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Sukanta Bhattacharya was a highly talented poet from Bengal whose untimely demise at the young age of 23 was a significant loss to Bengal's literary scene. In the short span of his life, the few poems published in his poetry book, "Chharpatra" (The Passport), established him as one of Bengal's leading poets, posthumously. Even today, his poems remain relevant, capturing the spirit of India's youth and advocating for change and equality. His life and death, along with his impact on Bengal's literary scene, have often been compared to that of John Keats, as both died from tuberculosis at a young age. He has always spoken about the oppressed and their struggle to make ends meet. His descriptions of the harsh realities, with mundane comparisons, are unparalleled. This is my attempt to translate one of his most famous poems from Chharpatra. Oh, the Greatness, now no more poetry Bring us to the harsh prose of reality. Remove the grace and chime of verses Blow th...

June 21st is celebrated as World Music Day . I have always been a huge fan of Hindi film music from the 80s and 90s. Additionally, I have a strong fondness for Bengali music, particularly the work of Anupam Roy, who has been almost ruling the Bangla music scene for a decade. His music is soulful and gentle, and his lyrics are both novel and relatable, making a significant impact on listeners. It is for the urban hearts who fall in love, break up, get shattered, but rise again and continue to live. Here are a few of his most popular songs that have surely touched many hearts.   1. Amake Amar Moto Thakte Dao ( Autograph ): Srijit Mukherji's first feature film, along with Anupam Roy's debut album, features a few songs that have introduced a new genre of music representative of Anupam Roy's signature style. The lyrics, somewhat unusual, include lines like "Hiseber Bhire Ami Chaina Chute, Joto Sukno Peyaj Koli Fridge-er Shite, Ami Obelar Dal Bhate Furiye Gechi, Gelaser Jol...

While exploring old Bengali literature, I often encounter descriptions of a person's beautiful features being compared to various food items. Similar to the phrase "Sharbati Aankhen" in Hindi/Urdu or "almond-shaped eyes" in English, we Bengalis have developed our own beauty standards influenced by food. Perhaps I could call it "BeautiFood standards." Today, I thought of sharing with my readers some of the most popular "Beautifood Standards" most widely used in literature. 1. Potol Chera Chokh: It literally means eyes shaped like split pointed gourds or parwal . This phrase has been extensively used to describe a woman's beautiful and large eyes. However, if we consider it literally, the image may look...well...you decide.. Is it not "Beautifood?" 2. Paner Moton Mukh: The literal translation of the phrase is a face shaped like a betel leaf, which refers to heart-shaped facial features. If you've observed, many of the tradi...

Spandan was buzzing with excitement. The day he had been eagerly awaiting for the past two years was finally approaching: he was about to meet Clara. When she revealed the news last week, he could hardly believe it, thinking she might be joking. However, when he realized it was true and not just a figment of his imagination, he started brainstorming ideas for a welcome theme: "Spandan Meets Clara, Finally." He was so thrilled that he immediately whipped up his favourite mocktail, the "Cocotchi." This drink is made with half a glass of coconut water, a splash of litchi syrup, a pinch of lime juice, and lots of crushed ice, all topped with a sprig of mint leaves. It was his personal afternoon of celebration. Clara was everything he had ever dreamed of in a partner. As a chef, he had travelled to many countries and met numerous women, but the connection he felt with Clara was truly unique. He had never encountered anyone with such a pure heart, along with honesty and u...

It's Friday, and that means it's movie time on MeMoviesMore! With Father's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to highlight some films that showcase the important role fathers play in our lives. These movies illustrate how ordinary individuals transform into super dads for the sake of their children. Here are a few Bengali films you can enjoy with your father this weekend. 1. Uma ( 2018): Uma is a poignant story about a teenager living with her father, Himadri Sen, in Zurich, Switzerland. Uma is suffering from a terminal illness, and her last wish is to witness the celebrations of Durga Puja in Kolkata. Knowing that time is running out for his daughter, Himadri decides to recreate the essence of Durga Puja in Kolkata within a short time frame.  The film showcases the lengths a father will go to fulfil his daughter's final wishes. Jisshu Sengupta delivers a heartfelt performance as Himadri Sen, while Sara Sengupta, who portrays Uma, i...

Bengal's sweetness quotient is incomplete without including a few of the state's beloved sweets. While the entire country is familiar with Rosogolla and Misti Doi, let's explore beyond these well-known treats to discover the true sweetness of Bengal through other famous sweet dishes that the state has to offer.  1. Sitabhog of Bardhaman: Bardhaman is a district located in the heart of West Bengal. One of the main attractions of the area is Sitabhog, a sweet dish that resembles long-grained rice and is topped with small, gulab jamun-like balls.  During the early 20th century, when Maharaja Bijaychand Mahatab was the king of Bardhaman, the renowned confectioner Bhairab Chandra Nag created this sweet to impress the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, during his visit in 1904. Immensely impressed by its divine taste, Curzon issued a certificate to the creator, Nag. In 2017, Sitabhog was awarded Geographical Indication status, further cementing its place in the region's his...

