An evening of timeless classics
Star Melodies wrapped up its 2016 programmes this week with a memorable soiree, in the second installment of its musical endeavor to honour the 25 greatest composers of Bangla 'Nagorik' songs. The celebrations, marking The Daily Star's 25th anniversary, saw a full house at the AS Mahmud Seminar Hall, as a mix of established and promising artistes crooned some of the most familiar tunes of Bangla music of the last century.
A total of 15 stalwarts were featured in the second episode – Khan Ataur Rahman, Subal Dasgupta, Robin Chattopadhyay, Abdul Ahad, Manna Dey, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Nachiketa Ghosh, Satinath Mukherjee, Sudhin Dasgupta, Shyamal Mitra, Satya Saha, Robin Ghosh, Khondokar Nurul Alam and Alauddin Ali. Their hits were performed by Iffat Ara Nargis, Tanveer Alam Shawjeeb, Aloke Sen, Muhin, Aniruddha Sengupta, Suptika Mondal and Eva. Sadya Afreen Mallick anchored the programme.
Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star, Mahfuz Anam delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of the cultural movement during the late '60s, and said this kind of music needs to be nurtured because it develops taste and culture among the people.
Fitting to the month of Victory, Eva opened the soiree with Khan Ataur Rahman's “Ek Nodi Rokto Periye” (from the film “Abar Tora Manush Ho”), and one by one the artistes performed evergreen songs like “Amar Swopne Dekha Rajkonya Thake”, “Kotha Dao Abar Ashbe”, “Ami Jhorer Kache Rekhe Gelam”, “Nishi Raat BaNka ChaNd”, “Eki Sonar Aloye”, “Eto Sur Ar Eto Gaan”, “Tomare Legechhe Eto Je Bhalo”, “Tumi Na Hoy Rohite Kachhe” and others, transporting the audience to fond nostalgia of the golden age of Bangla music.
Masud Ahmed, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh and an avid connoisseur of music, termed these songs as 'standing the test of time', adding that it is the composers who have taken the careers of singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Sandhya Mukherjee to great heights.
Alauddin Ali, the only living composer on the list, was also present at the soiree. He said he will continue to make music with the blessings of his well-wishers. The veteran also lamented the fact that good instrumentalists, an integral part of music composition, are fading away and no new musicians are coming up to fill that void. He said it takes 15-20 years for a recording musician to reach the top level, and these musicians deserve more recognition and patronization.
As Iffat Ara Nargis closed the event to the song “Aj Tobe Eituku Thak”, the words became the perfect closing words, almost as if telling the audience that there is such a treasure trove of music these great men have given us, that it would take many days and nights to even scratch the surface of their musical prowess, but this would be enough for today. The audience left the auditorium slowly but the music continued to ring in their ears; the greatest testament to the power of good music, that it stays with you.
The event was organised with assistance from Eastern Bank Limited and Simantic Creative Concern.
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