Ferdaus Ara sings (left) and Munmun Ahmed dances at the programme.

The five daylong Nazrul Utshab (festival) ended on June 9 at National Music and Dance Centre auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The festival, celebrating 112th birth anniversary of the National Poet, was arranged by Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parisad (NSSP), in association with BSA. Nazrul exponent and head of the trustee board of Nazrul Institute, Professor Rafiqul Islam, inaugurated the festival on June 5.
The concluding day's programme kicked off with a chorus “O Bhai Khanti Shonar Cheye Khati” by the artistes of NSSP. Another chorus, “Benuka Shongka Shunyo Lokkho Konthey”, followed.
Among seasoned artistes, Ferdaus Ara rendered “Tabo Gaan-er Bhashaye Shurey” while Yakub Ali Khan performed “Jamuna Sinaney Choley Tonni Moral”. Lina Taposhi Khan sang “Adhkhana Chand Hashichhey Akashey” and Salahuddin Ahmed rendered “Nilambori Shari Pori” at the event. Rahat Ara Geeti also presented a rendition.
Noted dancer-choreographer Munmun Ahmed performed to a thumri “Amar Bijon Ghorey Heshey Elo Pothik”. A solo rendition by noted Nazrul singer Fatema Tuj Zohra followed.
Among promising singers, Anindita Chowdhury, Muntarin Mahal, Farzana Nazrul, Md. Selim, Babu Rahman and others performed “Keno Diley Kanta”, “Ajhor Dharaye Borsha Jhorey”, “Abar Srabon Elo Phirey”, “Kar Nikunjey Raat Kataye”, “Khanto Dao Hey Bhyabakanto” and more on the concluding day of the festival.
Kamrul Arefin and Nizamuddin Royal, from Rajshahi and Dinajpur respectively, rendered “Tumi Amaye Bhalobasho Tai Tho Ami” and “Modhur Dhuli Uthlo Rengey” at the programme.
Munmun Ahmed presented another dance to the number “Bashonto Mukhor Aaji”. Reciter Mahidul Islam read out excerpts from a Nazrul essay, “Raajbondir Jobanbondi”.
Shahadat Hossain Khan played the tunes of “Rumjhum Rumjhum” and “Mor Na Mititey Asha” on his sarod. The festival also featured instrumental renditions of Nazrul compositions -- on saxophone, guitar, flute and violin -- throughout the festival.
Renowned Nazrul Sangeet artiste and general secretary of NSSP, Sujit Mustafa, performed “Porodeshi Megh Jaorey Phirey”. He also rendered “Ami Chirotorey Durey Choley Jabo” on request.
The audience requested the artiste duo -- Sujit and Munmun -- to perform a duet. Obliging, Sujit sang a thumri, “Mala Gantha Shesh Na Hotey Tumi Ele Ghorey”, while Munmun Ahmed instantly choreographed and danced.
Gazi Abdul Hakim on flute, Firoz Khan on sitar, Almas Ali on violin, Pallab Sanyal and Mohammad Imtiaz Sultan on tabla, Binod Roy on keyboard and Dipan on guitar instrumentally assisted the singers.