Kolkata's evening snack game is incomplete without Jhalmuri – the spicy puffed rice that's still a steal at Rs. 10 a packet (because who needs expensive snacks when you can have a flavor explosion?). This magical mix of puffed rice, boiled potatoes, onions, cucumber, boiled chickpeas, roasted peanuts, slices of chillies, a slash of pickle, a dash of black salt and a pinch of Kolkata's magic spice has a rich history. Born in rural Bengal, Jhalmuri was initially a humble snack of puffed rice, but it got a colonial makeover in Kolkata when the British said, "Hey, let's add some spice to our lives!" During World War 2, Bihari migrants sold this spicy version to British soldiers and American officials, and voilà! Jhalmuri became a hit.  Now, it's a Kolkata mandate – try it with puchka, egg roll, fish fry, and the city's culinary squad. Your taste buds will do the tango (or cry for mercy, depending on the spice level). Either way, you'll be hooked! This ...

I attempted again,  Last time it was Tagore , This time it is  Jibanananda's Banalata Sen. My attempts to translate will never die, What's the harm if I try? I am choosing every classic poem, Surely, all have heard of them. Bangla, English, Hindi or Gujarati Nothing can ever beat a good poetry.           View this post on Instagram A post shared by Reubenna Dutta (@memoviesmore) Banalata Sen   Walking this earth for thousand of years, From the seas of Ceylon to that in the Malay, through the dark nightly spheres. From the dusted ages of Bimbisara and Ashoka, Moving further to the darkening times in Vidarbha  I had been there. Surrounded by the foamy sea of life, My tired soul's  only moments of hope  Were those with Banalata Sen from Natore. The dark nights of Bidisha was her hair,  Her features as intricate as Sravasti's sculpture; Far away in the sea  With a broken sail, a lost sailor Whe...

"Hello, am I speaking to Ms. Reubenna?" a soft, melodious voice asked, with a hint of curiosity. "Yes, that's me," I replied, wondering who was on the other end. There was a brief pause, followed by a gentle sigh and a playful giggle. "This is Ms. Kolkata Fish Fry. I hope I'm not interrupting your dinner plans – or should I say, your fish plans?" I chuckled at the bad pun. "You're Ms. Fish Fry? As in, the dish?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. "The one and only authentic Kolkata Fish Fry, dear," she replied, with a chuckle. "Or the Batter Fish Fry, as the Englishmen used to call me – probably because they couldn't pronounce 'Bengali cuisine' correctly." I raised an eyebrow, amused. "How may I assist you today, Ms. Fish Batter Fry?" I asked politely. The voice on the other end seemed to swell with pride. "Reubenna, dear, I was wondering if you could tell me something. Does Kolkata...

The heat and a few good movies, that's what current Kolkata is about. As a Bengali film enthusiast, my inquisitive mind searched all the nearby theatres and I discovered 3 films that are running successfully, Amar Boss, Sonar Kellay Joker Dhan and The Eken-Benaras e Bibhishika. Amar Boss is a serious film, with some adult content, so I did not even consider watching it with my family. My daughter likes Koel Mullick because of her portrayal of Mitin Masi, and she wanted to watch Sonar Kellay Joker Dhan but when she learnt everyone's favourite Eken Babu is back to solve another thrilling mystery, she jumped to the idea of going to the theatre to watch it.  So last Saturday one stormy evening we went out to Priya Cinema Hall, to watch Eken Babu's latest adventure.  Ekendra Sen, known as Eken babu is a miserly quirky foody, but little would one assume that he is a gifted detective, who has cracked some high profile cases. This time as he accompanies his 2 friends Bapi and Prama...

I am happy that my birthday falls on 5th June, celebrated for a very special occasion, that of World Environment Day. So as the title suggests, I decided to add some sustainable fashion on my birthday to celebrate World Environment Day. So, right now I am in Kolkata, and I have all of my old things lying around the house and inside every cupboard. I thought of going through those and found out some timeless things that both I and my mother in law have kept with care. The first piece is this striped tee that goes back a very long way. A tri-coloured tee with 3 shades of turquoise, if noticed carefully, along with a deep turquoise bow at the right side, that gives a illusion of a tied side. The balloon sleeves go well with the style. I remember pairing it with dhoti pants, as was the style back then but today I paired it with a black plazzo.  I had to go out in the morning, and I picked a parrot green salwar suit with chikankari work, the best part of the entire outfit was the white ...

The importance of being a part of a strong and tied community is undeniable. Just as I am grateful and fortunate to be a part of a powerful blogging community online, my social life bonding has found meaning with my ties with Shakti Club- an incredibly active Women's Club for the talented women of IIT Bombay ( non-students ). In 2025 Shakti Club completed its 50 glorious years of fabulous work, including various fund raising activities for destitute and underpivileged children. Amidst these social activitities we, at Shakti Club also make sure to celebrate various cultural activities and social get-togethers. Our motto of "Work hard and party harder" has taken us a long way and the 50th Anniversary day marked the celebratory landmark of our achievements through various cultural activities. Today I will elaborate on the Fashion shows that I was proud to be a part of, on that particular day. India, a land of Unity in Diversity is the biggest democracy, a harmony of varied c...