Evergreen songs of the 60s

(From 2-L) Tapan Chowdhury, Syed Badrul Ahsan and Professor Khalil Ur Rahman at the album launch. Photo: Golam Mahbub

An audio CD titled “Evergreen 60s” was launched at Astras Building of Square Hospital in the capital on March 11. Professor M. Khalil Ur Rahman recorded 11 popular tracks (six in Bengali and five in Hindi) of the '60s (an eventful period in the subcontinent's music history) in the album. Dr. Jagodananda Roy, an anesthesiologist who works with Professor Khalil Ur Rahman in the Cardiology Department of Square Hospital, directed music for the album.
The album features timeless songs including “Tomarey Legechhey Eto Je Bhalo”, “Aye Mere Zuhre Jabi”, “Mon-e Porey Rubi Roy”, “Mere Mahbub Quamat Hogi”, “Kajol Nadir Jal-e” and more originally recorded by Talat Mahmud, Manna Dey, RD Burman, Kishore Kumar, Torun Banerjee and others respectively. Under the label of Mirror of Music, Fowzia Begum produced the album.
Managing Director of Square Hospital Tapan Chowdhury was chief guest while executive editor of The Daily Star Syed Badrul Ahsan was a special guest at the launching programme.
Following the welcome address by Dr. Jagodananda Roy, Professor Khalil Ur Rahman delivered a speech highlighting the background to the album. The chief guest along with the special guest and the featured artiste unveiled the album while two album tracks -- “Bhromora Phuler Bon-e” and “Tu Ganga Ki Moujme” originally recorded by Shyamal Mitra and Mohammad Rafi, were played.
“I am personally moved by the fact that a busy physician's musical passion has made this album into a reality. This obviously proves that there is no significant relationship between music and age. Music nourishes our souls and personalities like Professor Khalil Ur Rahman are evergreen,” said Tapan Chowdhury.
Exuding wit and humour, music connoisseur Syed Badrul Ahsan elaborately spoke on the music of the '60s, a period that is regarded as the best of all times. He also shared his personal memories with excerpts and allusions regarding the melodies of that time.
Admiring the initiative, several doctors, including Professor Matiur Rahman said a few words in an instant reaction. Dr. Ishrat Jabeen delivered the vote of thanks at the event.
Later, Professor Khalil Ur Rahman and Dr. Jagodananda Roy performed several evergreen melodies of the '60s at the event.
Professor Khalil Ur Rahman is a physician by profession. He is also regarded as a pioneer of cardiac anesthesia in Bangladesh. He retired from government service as a Professor of Anesthesiology from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Music is his passion which he has nourished since his childhood. He also took musical lessons from Chhayanaut in the early '60s.