Exploring Tagore

Prof. Sayeed(2-R) with Samina (2-L) and guests. Photo: Mumit M

Noted singer Samina Chowdhury's first solo Rabindra Sangeet album "Tomar Khola Hawa", has hit the market. The launching ceremony of the album was held at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts on July 31.
So why Tagore? Samina replied “I have had this special liking of Tagore and his work -- especially his songs have amazed me since childhood."
"I performed my first Tagore song in 1978 at 'Notun Kuri'. I was a student of class six then."
The launching ceremony was well attended by cultural personalities and leading Tagore singers.
Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed was chief guest at the event. Professor Sayeed said, "In our country it is often seen that singers rarely show any interest in other genres, which should not be the custom." Engineer S M Anwar Hossain, Chairman, Advanced Development Technologies (ADTL); Rashida Chowdhury, mother of Samina Chowdhury and Izaz Khan Swapan, proprietor, World Music were present during the launch. The album has been sponsored by Angel City, a project of ADTL.
Congratulating Samina on her new venture Sayeed said, "A singer should explore different genres rather than keeping confined to a specific one. It is always possible that while exploring other genres the artiste might discover that he/ she is actually doing better than others already in the field."
So from now on only Tagore? Samina replied, "It depends on how my fans accept me as a Tagore singer and of course on the success of the album."
"Tomar Khola Hawa" features ten Tagore songs -- "Tomar khola hawa," "Eso shamolo shundoro," "Jogot-er anondo jogyey," "Purano shei din-er katha," and more. Popular musician Bappa Majumdar has done the music composition.
The launch ceremony was followed by a colourful rendition of songs. Samina Chowdhury performed some songs from her newly released album including -- "Tomar khola hawa (the title track)" and "Esho shamolo shundhoro." She was joined by Sadi Mohammad and Papia Sarwar at one point. The trio performed "Phooley phooley", "Purono shei diner katha” and “Gram chhara oi rangamatir path."