“I hope my music lives longer than I do”

Ekushey Padak awardee Khurshid Alam has managed to be on the playlist of music lovers with his numerous songs since the last 50 years. As most of the musical maestro’s works have been featured in films, he is known primarily as a playback artist. Reminiscing his old days, the legendary singer walks down his memory lane with The Daily Star. 

Khurshid Alam was born in Jaipurhat. “I was three years old when I first stepped in Dhaka with my parents. However, we used to visit Jaipurhat often,” he says. “I still clearly remember glimpses from those journeys, and often miss them.”

Looking back on the times he took music lessons from his uncle, Dr Sajedur Rahman, the artiste shares how his musical journey began. “My first musical lessons began from home at a very young age under the guidance of my uncle,” remembers the singer. Even though he earned fame as a playback singer, the artiste’s journey started with Rabindra Sangeet. He sang a Tagore song at his very first show, at Sheikh Borhan Uddin College in the 60’s. “A few days later, I had an audition at Bangladesh Betar. The first song I sang on radio was Tomar Du Haath Chuye Shopoth Nilam,” he reminisces.

The legend’s playback career began with the song Bondi Pakhir Moto, from the Babul Chowdhury directorial film Agantuk (1969). “The song was picturised on Nayokraj Razzak, and the audience appreciated it dearly. The memories of my first success still gives me joy when I think of it, even today,” smiles Khurshid Alam.

Missing his friend and well-wisher, Abdul Jabbar, the artiste shares his memories of the acclaimed singer. “Back in 1968, I was very new in this industry, and we had to visit Tangail for a film. He accompanied me there, and gave me the opportunity to sing alongside Sabina Yasmin, who was already an eminent singer by then,” mentions the singer. “I received my first paycheck for singing that day. I still remember Abdul Jabbar dearly.”

Khurshid Alam also mentions his old friends in the industry -- Robin Ghosh, Azad Rahman, Anowar Parvez, and Md Rafiquzzaman. “Without their help and support, I would not have made it this far,” says an emotional Khurshid Alam, who has lent his voice to over 400 songs in his long and illustrious career.

“However, I have not received a national award yet,” mentions Alam. His evergreen songs, which include Chumki Choloche Eka Pothe, Churi Koreche Amar Mon ta, and Ajkay Na Hoy Bhalobasho ar Konodin Noy, is still omnipresent as mobile phone ringtones, on radio shows, and on television programmes.  “I hold no grudges, neither do I have any regrets. I hope my music lives longer than I do,” concludes the legend.