Bhawaiya

Himadri Dewri

Call: 9434885357

A young and promising Bhawaiya singer from Tufangunj in Coochbehar, Himadri has performed all over West Bengal and several other states of India. He stood first in West Bengal’s state-level Bhawaiya competition thrice — in 1994, 1997 and 1999. Himadri is a regular radio and TV artist. He was invited to perform in the United States by The Bangladeshi Community of New York in 2007. Himadri has sung in music albums including Bhaber Bhawaiya and Bhabnadir Bhawaiya. For more details, click on the link mentioned below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkmBn66lJY8

Sukheswar Dewri

Call: 8967499600

Sukheswar Dewri is a Bhawaiya Guru and and activist working for the revival of the genre. The practice of Bhawaiya music runs in his family, but his father did not want him to take up singing due to financial issues in the family. The love for the music did not deter him though. While in college, he set up theatre groups with his friends and included Bhawaiya songs in the presentations. That was the time when popular film songs were driving the traditional Bhawaiya to a back seat. The plays performed in the regional dialect, with Sukheswar in the lead role, attracted common people to the then declining Bhawaiya. Sukheswar Dewri has trained and initiated many next generation singers in the tradition and his son Himadri is one of them.

Kumar Manabendra Narayan

Call: 9933376307

Kumar Manabendra Narayan is an acclaimed Guru of Bhawaiya, from Tufangunj, Cooch Behar and a descendant of the Cooch Behar royal family. He got attracted to Bhawaiya songs by listening to the same being sung in between his father’s productions of Pala Gaan. Manabendra Narayan’s initiation to Bhawaiya was at the age of 10, from his father Manindra Narayan. He has done numerous performances and has composed many Bhawaiya plays like Nithua Pathare Kajol Bhoromora, Ei Juger Daini, Sonar Songsar, Kokilar Kandon based on the life of the king of Rajmahal Lakkhin Narayan. He has been performing at the local Radio since 1972. Manabendra Narayan’s first record came out in 1980. He is a famous teacher and teaches Bhawaiya in 17 schools. Bhawaiya singer Nazrul Islam is also his student.