Voices – the BESC audition

December 9th, 2019. Placement Hall. Half Cut Poetry is the latest storm that promises to grow up to become a tsunami. They invite lovers of the written word to “experience the best open mic culture in Kolkata with Half Cut Poetry. A hub for spoken-word artists, be it poetry, storytelling, ghazal, music or comedy we have it all covered. We do more than just open mics, we create a family of artists and art lovers.”

 

 

Naturally, with an agenda that creative they cannot be far from the Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC) campus and trooped in they did, to do a gig, select the best BESC talents through an audition and generally let the poems spread the chill. BESC did not disappoint and about fifty students participated, their rhymes and reasons firmly in poems.

Dr Vashundhara Mishra, member of the faculty and college poet laureate, led the charge of couplet brigade, reading her composition to welcome the guests and set the ball rolling. What followed was a lively and extremely engaging session in which poems were read and recitations lauded as intellects brushed against each other, intermingling in a melting pot called the Bhawanipur. Free Verse, Rap and Ghazals– the spread could not have been more exotic as BESC students not only grabbed the “Open Mic” but also gave full vent to their creative urges, often overshadowing the established poets who were visiting the campus to read out their compositions and win converts.

Harleen Kaur, an ex-student and an ace poetess, who led the Half-Cutfraternity was home and away as she let her pen down and soaked in the experience.

The auditions that followed will select five poets who will be featured in the writer’s block.

(This report has been filed by Nikhil Mittal along with camera person Shreyanshu Mishra of the Expressions collective of the BESC. The event was coordinated by Raksha Mishra).