On the evening of 10th August, the ballroom of Hyatt Centric, Ballygunge, looked nothing like its usual self. For one night, it was transformed into a glowing haven for Candlelight: Best Movie Soundtracks — part of the global Candlelight Concerts series that has been making waves in cities from Paris to Japan.
Now, it was Kolkata’s turn.
Rows upon rows of flickering candles lined the space, each one casting a golden halo on the walls. The effect was instantly transportive — less hotel ballroom, more timeless film scene. The stage (if you could call it that) was simple: a single K Kawai Gl10 grand piano at the centre, surrounded by the audience on all sides. No elaborate lighting rigs, no giant screens. Just the soft glow of candlelight and the promise of music.
At the piano was Kolkata pianist and composer Avik Ganguly — though the event’s official listing never revealed the performer’s name in advance. In many ways, this is the charm of Candlelight Concerts: you come for the concept, the setting, the idea of hearing familiar music in an unfamiliar way. But it is the performer who turns that idea into an experience worth remembering.
Ganguly’s playing carried the evening without any theatrics. In Kal Ho Na Ho, he stretched the pauses, letting the melody linger in the air. Pehla Nasha had a lightness that made the room collectively sway, and in Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, he added a surprise solo of his own composition — a rare, personal touch in what is usually a tightly timed set. It almost seemed like a small but telling reminder that this wasn’t just a reproduction of film music; it was a personal reimagining.
The audience’s response was quiet but palpable at first — heads tilted forward, shoulders relaxed, some eyes closed. But as the evening went on, familiar tunes drew soft humming from the crowd, and the applause grew louder after each piece. In a city known for its restless energy, this was an hour of stillness.
Over three sold-out sets played back-to-back, the combination of live piano performance in Kolkata, the warmth of candlelight, and the nostalgia of beloved film soundtracks created a kind of communal reverie that is often missed in today's digital world.
Candlelight Concerts in Kolkata are steadily becoming a go-to for live music lovers, and with upcoming shows like Candlelight: Tribute to Arijit Singh, Candlelight: Tribute to A.R. Rahman, Candlelight: Tribute to Kishore Kumar, and Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA, it’s worth booking your seats early.
Tickets sell out fast — so if you want an evening where music, atmosphere, and memory meet, get yours now here.
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