MUMBAI: Singer Shalmali Kholgade, who never fails to surprise her audiences with her powerful performances has teamed up with Papon for original Bengali music.

Shalmali who is currently studying at the Berklee college of Music in Boston, has recently recorded a Bengali song with Papon for Oriplast Originals, which  is the biggest musical collaboration, Bengali music has ever witnessed.  On the first day of the show , Aajo Cholechhi, a Bengali song with Himachali folk references, sung by super gorgeous  Shalmali Kholgade and Papon streamed on You Tube channel . The song opens with Shalmali’s lively Himachali folk song, Chamba Kitni Dur. With Bengali classical and contemporary music in the foreground, the number has derived inspiration from folk music of other regions in India. The video that was shot in a live studio format was uploaded for streaming on 20 July 2019. It has already garnered a view of more than 21K.  It is  the first such Bengali show recorded in a live studio format, to be streamed on YouTube.

This song marks the first collaboration of Shubhadeep Mitra too apart from Papon and Shalmali Kholgade. The production has been visualised in a rock and American country format.

Speaking about the song, Shalmali Kholgade says, “Subhadeep Mitra, who is the composer of the song, I’ve sung for Oriplast Originals, is a very dear friend. We met when I first went to Pritam’s studio to record. I’ve never sung any of his compositions before this, but was eagerly waiting to. So, when he called me for a show like Oriplast Originals, which promotes non film original music, having one entire episode with Suubhadeep’s compositions, I jumped at the opportunity.”

“I’ve always enjoyed singing in Bengali. Apart from the world known fact that the language is sweet to the ears, the melodies are remarkable. I enjoyed every bit of singing Aajo Cholechi. We had a fantastic band and interesting instruments like the Hapi Drum that was also part of the ensemble. Papon also happens to be a good friend, so sharing the stage with him felt easy and fun,” she exclaims about her experience of working on the song.

Ori-Plast and SVF have come together to create Bengal's first branded original content bringing forth 10 songs July featuring 16 artistes with seven composers . It features the most popular and influential talent, from all over India, under the platform of SVF Music. Singers  like Papon, Shaan, Sona Mohapatra, Anupam Roy, Javed Ali, Ash King, Akriti Kakar, Shalmali Kholgade, Nikhita Gandhi, Bhoomi Trivedi, Dev Negi and others among singers and Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Subhadeep Mitra, Anupam Roy among composers. Visualised in studio format, the songs keep Bengali music in the foreground and, also derives inspiration from other parts of lndia like Assam, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.