A musical tribute celebrating the rich legacy of Bengali cinema and literature came alive with Rupali Porday Pancha Kobir Gaan (Songs of the Five Poets on the Silver Screen), presented under the concept and direction of Riddhi Bandyopadhyay at NABC (Banga Sammelan) 2026. The curated production celebrated the timeless compositions of Bengal’s five legendary poets—Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Dwijendralal Roy, Rajanikanta Sen, and Atulprasad Sen—as they have been immortalized on the silver screen by some of Bengali cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers, including Tarun Majumdar, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Ajay Kar, and Arabindo Mukhopadhyay.
The evening featured soulful performances by Riddhi Bandyopadhyay alongside her probashi students, reflecting the enduring appeal of these iconic songs across generations and geographies. Adding a visual dimension to the presentation were choreographed dance sequences by dancer Avirup Sengupta and his probashi students, seamlessly weaving movement with music.The production was further enriched by Ablu Chakrabarty’s music direction, while Sutanuka Banerjee’s background visual presentation enhanced the cinematic experience, creating an immersive journey through Bengal’s cultural and filmic heritage.
The program concluded on an emotional and patriotic note with “Vande Mataram,” presented in the version featured in the film Anandamath. The finale brought the audience together in a heartfelt tribute to the motherland, providing a fitting conclusion to an evening dedicated to Bengal’s enduring artistic legacy.
