Shabnam Abedi's yearning for classical music

Audio albums containing tracks of North Indian classical music are in short supply in the Bangladeshi market. The reason behind it may be the music labels' aversion to produce them or the scarcity of accomplished classical vocalists to record albums. Whatever the reason may be, it is a laudable initiative of Laser Vision to produce a classical album title “Till September Intezaar” by talented artiste Shabnam Abedi who recorded five tracks for the album.

The album begins with a record of Khayal, set on Raga Bhimpalashri where the artiste opens with a short alap followed by the bandish “Ja ja re apne mandira wa” (composed by Niyamat Khan alias Sadarang), sargam taan, aakar taan and tehai. The singer has done justice to evoke the essence of the Raga that is supposed to take away the tiredness after a busy day.  

Shabnam has an 11-year training in classical music under Anasua Roy of Gwalior Kirana Gharana, with its root trailing back to Ustad Vishmadev Chatterjee. Classical music lovers will be satisfied with the artiste's sweet voice and her enamoured rendition of two dadras – “Rangeen saari gulabi” (based on Raga Pahadi) and “Barsana laagi” (based on Raga Mishra Pilu) and two thumris – “Yaad piya ki aaye” (based on Raga Kaushikdhwani) and “Ka karoon sajni” (based on Raga Kirwani).

But classical music connoisseurs, who have listened to the original records of the thumri duo, composed and popularised by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, may be dissatisfied with the covers. Renditions of the thumris by the likes of Ustad Rashid Khan have taken the songs to great heights that are nearly impossible to top.    

Durbadal Chatterjee has directed music for the album. The music arrangement has been praiseworthy thanks to the collective efforts of Sandip Ghosh and Joy Nandi (tabla); Rahul Chatterjee (sitar); Gautam Shome (keyboard); Shubhayu Sen Majumdar (esraj); Bubai Nandi (bansuri), Raju Chatterjee (guitar) and Durbadal Chatterjee (strings and accordion).