In sync with tune and tenor

Anisur Rahman Tanu

Anisur Rahman Tanu is a renowned music director. He has done music direction for countless programmes aired on BTV. Mostly working behind the scene this veteran music director recently spoke to The Daily Star and shared his passion for the art, experiences in the music industry and more.

Tanu began his carrier as a music director when he was still an undergraduate. His first project -- a musical programme, titled "Kana Bogir Chha" -- was aired on BTV in 1972.

"After the show aired, I received encouraging response from the audience and colleagues," Tanu recalls. "Later I worked for some more programmes, namely -- 'Takar Gachh,' 'Sagor Jollo Na Keno' and so on.

"During that time I was also associated with a theatre troupe called 'Atikrom'. I started acting in plays on a regular basis and became more involved with theatre than music at one point. 'Hey Ishwar Amaye Phiriye Nao,' 'Idaning Natak O Darshak' and 'Ami Shurjo Bolchhi' were some of the productions I acted in.

"I was eventually brought back to BTV by Hedayet Hossain Morshed who used to conduct a variety programme called 'Rangdhonu'. I used to perform on the show as a singer. Mustafa Kamal Syed was the producer of the show."

Gradually Tanu became heavily involved with music direction, working for several major BTV productions, including Mustafa Monwar's "Rakto Karobi". Tanu was the assistant music director of the production. He also had the opportunity to work with Abdullah Al Mamun.

Tanu reminisces a TV play, titled "Ekti Juddho O Ekti Meye," directed by Mamun, which was to air on Independence Day. "As scheduled, I went to BTV on December 15 evening, and found that Abdullah Al Mamun was still busy with editing; he had been working for two days in a row. Around midnight I could finally start working on it and it took me the whole night. Throughout the whole time Abdullah Al Mamun was standing right next to me, observing my work.

"Such seriousness and dedication are rare these days. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we see less of quality productions," says Tanu.

Tanu has also worked for the "Tona Tuni" albums, which aim at providing alphabet lessons for children in an entertaining method.

"I have been a part of this project for the last 23 years. In 1984, we launched Tona Tuni, a production company working to make learning fun for children. Mahbubur Rahman Joynal brought me and Mujibur Rahman Dilu together to launch the project. We brought out books with cassettes featuring rhymes and songs. So far we have released more than twenty books with cassettes on basic education -- Bengali and English alphabets, numbers, rhymes and so on," says Tanu.

The production house has also released audio albums of noted artistes like Kaderi Kibria, Haimanti Shukla, Ajay Mitra, Shakila Zafar and others.

Recently an audio album "Swapney Asho Swapney Jao," containing songs composed by Tanu was released. The album is a compilation of popular songs from the '80s and '90s, featuring singers Subir Nandi, Sadya Afreen Mallick, Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, Shahnaz Rahmatullah, Kanak Chapa, Ishtiak Ahmed, Shakila Zafar, Shompa Reza, Tapan Chowdhury and Tonu.