KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police orchestra, which has 18 members who practise diligently for six hours every day, will soon be playing the dugi and the khol along with western instruments, like the saxophone. In a bid to add earthy tunes to its repertoire, the band has decided to play local instruments, orders for which have been placed.
The orchestra has added several feathers to its cap since constable Prasanth Tamang shot to fame by winning Indian Idol. Its performances at the IPL and the FIFA World Cup were of special mention, so are its annual performances at the police tent every Dol Yatra.
“It was our eagerness to perform specific folk songs and Rabindrasangeet on days like Dol Yatra and Nababarsha that first led us to experiment with khols a couple of years back. Even as we performed the western songs, requests to play folk songs increased. When we performed, we initially depended on the handsonic and octapad to replicate the sounds of dugi and khol. But we realized that you need to physically use these instruments to bring out their original essence. For the past few years, we brought tabla to rehearsals from our own homes before the department agreed to procure the instruments. Now, for the first time, we are buying the dugi and the khol. For the orchestra that has already bought tumba and mandolin, this is a step which we think will help us modernize,” said a sergeant.
Pandit Tanmoy Bose has welcomed Kolkata Police’s move to include khol and dugi. “Khol is traditionally an instrument used primarily during kirtan performances. We have traditionally associated police bands with band compositions and film songs. I laud the attempt to introduce khol into the orchestra. This only means some compositions will be incorporated that will need the sound exclusively produced by this folk instrument,” Bose said.
“I had introduced a traditional sreekhol player, Harekrishna, for a Bengali reality show. It feels so good to see the popularity of sreekhol in Bengali reality shows today. Including the khol in the police band will make people notice this instrument further,” Bose added.
Maslandapur-based sreekhol player Mona Das, who has played in Bose’s rhythm ensemble called ‘Taaltantra’, said, “I have been playing the instrument for 40 years. This is a big impetus for players like us. Kolkata Police’s gesture will give more exposure to a folk art instrument.”
According to Bose, dugi (duggi/dukkar) is a dying instrument. “In the shehnai recitals of Benaras, the dukkar players used to provide the accompaniment. It is an Indian drum with a kettledrum shape that is played by the fingers. I welcome the effort of the police band to revive a dying instrument.”
The city police headquarters say these instruments will give the orchestra — which is housed at the Bodyguard Lines — a distinct identity from the band of Kolkata Police that has its own history since 1858.