meet Ursula. Ursula made a legal deal with Ariel. Ariel was given three days and before the sunset of the third day, Ariel must get a deep kiss of true love from Eric, otherwise, Ariel would remain as a prisoner of Ursula for the whole life. Ariel’s singing voice was snatched by Ursula. Max identified the girl and signalled Eric. Eric met Ariel and took her inside the palace. Both Grimsby and Charlotta were happy as after waiting for a long time, they found a girl who could be a perfect match for Eric. Why Chef Louis had some tough time with Sebastian? Eric and Ariel went for boating. Scuttle had the idea of creating a vocal romantic stimulation, but, alas, Scuttle’s voice was too pathetic. Sebastian took the charge. After all, Sebastian is a musician cum singer. ‘There you see her sitting there across the way. She don’t got a lot to say, but there is something about her and you don’t know why but you are dying to try, you wanna kiss the girl. Yes, you want her. Look at her, you know, you do. Possible she want you too; there is one way to ask her. It don’t take a word. Not a single word. Go on and kiss the girl.’ Eric was just about to kiss Ariel, that Flotsam and Jetsam drowned the boat. Ursula took a disguise. What! Eric is going to get married to another girl? The wedding ship departs. Ariel was feeling helpless and started weeping. Scuttle peeped through the window of the wedding ship. After seeing the reflection of that girl on the mirror, why Scuttle became furious? Flounder and Ariel headed towards that wedding ship. Sebastian made up his mind to inform about it to King Triton. Scuttle was given the task to stall the wedding. Did Ariel succeed in having the deep kiss of true love from Eric before the sunset of the third day as per the legal deal? Who killed Ursula to help King Triton to regain his power again? Eric got married to whom? What permission did King Triton gave along with a divine gift to “THE LITTLE MERMAID”?