The City of Joy is a treasure trove, we all know. Most of us have heard of the great Indian music composer, singer and actor Pankaj Mallick, who not only enthralled the audiences in Bollywood but also in Bengal with his enormous talent. But very few know that the great composer-actor spent a good part of his life in Kolkata. The legend’s footprint has been now highlighted through his nearly century-old house. The building, designed in Art Deco style, has been converted into a unique cultural hub and café by his grandson, Rajib Gup ta and granddaughter-in-law Jhinuk Gupta.
A portion of the house near Hazra Road in Ballygunge, where he lived, has been metamorphosed into a heritage hub and café, reminding everyone walking into it as testament to the city’s rich cultural past. Named Legend and Legacy, the café is an effort to pay homage to Pankaj Mullick and also to preserve and promote his invaluable contributions. The hub also hosts regular workshops, events and cultural programmes, as well as has exclusive merchandise for the interested. Since it is an eating joint with lots of ‘adda’, the café offers delectable, pocket-friendly multi-cuisine fare and an array of hot and cold brews, informs the designers. A specially curated section of the menu will feature Pankaj Mullick’s favourite dishes.
The space blends nostalgia with modern comforts, including free Wi-Fi and curated entertainment. Supported by the Pankaj Mullick Music and Art Foundation, the legend’s grandson, Rajib Gupta, says the place is cultural space, where heritage, conversation, and cuisine come together. Rajib says he has developed one wing of the house for the café. “There are two houses side by side and the cafe is on the first house where my grandfather first came and stayed in South Kolkata.” Rajib, who is an educationist, used to have my own printing unit once as he is a designer by choice and a chartered accountant by qualification.
His wife Jhinuk is a lawyer at Calcutta High Court, and a singer. Talking about the conception of the heritage hub and café, Rajib said: “This cafe is part of the journey we have been taking about for a long time. In 2005, we establish the Pankaj Mullick Music and Art Foundation to mark the birth centenary. It was also to archive my grandfather’s works. During our shows and interactions with people, we were constantly asked if they could come and see the great composer’s artefacts. So, it was always at the back of our mind to create a space, where people can come and see. It is also our way to pay homage to the composer.” Recalling his childhood days when Rajib would have regular interactions with the legendary singer-composer, the grandson said: “I saw my grandfather till I was six. At that age, I had no knowledge of his fame.
To me he was just my grandpa; very strict yet loving. I remember him driving me around the city and buy me clothes. He would also correct my pronunciations and taught me the basics of intonations. To me he was incomparable composer. His ‘Mahisasura Mardini’ is unparalleled.” The grandson says if he has to rate Pankaj Mallick, then it is in the order of: “composer, singer and then an actor”. Rajib reminisces how the composer had to give tunes to Tagore’s poems. “Pankaj Mullick is the only composer, who was allowed by Rabindranath Tagore to set times to his poems.
‘Diner sheshe, ghumer deshe’ being one of the notable songs. It was used in a film called ‘Mukti’ in 1937 after taking formal permission. The then Bangladesh Prime Minister Mujibur Rahman had once asked Pankaj Mullick to set tunes to two of Tagore’s songs. Also, during the start of Jalpaiguri All India Radio he had set tunes to ‘Oi shona jai akashbani’, which ultimately led to the naming of Akashvani. All such songs were compiled into a CD. There are still a few more, which we could not publish till now,” says the grandson.