Dhak meets other percussion tools in fusion bid

Tracing the revival of 'dhak' in contemporary Puja landscape of Bengal, leading classicists have joined hands in a unique fusion attempt where the beats of the heritage drumming instrument match with other percussion tools, as the Durgapuja countdown begins.
"Me and Kaushiki have given vocal renditions to the 'Dhak' album having seen dhak as a bridge between the traditional and contemporary in our baroari pujas," eminent vocalist Pt Ajay Chakraborty said.
"I still remember the Mahastami evening when all of us started swaying to the beats of dhak during Sandhi puja in course of our rounds at puja pandals with other classical instrumentalists," young, famed vocalist Kaushiki, daughter of Panditji, said.

"And it is to be seen to be believed how drummers or 'dhakis' Toton Das and Haro Bayen, having got no formal training in percussion, match every beat of me and Pt Suven Chatterjee in the album. It is the fusion in real sense,," Pt Mallar Ghosh said.
Chronicling the evolution of Dhak, from the beats in 'bonedi barir pujo' (traditional household pujas) to the 'baroari pujas', theme-based or mega-budget, in these days, the first ever short film on this unique heritage musical instrument of Bengal, "Dhak Kotha" has also been freezed on celluloid produced by 'Cyclepure Agarbathi.'
The short film,made by arrtistes, also dwelling on the socio-economic status of its carriers., is of 32 minute , is part of the effort to inspire the present generation of indigenous drummers, a spokespon of the organization, which had been organizing the unique Rhythm Dhaker Ladai Contest, said.