How did you feel when your name was announced for the National Award as a composer in “Nekabborer Mahaprayan”?

When I do any work, I don't really know where it will lead, as it progresses step by step. First the song was made, and then the singer performed it and the audio was released after that, followed by the release of the film. Near and dear ones have said that it was a different piece, while others said that the audience has liked this difference. We usually hear success stories of love songs, but this proved that people like other types of songs as well. I have composed two songs for this movie and the dear ones and well-wishers have always said that something big was going to happen from my works. In the end, my name has been nominated for the song “Nishipori”, sung by Momtaz apa.

Please tell us the story behind the song?

The song was written for the film by director Masud Pothik, who also won an award as the lyricist. It brings out the sorrows of a rural girl, and how there is nobody to share her sorrows with, so she shares her regret through the lyrics. A fun anecdote is that after we first recorded the song, the hard disk crashed and we lost the data for it. We explained the situation to Momtaz apa and after listening to it, she re-recorded the whole song in a single take, as if it was one she had been singing for years. She is a very talented musician and it's no wonder that she knows over 800 songs by heart. We are grateful that she lent her voice for it. She is also getting the award for the Best Singer for this song.

What are your thoughts about winning the the National Award at such a young age?

Getting the award at such a young age is indeed a matter of happiness for me. My career started off in 2011 with the song “Pagol Tor Jonno Re”, and it was a widely praised song back then. I didn't think it was a matter of risk as my feet were firmly planted on the ground back then, as it still is now and I hope this will remain for the rest of my career. People are also listening to my experimental pieces and that is very encouraging for a composer, but one thing that has happened is that my responsibilities towards the audience has changed and I have to put in more thought into the type of work I do from now on.

Any current projects you're working on?

I'm doing a folk-fusion album featuring other artists, consisting of 5 tracks. I just finished working on Masud Pothik's movie “Maya.” Other than that I'm also working on the music for “Game Returns”, “Tomaye Dilam Prithibi” and “Musafir.”

You made an announcement after your second album “Ar Ektibar” that you will not be making any other solo albums. Will the listeners really not get any more albums from you?

Things were pretty bad when I made that announcement, but thankfully things have turned around since then. I hope to make an album in my own way, and it's been hard to find the inspiration and joy for a new song here, and that's why I have chosen to move away from my previous decision. Albums have the freedom of doing various kinds of songs, and I have the space to express myself. I will hopefully try to reinvent myself through the new album.

Any message to your loyal fans?

They're the reason I am who I am today and I hope to be supported by them for as long as I am here. I hope to keep presenting them with good music, and it is something to be mentioned that because of their support, many old audio companies are making a comeback and I hope their undying love and support towards me and the industry remains.

Interviewed by Zahid Akbar and 
Narrated by Showbiz Desk