'Dhamail Stories' Video recordings of live performances of detailed Stories of Dhamail for each stage. Performed at Dhamail, Third Brit-Bangla Heritage Festival, Poplar Union, 2 Cotall Street, Poplar. Chronologically embedded with narration and dance and music. Shows musicians, dancers and screen. Length: 5-8 minutes each. Numbered 1-17, 19-20 [there is no file 18]. Mukto Arts CIC outlines on their website: “Dhamail Kotha” (Tales of Dhamail)—a musical-theatrical odyssey written and directed by Dr. Ashim Chakraborty and narrated by Deep Roy. This was no ordinary stage act. It was a journey through centuries, through the verses of Chandidas, the music of Radha Raman Dutta, the echoes of Thumri, and the soulful legacy of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Amit De’s devotional opener “Pratham Bandona Je Kori” set the mood, as the narrative travelled through Krishna-lila, to Gaur-rup, to moonlit ponds and midnight longing. Gauri Chowdhury’s [Gouri Chowdhury] emotionally piercing rendition of “Banshi Re Poraner Banshi” hushed the hall into silence, while Mayukhjeet Chakraborty’s flute pierced the quiet like memory does—soft and sharp all at once. A remarkable fusion of Indian classical and Sylheti folk followed. Chowdhury’s “Bhramar Kiyo Giya” flowed effortlessly into De’s “Aye Na Balam”. Laboni Barua’s powerful “Kuhu Swore Moner Agun” in the Kokil Song sequence and the layered textures of the Panchpara Dhamail created an almost trance-like experience. Vocalist Popi Kar’s “Chandra Dao Go Biday” and Aparna Bhowmik’s closing chorus made the moment feel both sacred and celebratory. The final group dance, choreographed by Moushumi Samanta and guided by Supriya Dev-Purkayastha, featured a vibrant lineup of dancers: Sushmita Bhattacharya, Kanika Goswami, Bappy Dam, Soma Ganga Roy, Suma Dey, Rupna Rani Das, and Munni Chakraborty. They moved with elegance and instinct, their circular formations echoing generations of Dhamail dancers before them. Supporting the atmosphere were musicians Hiranmoy Goswami (mridangam), Tauki (rhythm), and Mayukhjeet Chakraborty (flute). The final act—“Jugol Milan Hoilo Go”—was less of a performance and more of a communion. For a moment, the audience stopped being the audience. They became the courtyard. They became the song.' 19 April 2025