We all have a ‘mostaan’ and a ‘bhalo chele’ within us: Arnob
With tracks like "Shey je Boshe Ache", "Tomar Jonno", "Hariye Giyechi", "Bhalobasha Tarpor", and "Tui Ki Janishna", prodigal musician, composer and singer, Shayan Chowdhury Arnob has solidified his name among the most endeared artistes in Bangladesh.
Through his marvellous Rabindra Sangeet renditions, the singer has reintroduced the legacy of the Nobel Prize winner to the younger generation.
Echoing the singer's journey, the Chorki's first original musical film "Adkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan", was released recently. In a candid conversation with The Daily Star, Arnob shares his experiences, the tale of his becoming, and talks about his upcoming projects.
"Adkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan" is directed by Abrar Athar, Arnob's close friend and confidante.
"Hailing from the same circle, Arbar has been one of my closest friends," shares Arnob, whose rendition of the Rabindra Sangeet "Majhe Majhe" is seen as one of the most popular number on the playlist of young listeners.
Both Abrar and Arnob, being artistes, have shared a similar journey – experiencing upheaval and downfall at times and struggling through their tussles.
"When he approached me for this project, I though there could not have been a better craftsman than him as he was the witness to my story since the very beginning," adds the musician.
When it came to the scripting and documentation process, Arnob had serious concerns working within set forms and structures has always been difficult for him. "The arduous process of scripting, by no means, can come into agreement with my personality," laughs Arnob.
Breaking the regular norms of film production, Abrar opted for a rather lucid process, compiling bits and pieces from Arnob's life. "Films like these are very important as I believe they are the only way to document the voyage every musician makes through his career," asserts Arnob.
"Every song has its own story and I believe my fans will be able to discover the stories behind my compositions through 'Adkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan'," he adds.
With his better half, talented singer Sunidhi Nayak stepping into his life, the Arnob now spends most of his time now at Shantiniketan, absorbing Tagore's essence and integrating them in their joint releases.
"I have learned a lot about online platforms and how an artiste can actually earn through video streaming platforms such as YouTube," shares Arnob who believes musicians in Bangladesh should be more aware of their copyright privileges, especially for online releases.
Arnob is also looking forward to releasing the second volume of his much celebrated album 'Arnob and Friends'. "This album will feature over 10 tracks, comprising of numbers from 'Adkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan' and new originals," he says.
The singer has also created an A2 size artwork, based on the film. The artwork will be available for his fans for online purchase. "The art piece is a signed limited edition and only, the ones buying it will get a downloadable link of Arnob and friends Volume II," mentions Arnob.
People usually have such docu-fictions written about them after their careers are pass their prime. However, that has not been the case for Arnob.
"Life is unpredictable, and I want people to know the story of my becoming. I hope 'Adkhana Bhalo Chele Adha Mostaan' paves the way to celebrating not just the successes but also the struggles and downfall every person faces."
"We all have a 'mostaan' and a 'bhalo chele' within us, and this film just leads to unfold my explored combination of the two," he concluded, promising to be more regular for his fans.