Clockwise (from top-left) Hasina Mumtaz, Subir Nandi, Khurshid Alam and Abida Sultana perform at the music soiree.Photo: STAR

Recalling the golden era of Bangla music ('60s and '70s), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy arranged a musical soiree featuring classic adhunik songs at the National Theatre Hall on June 30.
Artistes Khurshid Alam and Hasina Mumtaz (who attained popularity in the 1960s), and Subir Nandi, Abida Sultana (who had their breakthroughs in the '70s) performed widely known modern songs aired on the radio and featured in cinema.
Songs performed at the programme were written by Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, Gazi Mazharul Anwar, K.G. Mostafa, Khan Ataur Rahman, Dr. Moniruzzaman, Prodeep Goswami, Nazrul Islam Babu, Humayun Ahmed, Gazi Abdur Razzaq, Masud Karim, Lokman Hossein Fakir; Abu Hyder Sajedur Rahman and Kazi Rosy.
The classics were composed by Khan Ataur Rahman, Satya Saha, Samar Das, Qader Zamiree, Mansur Ali, Khandoker Nurul Alam, Azad Rahman, Ali Hussain, Subal Das, Alam Khan, Lucky Akhand, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika; Alauddin Ali; Debu Bhattacharya; Sheikh Sadi Khan and Maksud Jamil Mintu.
Hasina Mumtaz rendered “Pheley asha dinguli,” “Tandra hara nayan” and “Ami ashbo kachhe.” Khurshid Alam presented charged performances of “Tomra jara aaj amader,” “Mago ma” and “Chumki cholechhe eka pothey.” Abida Sultana performed “Bimurto ei raatri amar,” “Je tuku shomoy tumi thako kachhe” and more.
Amidst rounds of applause, Subir Nandi sang “Ami brishtir kachh theke kaandte shikhechhi” -- a fitting allusion to the non-stop torrential downpour drenching the city. This was followed by “Amar e duti chokh,” “Din jaye katha thake” and more.
Ali Asgar Khokon, music director of the programme, said, “The purpose of arranging such events is to generate interest in good songs and provide seasoned singers with further exposure.”