All eyes were on the performers onstage, attired in the signature white garments favoured by bauls, as they took position with their instruments. The group leader, dhol player Nazrul Islam, engaged the audience in conversation between the sets. The conversational style holds true to the tradition of baul performances, as dialogue is part of the seat. The vocalist, Nupur, hit the high notes, which, along with the beat of the dhol and the melody of the flute was a treat to the ears
After an hour, the group performed several songs- Moner manush chinlum na re, Chatok bache kemone, Jaath gelo bhule and a regional ballad from Brahmonbaria, are to name a few. The performance was unfortunately cut short by a power outage, but powerful enough to leave an impression that is sure to last as a fond memory.
This sort of performances merit greater exposure as they keep the spirit of the mystical bauls alive. As Simon Broughton said, “They are exemplary” And those lucky enough to have heard them that night wouldn't disagree. It is rare to see youngsters enjoying traditional music, and this was one of those rare cases.
