Kolkata Culture is reflected in Kolkata literature, its Art, the theaters, in Calcutta's music and dance, and Kolkata food. The culture of Kolkata is unique in its richness, variety, and its universality. Kolkata is aptly called the 'cultural capital of India'.
Kolkata literature
The universality of Bengali literature was established by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. This Nobel laureate was born in Calcutta in 1861 and lived till 1941. In these 80 years of his life he established himself as the redoubtable poet, writer, lyricist, composer and artist. His book "Geetanjali" was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1911. His works 'Raktakarabi', 'Rajarshi', 'Gharey Bairey', 'Sesher Kabita', 'Cheleybela' and so on are masterpieces. His musical compositions have become renowned as 'Rabindrasangeet'.
Prior to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Michael Madhusudan Dutta, and Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar were the stalwarts of Bengali literature. Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novels 'Anandamath', 'Kapalkundala', 'Krishnakanter Will' are immortal works.
Michael Madhusudan Dutta was the pioneer of Bengali drama and blank verse poetry. His dramas 'Sarmistha' and 'Tilottama', and 'Meghnad Badh Kavya' written in blank verse have immortalized this playwright and poet of Kolkata.
After Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Tarashanker Bandopadhyay, Manik Bandopadhyay, and Bibhuti Bhusan Bandopadhyay emerged as the eminent novelists. Kazi Nazrul Islam was the greatest poet and composer after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. His 'Agnibeena' and 'Sanchita' are collected by all Bengali households.
Sukumar Roy, Stayendranath Dutta, Jibananda Das, and Sukanta Bhattacharya were the renowned poets of early 20th century. Among the current generation of poets there are Joy Goswami, Shakti Chattopadhyay, and Subhas Mukhopadhyay. The present generation of writers include Sunil Gangopadhyay, Samaresh Majumdar, Budhdhadev Guha, Samaresh Bose, Ashapurna Devi, and
Mahasweta Devi.
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Kolkata Music
Kolkata is easily identifiable by its own musical forms. Rabindrasangeet (songs of Gurudev Rabindranth Tagore), Nazrulgeeti (songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam), Dwijendrageeti (songs of Dwijendralal Roy), Atul Prasader Gaan (songs of Atul Prasad Sen), Rajani Kantor Gaan (songs of Ranjani Kanto Sen), and Ramparasadi (songs of Ram Prasad Sen) have enriched Bengali music. 'Baul gaan' (songs of minstrals), 'Bhatiyali' (songs of oarsmen), are immortal forms of Bengali folk misic.
Bengali music remains incomplete without the mention of Salil Chowdhury. His lyrics and compositions are contemporary and very appealing. He also composed music for a number of Bengali and Hindi cinemas.
Kolkata music has also been enriched by Ananda Shankar, son of Uday Shankar. He pioneered fusion music by using both Indian and western musical instruments. He used the sitar, tabla, mridangam, equally at ease with the guitar, drums, and keyboards.
Kolkata Cinema and Kolkata Theater
Kolkata cinema and theater are an integral part of Calcutta culture. Kolkata cinema was brought into international limelight by master director Satyajit Ray with his film Pather Panchali. His other famous films include Aparajito, Apur Sansar, Jalsaghar, Charulata, Nayak, Goopee Gayen Baagha Bayen, Sakha Prsakha, Ganashatru, and Agantuk.
Other renowned film directors who have worked in Kolkata include Rwitik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Aparna Sen, Gautam Ghosh, and Rituparno Ghosh.
Kolkata theater has been immortalized by the likes of Girish Chandra Ghosh, Durgadas Bandopadhyay, Ahindra Chowdhury, Sisir Bhaduri and later by Sambhu Mitra, Utpal Dutta and Ajitesh Bandopadhyay. The current generation of directors include Rudraprasad Sengupta, Monoj Mitra, Bibhas Chakraborty, and Meghnad Bhattacharya.
Kolkata culture is reflected in its traditional Bengali cuisine which a tourist can savour in one of the many Bengali restaurants in Kolkata.
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