Singer Usha Uthup and historian Anand Puri revisited the musical legacy of Kolkata’s Park Street during a recent cultural event [1].
The gathering highlights the enduring influence of Park Street as a hub for India's cosmopolitan music scene and its role in shaping the city's identity.
On July 19, the pair gathered at the Trincas restaurant in West Bengal for The Hindu Lit for Life Unplugged [1]. The event served as a platform to honor the historic musical culture of the area, focusing on the intersection of performance and history within the city's urban landscape [2].
Anand Puri, who serves as the third-generation custodian of Trincas [1], provided historical context for the venue's significance. The restaurant has long been a centerpiece of the Park Street experience, hosting generations of artists and patrons who defined the district's sonic character.
During the discussion, Uthup recalled the social atmosphere of the era, referencing the high-profile figures who once frequented the area. “That side … is where Sharmila Tagore and the Nawab of …” Uthup said [2].
The Lit for Life Unplugged series seeks to bring literary and musical conversations into the spaces where they originally flourished. By centering the event at Trincas, the series connects the academic study of history with the lived experience of the artists who performed there.
Park Street remains a symbol of Kolkata's openness to global musical influences, ranging from jazz to pop, and the event underscored the necessity of preserving these oral histories before they fade from memory [2].
“The gathering highlights the enduring influence of Park Street as a hub for India's cosmopolitan music scene.”
The event underscores a growing effort to document the intangible cultural heritage of Kolkata. By pairing a legendary performer like Usha Uthup with a generational custodian like Anand Puri, the initiative transforms a commercial space like Trincas into a living archive, ensuring the city's mid-century musical evolution is preserved for future generations.
