Shreya Ghoshal creates magic in Ram Kamal’s magnum opus Binodiini

January 9, 2025 - 12:34 PM IST

National Award-winning playback singer Shreya Ghosal has lent her voice for ‘Kanha’ song composed by Sourendro-Soumyojit for Binodiini. The film is a biopic on Bengal's theatre thespian Binodini Dasi

Shreya Ghoshal creates magic in Ram Kamal’s magnum opus Binodiini

The much-anticipated first song from National Award-winning director Ram Kamal Mukherjee's film Binodiini - Ekti Natir Upakhyan, titled ‘Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi’, was unveiled at a grand event at Ahindra Mancha, Kolkata. The launch featured a spectacular live Kathak performance by actress Rukmini Maitra, bringing the song’s intricate emotions to life on stage.

Set at a pivotal juncture in the film, ‘Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi’ captures the moment Binodini Dasi agrees to the support of Gurumukh Rai, a man instrumental in fulfilling her dream of establishing her theatre. Staying true to the filmmaker’s vision, Binodini Dasi is portrayed not as a victim of circumstances but as a resilient artist, who embraced her craft with strength and determination, even amidst emotional challenges.

Written by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, composed by the film’s music directors Sourendro-Soumyojit, and soulfully rendered by Shreya Ghoshal, the song is steeped in the rich tradition of Hindustani classical music. Loosely based on Raag Manjh Khamaj, the composition incorporates elements of Kathak, evoking the grandeur of a bygone era. The choreography has been done by Manisha Basu, Souvik Chakraborty & Avyaan Roy.

In the film, ‘Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi’ unfolds as a mujra sequence, meticulously choreographed to resonate with the period’s essence. The lyrics, crafted in Hindustani, transport viewers to a different time, mirroring Binodini’s inner turmoil and artistic aspirations.

“This song is a heartfelt tribute to Bengal’s most celebrated stage artist, Binodini Dasi. It encapsulates her spirit and perseverance, which continue to inspire generations. Rukmini looked ethereal in the song, and I am confident that my audience will love her graceful performance impersonating the role of a courtesan”, said director Ram Kamal Mukherjee.

“Almost two years ago, when Ram Kamal Mukherjee mentioned that he was making his first Bengali feature film Binodiini, I was happy for him. I know Ram Kamal dada since his journalism days. He was probably one of the first to interview me when I made my debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali ji's Devdas. This classical composition by the musical duo Sourendro-Soumyojit took me to the world of Hindustani sangeet,” said Shreya Ghoshal.

She added, “I still remember that we were recording in Mumbai at Yash Raj Studios, and dada (Ram Kamal) was shooting in Kolkata. After the recording, when I asked who had penned the lyrics, Sourendro-Soumyojit mentioned that dada had written it. I was so surprised that he had such command over language.”

“Binodini Dasi is an iconic character, who stood against patriarchal society almost 150 years ago. She is worshipped as the goddess of theatre and was blessed by Sri Sri Ramkrishna for her acting skill. My best wishes to Rukmini Maitra for playing Binodiini and making this song look so elegant,” added Shreya Ghoshal when asked about the journey of ‘Kanha’.

The event concluded with thunderous applause, leaving the audience in awe of the intricate detailing and passion infused into ‘Kanha Tose Hryday Na Jorungi’. The song is now available on major streaming platforms, promising to captivate listeners and transport them to the golden era of Indian art and culture. Presented by Dev Entertainment Ventures and produced jointly by Pramod Films and Assorted Motion Pictures, Binodiini – Ekti Natir Upakhyan releases on January 23, 2025.