Indrani Dutt Launches Poetry Channel ‘Kotha Kaw’: A Celebration of Words and VoicesIndrani Dutt Launches Poetry Channel ‘Kotha Kaw’: A Celebration of Words and Voices
Kolkata: Under the formal title Kotha Kaw, but with the intention of speaking straight from the heart, Indrani Dutt has launched her own YouTube channel, indrani dutt, dedicated to poetry. The inaugural evening took place on Wednesday at the Kitty Room of Lake Club, in collaboration with Picasso, and brought together eminent poets, lyricists, and musicians — all united by a shared passion for the art of words and music.
Those present included noted poet Subodh Sarkar, renowned lyricist and musician Srijato, composer Kalyan Sen Barat, music guru Aniruddha Singh, singer and former civic representative Archana Sengupta, cultural figure Mausumi Das, and journalist Krishnakumar Das, among others.
Indrani, who grew up amidst the cultural richness of North Kolkata, absorbed the nuances of sound and melody in the old-world courtyards and terraces of her ancestral home. Though immersed in music since childhood, she realized only later that her internal rhythms and poetic expressions had found their own voice. With time, she fell deeply in love with poetry, which inspired her to share her verses with the world.
The YouTube channel indrani dutt marks this journey’s next step, featuring eight of Indrani’s original poems recited in her own voice. The inaugural event showcased her heartfelt recitations, accompanied by visuals and background scores composed by Tathagata Sengupta.
Composer Kalyan Sen Barat remarked, “When a poet recites their own work, it adds a unique dimension. Professional reciters may bring technique, but they cannot replicate the emotional connection of the poet’s own voice.”
Poet Subodh Sarkar praised the initiative, highlighting the evolution of poetry’s dissemination from oral traditions in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia to the modern printed form, and now to digital platforms like YouTube. “Technology has created a vast space — the Internet — where words and images come together. Indrani’s work exemplifies how poetry can reach wider audiences through these new channels,” he said.
Srijato lauded Indrani’s passion and desire to communicate, saying, “The urge to share one’s art is the foundation of creativity. Without it, an artist could simply write, sing, or paint in solitude. Indrani’s poems reveal her search for a personal language of expression, which is crucial for any artist. Today, I was struck by the intimacy and warmth of this gathering — a rare quality in today’s divided world.”
He further emphasized that Indrani’s recitations seamlessly blend poetic reading with performative nuances, enriching the listener’s experience.
Music guru Aniruddha Singh, who has mentored Indrani for 25 years, described her greatest strengths as dedication and perseverance, noting that she never seeks self-promotion at the expense of others.
A young musician close to Indrani affectionately described the channel as “her child, born today.”
The launch saw family members and well-wishers including Sujit Dutt, Debraj Dutt, and Ragini Roy Dutt standing firmly in support. The evening’s proceedings were elegantly anchored by Debjani Laha, who weaved the entire event into a captivating narrative.
With indrani dutt, the poet has opened the doors of her private world to a global audience — offering her voice, her verses, and her heartfelt thoughts for all to hear.
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