Team Rosogolla remembers late composer Kalika Prasad Bhattacharya at music launch

The music of Pavel’s upcoming film Rosogolla was launched on 13 December at a mall in Kolkata in the presence of the director, producers Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy, artistes Santilal Mukherjee, Chiranjeet Chakraborty, Abantika Biswas, newcomer Ujaan Ganguly, and singer, composer and lyricist Anupam Roy.

The event was conducted by Ganguly and Biswas in a dramatic way, as they went on speaking about their journey in the midst of introducing the artistes and other guests. Artistes Amit Sur, Mousumi Dutta, Rishi and Indrani Mukherjee performed their respective songs from the film. Arnab Dutta, who has composed and written the song 'Tapur Tupur', which has already gone viral, performed as well.

However, the master behind the music of the film, Kalika Prasad Bhattacharya, is no more, and all the artistes recounted memories of working with him. Bhattacharya passed away on 7 March 2017 in a road accident.

According to the director, it took him three years to complete the entire film. “What I have got in the last three years, I don’t think I will ever get in my life. I have lost as much as I have gained as well,” the director said. “This is a musical film. There are seven songs and the background music is incredible. It would not have been possible without Kalika da. He was with me since the beginning of making the film. I think there are only few music composers who can regularly sit with the director for six months only to create the soundscape of a film.”

Pavel reportedly demanded that Bhattacharya create a modern soundscape with the music instruments that were available in 1860, as the film is based in that period. Therefore, many instruments, including the harmonium, were rejected.

“Pavel called me one day and said I will have to sing for a courtesan. He left the entire concept on me and hence, I started researching on the kind of thumris that were used in that period. I also had to keep in mind that the thumri needs to be communicable to this generation as well,” said Indrani Mukherjee, who has lent her voice for a thumri for courtesan Malika Jaan, played by Subhasree Ganguly.

“I have played a short yet interesting part in the film. The actors and actresses in the film are incredible and with them, there are also these two newcomers. I have a soft corner for Ujaan as he is Kaushik’s (Ganguly) son. I was sure of his acting capabilities due to the genes he has inherited from his father,” Chiranjeet Chakraborty said, who plays a wrestler in the film. Chakraborty added that he is sure the film will do well as Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s films always do.

Rosogolla is slated to be released on 21 December.