<i>Flute performance at Chhayanat</i>

Murtuza Kabir Murad (3-R, front row) and his students perform
at the programme

Noted flute artiste Murtuza Kabir Murad and his students performed at the Chhayanat Sanskriti Bhaban on February 9. The programme featured classical notes on banshi (bamboo flute).
With a profound inclination towards music, Murad started with tabla in 1985. He learnt tabla under the tutelage of Ustad Khandaker Khairul Anam for ten years. But the alluring tune of flute fascinated him more and he started taking flute lessons from Ustad Alauddin. Since then, he has dedicated himself to the instrument.
Acknowledging the need of a well-made flute for an artiste, Murad started making bamboo flutes himself. His flutes are now quite well-accepted by the artistes of the country and abroad.
“From the very beginning, I felt that learning flute can be challenging in our country. I tried to devise an easier way to learn flute and expand the scopes of this particular art form,” said the flutist in his welcome speech at the event.
The event began with a group rendition of the song Amar bhai-er roktey rangano Ekushey February, as a tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement. It was followed by a performance by Ariya Sulola, a diplomat from the European Commission (EC) who has been training under Murad.
Shantanu from India; Nishat Afroze, architect and lecturer at the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology; Andrea Rodriguez from CARE Bangladesh; Masum Billah and other students of Murad also performed at the programme. The renditions included Raga Miyaki Malhar, Bhairo, Brindaboni sharong, Jog and more.
Muhammed Ali Naqi, Chairman, Department of Architecture, Stamford University rendered Raga Megh, accompanied by electronic instruments without changing the classical format of the composition. Eight-year-old Noirita on keyboard and Muhammed Ali Nafi on electric guitar seemed quite comfortable performing with their father, Naqi.
Murtuza Kabir Murad was the last to perform. Demonstrating his mastery over the flute, the artiste rendered Raga Chandrakosh and a dhun in Raga Pilu. Swarup Hossain accompanied Murad on tabla.