The album – CONDITION FREE is a joint venture between Kolkata Sukriti Foundation, Lions Club International and Rupam Islam. After auditioning more than 200 underprivileged children, 13 were selected. These 13 then attended a workshop twice weekly for more than a year, where along with Rupam 3 of his students taught them singing. They then performed with Rupam in front of the Governor of West Bengal at the ICCR auditorium. After lessons on stage shows they were taught how to record at a studio. The entire album was recorded at Rupam's studio (Working Class Zero), where for almost a year these children along with our friends from the Band industry like Sidhu of Cactus, Anindya and Upal of Chandrabindoo, Subhojit of Lakkhichhara, Surojit of Bhoomi, Rupankar of Atmaa, Anindya of Sahor, Parthasarathi of Ekelabya, Sayantan of Insomnia, Neel Dutta of FOF and Neel Adhikari ex-FLI) recorded a special anthem for the album. Indra (ex- fossils/cactus, current member Kasish and Atmaa) has helped with the arrangements and Partha (ex-Fossils) has played the guitars. Rupam's students Anirban (Kasish), Debasish (Comus) and Abhinava have assisted him in this project. Pom (prosenjit of Insomnia) has recorded the entire album.
Song details :
1. Alladin : Written by Annadashonkar Ray and composed by Rupam. – Talks about the power-cut(load-shedding) situation in Kolkata and explains how simple living is better than improbable dreams. Sung by all the kids.
2. Chonchhol : Written and composed by Rabindranath Tagore. Presented in this album in a jazz arrangement. Talks about learning by mistakes. Sung by all the kids.
3. Joyobheri : A patriotic song written by Chhandita Islam composed by Nurul Islam. Sung by all the kids, Rupam's students who assisted him and Rupam.
Khushir Din : written, composed and sung by Rupam. Portrays the difference in the nature of happiness of a middleclass boy and a street child during festival time.
4. Roddur De : A voice from the street – written and composed by Rupam and sung by Sudipto (one of the children). Talks about hopes to overcome negativity.
5. Bhoot naki bhoyonkar : Wriiten and composed by Rupam. Sung by the kids and Rupam. Talks about the evil in human.
6. Roddur De : Another version sung by Rupam.
7. Condition Free : The title anthem of the album. Written and composed by Rupam. It talks about the advent of humanity and living without any conditions attached. Sung by all the children and all the above mentioned singers.
Rupam on the experience of Condition Free :
It has been a very nostalgic experience. In my childhood I have seen my mother teach acting, singing and dancing to the underprivileged children of my locality at my house. She would then direct dramas where these children would act and I used to help her by scoring the music for these plays. This project to me has been a tribute to my parents, since both were associated with schools where they would teach students majority of whom were underprivileged.