Business Standard

Singer Somlata accuses misbehaviour at function, organisers

Image

Press Trust of India Kolkata

Popular singer Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury has alleged harassment at a function organised by a school in Jalpaiguri district.

She also accused one of the teaches of the school at Dhupguri of instigating the audience to allow her to leave but not her team members because of "poor" sound quality.

Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The organisers denied the charges.

The police who helped her and her team members leave Dhupguri for Siliguri said she did not lodge any complaint.

Acharyya came on Facebook live on Saturday night and alleged that one of the teachers was instigating a 15,000 strong audience during her solo show on Friday to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the secondary school.

 

The singer admitted that those in the rear end of the venue could not hear the rendition properly due to sound problem, but the problem could be fixed to a large extent by her team.

Naming one teacher, she said, "The programme was going on smoothly but this particular man, who was looking intoxicated, was constantly moving on the stage, blocking our drummer and even once asked for my mike during performance.

"To cap it all he openly asked the crowd to allow the singer to leave after the show but not the rest of her team who should be asked to explain why the sound failed during her show," Acharyya, who has cut popular single albums like 'Mor Bhabonare' and 'Aabdaar' and lent voice as playback singer in over 30 Bengali films, claimed.

Stating that the policemen present at the spot and a section of organisers helped them leave the venue at 10:45 pm, reach the hotel and rush to Siliguri in two cars in the quickest possible time, she thanked the cops.

"Police may not be so active or apprised of the situation every time. Our safety is in our hands," she said and recalled the experience of another singer Mekhla Dasgupta at a function another district last November "where she was harassed for not singing tracks of their choice."

"Whenever you are invited to any such programme there is an urgent need to do background check of the organisers," Acharyya signed off.

However, one of the organisers said there was no misbehaviour towards Acharyya or any of her troupe member and pointed out that she did not lodge any official complaint with the police and also completed the show.

A section of the students and former students of the school on Sunday took out a rally in Dhupguri town discounting Acharyya's claims and burnt an effigy of her.

Police, when contacted, did not want to comment on the show but said Acharyya had left the place without lodging any complaint.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Jan 06 2019 | 5:11 PM IST

Explore News