Conversation with the butterflies -- Abida and Arjun
Abida (left) and Arjun.
Abida and her “Projapotita Jokhon Tokhon” became synonymous almost four years ago. She proved that one can become famous with just one good song. The lighthearted song was featured in Arnob's mixed album “Jhalmuri”. The album (a set of two CDS) enjoyed a great public response and the FM radio stations played the songs of “Jhalmuri”, especially Abida's song “Projapotita”. Recently, Abida and Arjun worked together for the film “Phirey Esho Behula”. The song from the film, “Bhalobasha Tomar Ghorey”, has been written by Arjun and set to tune by Abida.
Abida comes from a musically oriented family. Her father is a singer and was the secretary of Udichi Shilpi Goshhti. Abida says, “My father used to take me to Udichi's rehearsals and various cultural programmes. I used to listen to traditional Bangla songs, particularly Gano Sangeet. I grew up in a cultural environment.”
Did she enjoy music lessons as a child though?
“Doing rewaz (practice) was not one of my favourite activities. I didn't enjoy practicing music at all at that age. It was my parents who forced me to do rewaz regularly, otherwise they wouldn't even talk to me. They encouraged me to participate in cultural competitions. I won several awards as a child artiste. After finishing school, I was detached from music for a while but when I was a first year student at Jahangirnagar University, I had the thirst for music again. I wrote and tuned 'Projapotita' at that time,” she says.
How did she meet Arjun?
According to Abida, “I met Arjun at the Aziz Super Market for the first time. I heard him talk seriously about a raga. He ignored me during our first encounter. Eventually we formed a musical group called 'Gayen'. We got married two years ago.”
What is the story behind your new song “Bhalobasha Tomar Ghorey?”
“Actually it was Arjun who sent me the song. He sent me the lyrics in a text message. After a few days I set tune to it, says Abida.
Arjun's side of the story, “I wrote that song when I was in class 9. I was greatly influenced by modern poetry of the '30s, particularly works of Binoy Majumdar, Jibanananda Das and so on. When I was a child, my elder sister used to take classical music lessons from Anil Guruji. I don't know why I was moved by those ragas. Slowly, music became my passion and source of pleasure. My ear for music was what gave me the voice. When I was in class twelve, I began learning classical music formally. Becoming a good listener first is very important besides learning classical music. People don't understand music well because they don't feel it. Feeling music is absolutely essential for becoming a good musician.
“Tanim Nur, a friend of ours, insisted that we use the song “Bhalobasha Tomar Ghorey” for his digital film.”
Abida looks into the future: “Now I want to work as a music director rather than just as singer. I only want to sing my or Arjun's compositions. Currently we are busy with my solo album. Most of the songs are ready but we have to record them.”
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