Down Memory Lane
To pay homage to Nayakraj Razzak and renowned singer Abdul Jabbar, Star Melodies, The Daily Star's regular initiative to promote Bangla music, recently hosted a special musical soiree highlighting songs recorded by singer Abdul Jabbar, as well as those lip-synced by Nayakraj Razzak in his films.
The soiree, in the fitting ambiance of The Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct in The Daily Star Centre, featured performance of songs by promising artistes -- Raja Bashir, Aloke Kumar Sen, Muhin Khan and Tanjina Karim Swaralipi.
Sadya Afreen Mallick, Editor, Arts & Entertainment, The Daily Star, extended a welcome and hosted the event with precise allusions and anecdotes suited to the musical soiree.
Mahbub-ur Rahman, Deputy CEO and Country Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC Bangladesh, assisted in the planning of the event. In his welcome address he said, “Through revisiting the melody of golden oldies, we are not only paying tribute to Nayakraj Razzak and Abdul Jabbar, but also to the lyricists, composers and musicians of timeless Bangla songs. We would like to inspire the promising musical talents, who will someday become legendary lyricists, composers and musicians like Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Satya Saha, Bashir Ahmed, Subal Das, Alam Khan and KG Mustafa. The talented singers, who are performing today, are expected to carry forward their musical legacy.”
Aloke Kumar Sen set off the event performing a Mahmudun Nabi classics “Aynate Oi Mukh”. The artiste melodically performed “Chokh Je Moner Katha Boley”, originally recorded by Khandaker Nurul Alam. He did justice to the number “Tara Bhora Raat-e”, a popular number written by Professor Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal and recorded by Abdul Jabbar. While performing the song “Shotru Tumi Bondhu Tumi”, featured in the film “Anuraag” and recorded by Abdul Jabbar, Aloke Sen immersed in melodic bliss. The singer also performed several songs including “Ek Buk Jwala Niye” and “Hajar Bochhor Porey” on request.
Tanjina Karim Swaralipi rendered several popular film songs at the event. She started off with a Runa Laila number, “Gaan-er-i Khataye Swaralipi Likhe” and later presented “Ei Prithibir Porey” and “Ami Kotodin Kotoraat Bhebechhi”. She also performed two duets “Tumi Je Amar Kabita” and “Tumi Saat Sagorer Opar Hotey” with Raja Bashir and Muhin Khan respectively.
Raja Bashir, son of iconic singer Bashir Ahmed, predominantly performed songs originally recorded by his father and lip-synced by Nayakraj Razzak. The visual projection of the songs beautifully conferred with the live performances that actually took the audience down memory lane of the golden era. Credit goes to Simantic Creative Concern that assisted in the programme arrangement.
Raja Bashir's repertoire included “Dekona Amarey Tumi”, “Amake Porate Jodi” and “Ei Baishakhe Lekha Premer Chithi”. Melancholia reigned supreme when the singer soulfully performed the song “Anek Sadher Moyna Amar”.
Close-up 1 star singer Muhin Khan engaged all his reverence for the martyrs and patriotic passion while performing the song “Salam Salam Hajar Salam”, originally recorded by Abdul Jabbar. The song beautifully depicts the spirit of our sublime Language Movement and War of Liberation. As the month of victory is in the offing, the audience listened to the song in pin-drop silence. Following the performance Sadya Afreen Mallick urged Muhin to an encore as the audience stood to sing in unison as a rich tribute to the martyrs.
Muhin also presented Abdul Jabbar classics including “Tumi Ki Dekhechho Kobhu” and “Orey Neel Doria” at the event.
It was a fantastic treat to the music lovers and the featured singers performed well to the contentment of an interactive audience. Noted instrumentalists --Richard Kishore (guitar), Rabindranath Paul and Hannan Shah (tabla) and Tapash Chowdhury (keyboard) –accompanied superbly at the soiree.
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank Limited and Tabibul Islam, veteran theatre personality, shared amusing anecdotes at the event which delighted the audience. On audience request Babu Jabbar, son of Abdul Jabbar, wrapped up the soiree by presenting the song “Salam Salam”.
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