Samir Obaid in an intimate conversation with renowned musicians Shayan Chowdhury Arnob and Sunidhi Nayak
One lazy Thursday evening I was bored and jonesing for some good company and conversation. So, on a whim I decided to visit my old friend, Arnob Bhai. Arnob Bhai recently got married, so being the proper gentleman that I am, I showed up at his door armed with some sweets for my new bhabi, Sunidhi.
Just like the start of any conversation these days, ours also began on the note of COVID-19. “We got married in the middle of it, so I guess I can’t really complain about the pandemic,” Arnob Bhai chuckled. However, the case wasn’t the same with Sunidhi. The beginning of the pandemic was rather difficult because sadly, her mom passed away. “I still find it challenging to cope with her loss. When I get overwhelmed sometimes, I long to go to Asansol and visit my father, but we all know that that’s not possible right now” she quietly said.
My heart went out to her, especially since I knew that a while back Sunidhi had been preparing to head back to India for a visit but had to cancel her plans because she came down with COVID-19 during the process. It must have shown on my face because soon her face brightened and she smiled, “This pandemic has really been a rollercoaster of emotions! Full of highs and lows! The uncertainty of it has been tough for me as I’ve always been extremely organized, however I’m genuinely excited about our marriage and am really looking forward to starting a new chapter with him.”
Arnob Bhai also piped in, “I think my concentration has improved immensely in this situation. I do feel cooped up every now and then, but I’m also getting to work on various projects since moving back to Dhaka, so I try to focus that energy into work. During my recent stay in Santiniketan, I worked a lot on my concentration. Painting really helped me do that, I guess because when I’m painting I let my creativity run free as opposed to when I work on a song where I am thinking about the technicalities, the meaning, the purpose and so many other unnecessary things. I guess I want to learn how to get lost in the art itself like we used to when we were kids – to make art for art’s sake. I feel that the older I’m becoming, the more I am struggling to sit and concentrate my focus on one thing. Initially, I used to get distracted very quickly, but the duration has gradually increased with practice. Sunidhi is different though – whenever she wants to get something done, she puts in 110% effort and focus, and gets it done.” He gazed at her fondly and continued, “She is so disciplined. This is something I really admire about her – the way she independently keeps herself busy and productive.”
Sunidhi laughed out loud, “Well I suppose that can be attributed to my upbringing, I mean I have been singing since the age of three – a practice I spent hours after hours on for the last 23 years! So yeah, this sense of military discipline was homegrown, something that was passed down to me by my parents.”
The conversation steered towards how it is really easy to learn skills and immerse oneself completely in an art when we are young. “Apparently, our brains recognize things better when we’re young. As we grow older, however, that ability deteriorates, which I think is fascinating but yet so terrifying!” exclaimed Arnob Bhai. “Well the brain is like a blank slate when we’re young, right? So I guess learning an art form and being disciplined about the process works best when we do it at a young age. That’s probably why the module in Santiniketan works so well – at the beginning it’s not as much about learning a variety of techniques, rather the teaching method focuses on honing a specific skill religiously” Sunidhi added.
“So you see, I really envy those who can stick to one form of art, and give all the time needed to learn one thing completely before moving on to the next. Even though I’ve learned so many different things, I’ve done it all very chaotically. It came together for me in the end, but I guess I feel a little dissatisfied and am often left with the feeling that I didn’t master all those skills properly because I kept jumping from one thing to the other without that disciple Sunidhi has,” confessed Arnob Bhai. “You know, the other day I was watching a YouTube video and learned something very interesting. We already know quite a bit about dopamine, the neurotransmitter that plays a role in how we feel pleasure. However, what I didn’t know was that apparently introverts are very sensitive to dopamine. It tends to make us more talkative and adventurous, and because introverts need less stimulation from the world to feel alert and alive, too much dopamine release can overwhelm them, unlike extroverts who feed on energy and external stimulation to replenish their own. Interestingly, the human body also produces another chemical called acetylcholine which powers the ability to focus intently on one thing – to reflect and think deeply. This is because this neurotransmitter works to make us feel good when we turn inwards. As a result introverts prefer to use this more, and also the reason why they prefer calm environments – because it is easier to unwind, relax and turn inwards when we are not being triggered by external stimulation.”
“Well in that case, I’m definitely an introvert,” chuckled Sunidhi, “I feel that I function best when I’m in my own company. Whenever I get stressed, I start doing chores and try to keep myself occupied. I actually really enjoy spending time alone. I think one of the most positive things about this lockdown for me is the fact that I get to stay in all the time.” Arnob Bhai also felt that he is an introvert.
“Although I love being a musician and performing in front of crowds, it gets a bit overwhelming at times. I usually lose my appetite due to the excitement after shows, and other times, when I have to perform in concerts back to back, I feel quite anxious. It really drains me physically and mentally, so I guess I’m also an introvert who needs to ‘throttle down’ and recuperate when overstimulated,” he explained.
Next I enquired what a regular day is like in the life of Arnob and Sunidhi. “I usually wake up very early and pray,” Sunidhi described, “and after that I wake Arnob to have breakfast. I usually cook meals right after that, and for about some time now, I’ve also been cooking for Arnob’s grandmother. I actually started cooking pretty recently, and honestly I find it quite enjoyable. Once a week I also bathe our dog, Dubba.” Paling to insignificance next to Sunidhi’s activities in the morning, the first thing that Arnob Bhai does in the morning is scroll through his phone! After ridiculing him on the matter a bit, I let him continue telling me how the rest of the day fares for them.
“I usually go into my home studio after having freshened up and spend some time there. After that we both head to the roof to catch some fresh air and clear our minds. Things are pretty relaxed around here in general,” Arnob Bhai said, “We both spend a lot of time in the studio – I work on my projects while Sunidhi reads her books. Sometimes we go and visit family members and we love it when friends drop by to hang out – like you did today!”
Despite the fact that Arnob Bhai thinks that he lacks focus and feels that he did not train himself as well as he would have liked to, there is no denying that he is a musical genius and that the entire nation is in love with his work. On that note, I asked him what his creative process was while working on a new piece. “I try to keep a clear head when I approach a new project. I usually start working on new music when I see something that really inspires me. Afterwards, I just start fiddling and tinkering, playing different chord progressions to figure out the melody. The more I play, the more I realise how I want the music to eventually sound like. It’s like solving a puzzle, really! As an artist, I think it’s very important for me to think deeply and make sure that I’m fully satisfied with the work before offering it to my fans.” Similarly, music also holds a dear place in Sunidhi’s life. “At the end of the day, I think music is my cure for everything. It really helps ease my mind when I’m in a dark place,” she said. “After all, life is all about taking care of yourself, doing what you love the most, and having a positive mindset.”
As I left their home that night, feeling blissfully content and inspired by the interesting conversation we had, I thought about how happy I was for Arnob Bhai for having found Sunidhi. The couple truly seemed to adore each other; to find warmth and comfort from being in each other’s company. It is a magical thing really, when two hearts sing in one tune.