Chandrabindoo (often spelled Chandrabindu), , based in Kolkata, is a Bengali band known for satirical, colloquial lyrics, with references to current affairs and cultural phenomena.
The band is mainly popular in the Indian city of Kolkata, and in cities like Delhi and Mumbai that have a large expatriate Bengali population.
Name Origin The band shares its name with the last letter (technically a modifier) of the Bengali alphabet, ◌̐. The name is a reference to a piece of dialogue from Sukumar Ray's হযবরল HaJaBaRaLa, a well-known work of literary nonsense in Bengali.
বেড়াল বলল, “বেড়ালও বলতে পার, রুমালও বলতে পার, চন্দ্রবিন্দুও বলতে পার।” আমি বললাম, “চন্দ্রবিন্দু কেন?”
শুনে বেড়ালটা “তাও জানো না?” বলে এক চোখ বুজে ফ্যাচ্ফ্যাচ্ করে বিশ্রীরকম হাসতে লাগল। আমি ভারি অপ্রস্তুত হয়ে গেলাম। মনে হল, ঐ চন্দ্রবিন্দুর কথাটা নিশ্চয় আমার বোঝা উচিত ছিল। তাই থতমত খেয়ে তাড়াতাড়ি বলে ফেললাম, “ও হ্যাঁ-হ্যাঁ, বুঝতে পেরেছি।”
বেড়ালটা খুশি হয়ে বলল, “হ্যাঁ, এ তো বোঝাই যাচ্ছে— চন্দ্রবিন্দুর চ, বেড়ালের তালব্য শ, রুমালের মা— হল চশমা। কেমন, হল তো?”
The cat said "You can call me a cat, or a handkerchief, or even a chandrabindoo". "Why a chandrabindoo?" I asked.
"Can't you tell?" said the cat, winking and sniggering in a most irritating way. I was taken aback. Perhaps I ought to have known about the chandrabindoo, I thought. "Ah!" I said quickly. "I understand".
"Of course you do,"said the Cat, pleased. "‘cha’ for chandrabindoo, ‘sha’ for birāl (cat), and ‘mā’ for rumāl (handkerchief) - that spells ‘chashma’(spectacles) Simple, isn't it?"
Early days Upal Sengupta formed Chandrabindoo in 1989 with Anindya Chatterjee, Chandril Bhattacharya and others, most of them being college friends.
The band faced many problems during the production of their first album Aar Jani Na, having to produce their demo with the help of an out-of-date sound mixer. It was released in 1998, and received an indifferent response. However, they came to the attention of Gautam Chattopadhyay of Mohiner Ghoraguli, and he recommended them to Asha Audio, who released their second album Gadha. The first public live show of Chandrabindoo was held in Gyan Manch near Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
Band members Upal Sengupta – singer/ music composer/ lead vocal Anindya Chatterjee – singer/ music composer/ lead vocal Chandril Bhattacharya – lyricist/music composer/ vocal Arup Podder – bassist Surojit Mukherjee – guitarist/ arranger Rajshekhar Kundu – drummer Sibabrata Biswas aka Sibu – keyboardist Sourabh – percussionist and Tirthankar as sound engineer.
Former members Chandrabindoo's former members include Subrato Lodh, Subrato Ghosh, Sukhendu Ghosh, Subhendu, Debapriyo, Tennie, Lintu, Santanu, Arindam, Pritam, Dron Acharya, Riju, Kallol, Rajesh, Riddhi, Chandan, Papa, Jisshu Sengupta,Chandrabindoo answers FAQs, an interview of Chandrabindoo by Anurag Basu in his talk show Ke Hobe Biggest Fan on Zee Bangla Neepabeethi Ghosh, Lopamudra Mitra.
Discography
Studio Albums
Aar Jani Na (, Lit: Don't Know Any More) (1997), T-Series Gadha (, Lit: Donkey) (1998), Asha Audio Twaker Jatna Nin (, Lit: Take Care Of Your Skin) (1999), Asha Audio Chaw (, Lit: Let's Go) (2001), Asha Audio Daknam (, Lit: Nickname) (2002), Sony BMG Juju (, Lit: The Bugbear) (2003), Sony Music Hulabila (, Lit: Hullabaloo) (2005), Sagarika U/A (, Lit: U/A) (2008), BIG Music Noy (, Lit: Nine) (2012), Kaleidoscope Talobasha (, Lit: A playful reduplication on the Bengali word for love) (2024), Chandrabindoo
Compilation Albums
Chandrabindaas (, Lit: Chandrabindoo is Bindaas) (2005) Ebhabeo Phire Asha Jae (, Lit: Even that's a Comeback) (2005) Bachhai 11 (, Lit: Selected 11) (2006) Sera Chandrabindoo (, Lit: Best Of Chandrabindoo) (2008)
Filmography
Year Film Director Notes2009Box No. 1313Aniruddha Bhattacharyaas Music Director2009Cross ConnectionAbhijit Guha, Sudeshna Rayas Lyricists2009Brake FailKaushik Gangulyas Playback Singers2009AntaheenAniruddha Roy ChowdhuryAnindya and Chandril as Lyricist together, They won 56th National Film Awards for National Film Award for Best Lyrics"Writings on the wall" a published in Times of India on 5 July 2010, Tollywood's reaction on the national awards in lyrics in 2010 for itAnindya's reaction after winning National Award, an interview of Anindya by R-PlusChandril's reaction after winning National Award, an interview of Anindya by R-Plus2010Jodi EkdinRiingo BanerjeeAnindya and Chandril as lyricists together, Upal and Anindya made a video appearance for a song (Playback Singers)2010Ekti Tarar KhonjeAbhik Mukhopadhyayas Lyricists2010033Birsa Dasguptaas Music Director2010Natobar Not OutAmit SenPlayback Singers; Upal and Anindya made a video appearance for a song2011Jiyo KakaParambrata Chatterjeeas Music Director2011IccheNandita Roy, Shiboprasad MukhopadhyayAnindya as a Playback Singer2011Rang MilantiKaushik Gangulyas Music Director, lyricist, Voice Artist2011Gosainbaganer BhootNitish Royas Music Director and Playback Singer(s)2012Aparajita TumiAniruddha Roy ChowdhuryAnindya and Chandril as Lyricist2022Kakababur ProtyabortonSrijit MukherjiAnindya, Upal and Chandril as Playback Singers2025Joto Kando KolkatateiAnik DuttaAnindya, Upal as Playback Singers
Other work They made their first international tour in July 2015, when they performed in London in aid of the Kolkata-based Child In Need Institute (CINI). Chandrabindoo is the official brand ambassador for CINI ASHA.Chandrabindoo: Kaleidoscope kicpl.in. Retrieved 21 August 2013
See also Moheener Ghoraguli Music of West Bengal
References
External links
Chandrabindoo on Spotify youtube.com/user/chandrabindooband (Official YouTube channel) Chandrabindoo's new music video featuring Vidya Balan named Jani Na from the forthcoming album E-arki