Preserving a musical heritage

Children wave the national flag as artistes sing in the background at the event.Photo: STAR

Jagoron Shangskriti O Gobeshona Kendra formally launched the collection of albums "Jagoroner Gaan", through a daylong programme at the Shikha Chironton premises, Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday. Banglalink has sponsored the project.
"The title 'Jagoroner Gaan' refers to songs of awakening. The collection contains a set of six compact discs -- a total of 71 songs [from Partition of Bengal in 1905 to the Liberation War in 1971]," said Mostafa Towhid Khan, managing director, Step Media Ltd. Step Media oversaw the project. Towhid is one of the driving forces behind the album.
"It is very important that these songs are preserved for the future generations so that they understand the role of music in uniting people during those turbulent times. Hopefully these songs will continue inspiring generations to come," Towhid added.
Chief guest at the programme, Minister of Information and Culture, Abul Kalam Azad formally launched the albums. Veteran Tagore artiste Ajit Roy; Gano Sangeet singer Fakir Alamgir; Faridur Reza Sagar, managing director, Impress Telefilm Ltd and Channel i; Shihab Ahmed, marketing director, Banglalink, among others, were present at the programme.
"Gano Sangeet have always played a key role in inspiring people during major national movements,” said the minister.
"I want to thank Jagoron for this initiative, and I hope that these songs will inspire the future generations the same way they did with our forefathers and us," Abul Kalam Azad added.
Kolkata-based music director Amit Bandyopadhyay had done 68 songs featured in the album. Monirul Islam Khan re-recorded "Ekbar Jete Dey Na", and "Potaka Amar Ma-er Mukher" and Alauddin Ali did "O Amar Bangla Ma Tor".
Mahmud Selim was the trainer and Enamul Haque worked as the assistant trainer during the recording sessions. The classics have been recorded all over again, keeping the original lyrics and compositions intact. Sabina Yasmin, Apel Mahmud, Tapan Mahmud, Fakir Alamgir, Subir Nandi, Shakila Zafar, Kiran Chandra Roy, Mita Haque, Kanak Chapa, Samina Chowdhury, Nakib Khan, Bappa Majumder, Biman Chandra Bishwas, Shahid Kabir Polash and others have rendered the songs.
"We have recorded a total of 150 songs; 'Jagoroner Gaan' is the first instalment. We have plans to release the rest of the songs as well," said Towhid.
The musical programme began with a group performance of "Dhono dhanney pushpey bhora" by members of Jagoron and young artistes of Khelaghar. Artistes of Spondon performed dance.
Rumana Islam performed "Ek Nodi Rokto Periye," Kanak Chapa sang "Ei Potaka Amar," and Tapan Mahmud rendered "Tirhara Ei Dheu-er Sagor."
Other solo performances were staged by Bappa Majumder and Fakir Alamgir.
Group performances were staged by Jagoron, Nibedon, Surtirtha, Khelaghar, Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi and Jessore Udichi. An art competition for children on the theme Bangladesh was also held at the venue. The daily Prothom Alo, Channel i and abc radio were media partners of the event.
The morning session ended at 1 pm. At the evening session, which started from 4 pm, Jagoron honoured 41 veteran artistes -- singers, songwriters and composers. Among the awardees are Abdul Latif (posthumous), Satyen Sen (posthumous), Khan Ataur Rahman (posthumous), Shamsuddin (posthumous), Maksud Ali Shai (posthumous), Apel Mahmud, Mahmud Selim, Kalam Lohani, Mustafa Wahid Khan (posthumous), Samar Das (posthumous), Anwar Parvez (posthumous), Ajit Roy, Abdul Jabbar, Shujeo Shyam, Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Kazi Rozi, Rahat Khan, Sekandar Abu Zafar (posthumous) and others, for their contribution in inspiring people by their timeless songs. “Jagoroner Gaan” has been dedicated to the memory of the late Mustafa Wahid Khan, founding general secretary of Udichi Shilpi Gosthi.