Camongo recently met up with Anirban Bhattacharya, one of Bangla film industry’s famed actors who is now a popular singer as well, winning hearts with his band, Hoolganism. As a multi-faceted artist whose works spans theatre, films, and music, Anirban Bhattacharya has won several Best Actor awards and considerable recognition in film and theatre circles. As a singer and vocalist, he received much praise for his soulful song ‘Kicchhu Chaini Ami’ from the film, Shah Jahan Regency, and then went on to sing playback tracks in his other films, Dracula Sir and Dilkhush.
As of today, his band Hoolganism is making waves with its original songs that are modern and catchy blending theatre, rock, satire, and social commentary, a true reflection of the members’ wider interests and creative backgrounds. Hoolganism and Anirban Bhattacharya have also successfully repurposed (if one may call it so!) the old song, Amader Bakultalay Bheed Jomeche originally created by Kabir Suman, and so creatively rendered it for the current generation. Thanks to his intense and charged performance that blends spoken-word energy with musical delivery seamlessly, Anirban Bhattacharya ensured the song went viral with scores of youngsters using it for their social media reels without break in all kinds of settings!Many critics believe that the song tends to fit beautifully with Anirban’s own artistic and political voice.
All said and done, we’re watching with awe how smoothly this leading man of Bangla screen has moved over to the stage – this time, not for theatre but for music – with Hooliganism already belting out genre-bending music combined with right-now social commentary and garnering hits despite being a new, emerging band in the Bengali music landscape.
Here’s Camongo’s interview with Anirban Bhattacharya who is also the brand ambassador of Go Everywhere Tours and Travels –
- Camongo - Go Everywhere is now seven years old. How does it feel?
- AB - Go Everywhere has successfully completed six years and has now stepped into its seventh year. The family is getting bigger. More and more folks are travelling with Go Everywhere, touring destinations abroad that had been on their wish lists, watching their dreams come true with Go Everywhere. They have only good stories to tell of their experiences when they get back from their trips. I have been associated with Go Everywhere for the past two years and more than being labelled as a ‘brand ambassador’, I would love to be seen as a member of Go Everywhere family. I am honoured to be a part of this lovely family and take this opportunity to thank each member of Go Everywhere family for having me as the face of the brand. I hope this lovely association continues for a long time. And, as I always mention, I am ardently waiting for the day when I will be called to join a Go Everywhere group travelling overseas and gleefully get on a flight with the gang!
- Camongo - Imagine a place that would be perfectly fabulous as a shoot location for your film or song shoot and tell us about it.
- AB - There are countless beautiful places on the planet and Go Everywhere’s list of tour packages on offer is practically as long as it can get. Iceland, however, is that intriguing place that tends to always creates endless ripples of excitement in you. I would love to imagine Hooliganism shooting a new song in Iceland. Never mind the cold weather conditions! We will layer up nice and proper and make it rock even in subzero temperature. Iceland is the place for us then, with Go Everywhere.
- Camongo - Are you a true-blue Bengali who’s a wimp in the cold?
- AB - Oh, yes! I am indeed a true-blue Bengali who is pretty sensitive to cold. I was born in Medinipur where the temperature really dips down during the winter season. I grew up there and was familiar with how cold it would turn, forcing us to retreat under piles of winter covering – two and even three blankets and quilts at times! It isn’t as chilly these days, but the season remains special and I love to sit out on the terrace in the mellow afternoon sun on a winter day, sipping hot coffee, just savouring the moment.
- Camongo - What are your packing essentials?
- AB - A phone charger is a must. I also need Boroline for my lips. There’s also my journal because I love to make random jottings of places I visit. As for the rest, I really cannot divulge. (Laughs)
- Camongo - Now, we come to a match-your-character-with-a-place game. Khoka.
- AB - Khoka – Mexico.
- Camongo - ACP Bijoy Poddar
- AB – Alabama.
- Camongo - Ganesh Maity/ Gansha
- AB – He belongs to Bengal. Ganesh Maity is made of Bengal. Cannot imagine any place on Earth other than rural Bengal for Ganesh Maity.
- Camongo - Dracula Sir
- AB – Scotland.
- Camongo - A place you feel everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime.
- AB - Each beautiful place on Earth is worthy of a visit, every single one of them, and it’s tough to pick and choose. But, if I had to select just one, it would be the Grand Canyon in the US - raw and rustic with endless layers of red rock that silently stand testimony to millions and millions of years of the planet we live on. There’s a somewhat similar place in India named Hampi. Give me places like the Grand Canyon in Arizona or Hampi in Karnataka any day with their raw and rugged terrain revealing billions of years of the Earth’s history.
- Camongo - Nearly at the end of our interview, so we’ll give you a quick rapid-fire set to answer. Road trip or flight?
- AB - Road trip. Can’t do international trips by roads, of course.
- Camongo - Solo travel or group?
- AB - In a group.
- Camongo - Luxury vs affordable?
- AB - I am all for basic hotels that prioritize value and offer comfort, cleanliness, and some essential amenities. A cozy bed to sleep in, a clean toilet, and I am done.
- Camongo - Are you a well-planned or spur-of-the-moment traveller?
- AB - I am not a spontaneous traveller at all. I usually need a lead time of almost six months before the departure date.
- Camongo - Cities or nature?
- AB - Always nature.
- Camongo - Are you a sunrise or sunset person?
- AB - A sunset person.
- Camongo - Give us a song for the Go Everywhere audience?
- AB - Hooliganism’s ‘Melar Gaan’ was renamed ‘Bakutalar Gaan’ by listeners who showered so much love on our song. Bakultala, however, is not a definitive location, but a happy gathering spot of people who’ve assembled to have a good time together – much like a group that travels together, say Go Everywhere’s group departure members. I wish for more and more people to flock to Bakultala. And, may “dekhte javo ami-tumi” (lyrics from the song) keep increasing in count to many more – dekhte javo ami-tumi-amra sabai.
