MONON : A BOOK TO LISTEN

 Monon is an open genre music group created in June  2018 , in Kolkata under the initiative of Bananti Chakraborty, a vocalist focussing on Indian classical music and Md Jakir Hossain , a Bangladeshi folk singer popularly known by Bibagi Limon , as his YouTube channel is named after.  To go by the literal meaning of the name, it's all about the expression of thought process that can be in any genre, any language and any place. Though based in Bengal, Monon welcomes worldwide music under its shade, more like an umbrella term for nearly any music genre, as long as the authenticity is maintained in its raw form.  The concept is to explore and understand the depth of each genre and bring out the significance to the audience. There's no concept of a permanent membership in this group: musicians stick together by the bond of true music. 

Jakir and Bananti performing in Trigunasen Auditorium, JU. 

JOURNEY SO FAR

Monon records and mixed its audio necessities in its own studio called Studio Yogi, located in Basdroni, Tollygunge. The YouTube videos are up in the channel called OBOKOLPO

July 4th, 2018 : 

Monon releases her first YouTube video, is a cover by Jakir Hossain (Limon). It is a song called Haar Kala Korlam Re, a beautiful song written by Pollikobi JashimUddin. The song was used in a bengali film named "Kanchan Mala" sung by "Sabina Yasmin & Andrew Kishor" in 1999.

 Credits - 

Pradripta Chowdhury

Guitar,Recording, Mixing

Shibanjan Bhattacharya

Ukulele

Bananti Chakraborty

Harmonium

Aishik Dasgupta

Dhob, Shaker

Video:

Jakir Hossain(Bibagi Limon)

Camera,Editing

Bananti Chakraborty, Antariksh Ray

Camera

August 16th, 2018

The 2nd music video is the classical debut of Monon, performing Hangsadhwani by Shreejoyee  Dey, Bananti Chakraborty and Jyotirmoy Chakraborty. They chose three compositions on this Raga and have put them in the same track keeping intact the essence of each of them. 

After the Alap , they start with a Shri Jayanta Sarkar called Shaono Raate Kheya Parapare.

Then they enter into the Carnatic composition of Vatapi Ganapatim by Muthuswami Dikshitar.

We end with the very famous Bandish Lagi Lagan which was used in the film Meghe Dhaka Tara.

Credits - 

Vocals : Shreejoyee Dey

Bananti Chakraborty

Tabla , Ghatam : Jyotirmoy Chakrabarty 

Arrangement : Monon 

Visual Direction, Edit : Jakir Hossain 

Shoot : Antariksh Ray 

Shoot Location : Girish Bhawan, the Mukherjee Family

December 4th,  2018 

The third music video is a cover of Adele's Someone Like You  , here sung by Bananti. The song is composed by Adele and the American songwriter Dan Wilson.

Credits - 

Vocals : Bananti Chakraborty

Guitar and mixing: Pradripta Chowdhury 

Recordist: Md. Jakir Hossain 

Make up : Sujata Biswas

Video shoot and edit : Md. Jakir Hossain

Assistant editor: Zabid Khan

January 24th,  2019

VIBES is a live show  arranged by YoGi that gives a platform to express your heart out. Be it music, or poetry slam, any kind of audio presentation is welcomed here.

 

To start off, MONON comes up with this amazing instrumental featuring Dipalok Biswas in Sitar and Jyotirmoy Chakraborty in Tabla. They have performed Raag Khamaj, starting with a small compact Alap , Vilambit Teental (16 beats),followed by Drut Gaath in Teental(16 beats) and Jhala.

Credits-

Sitar : Dipalok Biswas

Tabla : Jyotirmoy Chakrabarty 

Recording and mixing : Md Jakir Hossain

Video shoot and edit : Md Jakir Hossain

Concept: Bananti Chakraborty

21st March, 2019

Monon got its first live show invitation ever, that too in the city of dreams, Mumbai. Arranged and hosted by the Progressive Prottoy Foundation, the show was titled "Rangiye Diye Jao" on the auspicious occasion of Holi. 

Invitation poster for Rangiye Diye Jao 

In this particular show, Jakir Hossain and Bananti Chakraborty were the vocalists,with Jyotirmoy Chakraborty on tabla and Tanvir Taolad (Bangladesh) in the guitar and ambient music. 

Together they performed Moner Kotha Bolbo Kare , Uchatono Mono Ghore Royna, Kalo Jole Kuchlatole and other heart touching presentations. 

30th March 2019

Monon got the 2nd invitation at Trigunasen Auditorium, Jadavpur University on 30th March, 2019 for a show titled "Brahmaputra Festival" arranged by Manjary Dance Academy from Assam run by the eminent Bharatnatyam artist Mrs Tatini Sen. 

Invitation poster for Brahmaputra Festival 

Jakir Hossain, Bananti Chakraborty and Tanvir Taolad paid a tribute to the legend Bhupen Hazarika by performing his two compositions, Bistirno Dupare and Shorotbabu . 

Monon was prestigiously honored with the pious Assamese stole and a memento by Smt Tatini Das, the founder of Manjary Dance Academy. 

7th July, 2019

Followed by the JU performance, the founder invited Monon to their very own Guwahati for a show arranged by Manjary Dance Academy. Being a guest band,  the Assam show for Monon was an incredible success on the part of attaining audience's affection and blessings. 

In the show, Jakir and Bananti sang the popular Chol Mini Assam Jabo . They were warmly honored by Smt. Tatini Das with the prestigious Assam stole and the pious paaner bata. 

Monon got a space in the esteemed Assamese daily "Assam Tribune" with a glimpse of the show .