'Bengalees are rooted to devotional songs'

Light classical Bengali song exponent Haimanti Shukla thinks despite 'shyamsangeet' being among the listeners' top choices, the younger generation is drifting from devotional music.
"True Shyamasangeet, bhajans still rule the charts along with other genres. But considering the situation in past, the craze for devotional sing on the wane, among the youth," Haimanti said after launching an album 'Mamo Mandire Ke' studded with songs invoking Kali.
"Also people are listening to select few titles. And Nazrulgeeti. But there had been a whole lot of other musical talents in devotional genre whose creations remain unrecognised in public domain," Haimanti having immortalized tracks like 'Amar Balar Kicchu Chhilona" and "Ekhono Sarengita Bajchhe" concurred.

The golden-voice singer, having been born in a Hindustani Classical vocalist family, rued the present generation is not so dedicated and serious to pursue and familiarize themselves with the various strands of our rich classical heritage.
"It was a different time, ours were a different time in terms of audience, ambience everything. But something remains unchanged. The intensity might have changed but the love and passion manifest in some other way. The cassettes are gone but the cds are here," she said.
The album comprising soulful devotional tracks of Haimanti, besides Sriradha Bandyopadhyay and classicist Shuvankar Banerjee is being aired exclusively on 92.7 Big FM.