SHAMPA REZA'S UNDYING LOVE FOR MUSIC

Photo: Shahrear Kabir Heemel

Khan Nahida Moushumi catches up with musician, actor, director and producer Shampa Reza who talks about her inspirations and aspirations unveiling her take on life
Music and I
Upon receiving her scholarship in 1976, Shampa Reza left Dhaka for Santiniketan and started training in Indian classical music under guruji Pandit Druvu Tara Joshi. She believes that music is not just about singing with one's voice, it's a total life philosophy and a way of living.
After spending an hour with this versatile artist, I had a much clearer idea about the depth of her passion where music is concerned. She starts off by saying, “I love life and I enjoy every bit of my presence in this universe but music is the language that helps me understand life; music gives me the peace of mind that keeps me rooted to this world. Music is my spirit; my reason to live and breathe. Everything in life has a note, a rhythm and a sound. Every movement of life has a kind of tuning – either a fine-tuning or a rough-tuning and music taught me how they work – I owe everything to music.”
While discussing classical music she says, “For some reason, Indian classical music hasn't got the right footing in Bangladesh possibly because it's an acquired taste of music. It takes time and training to even listen to it. Listening to Indian classical music is not a day to day thing – one has to slowly get into it and understand the nuances or the mood of the music. I think with the fast pace of life and the restless social situation that we're passing through, it is difficult to meditate and focus on things that we love - it affects music as a whole. But I'm hopeful that sooner or later, Indian classical music will be a peaceful space for us, the Bangladeshis, as well”.
Delving into Dramas:
Shampa's acting career started with the performance in a tele-film (which, in those days, was called 'e masher natok'), entitled 'Ostrotogandha' in 1975 when she was in grade 10. It was a role of a singer who loved music and dedicated her life to music. She had a boyfriend but she was married off to an elderly man by her parents. He was a businessman who knew nothing about music and slowly music died out of her life. And then she went a bit berserk. She started listening to notes on the walls or in a glass and she would respond to the notes with the basic “sa re ga ma pa dha nisa”. Slowly she went totally wrong in her head. Then one fine day she wanted to touch her tanpura again, and as soon as she did, she cut her finger and died of tetanus.
Biggest Achievement:
Shampa's biggest achievement was to become a mother. “I love motherhood. I have two sons – Dhrubo and Tiash. Although my kids are all grown-ups now and probably aren't too fond of me mothering them at times. Besides them, I have hundreds and thousands of children at my schools”.
Stepping stone of her life's philosophy:
Boro howa bhalo, tar cheye boro bhalo, bhalo howa!
The Humanist:
“With all due respect to feminists, I don't believe in feminism. I'm a humanist,” says Shampa. She would stand up for anyone who is tortured and supressed. She continues to say, “I would stand up for animals, the planet, the trees, rivers, children, and anybody in general who has been tormented. Women aren't the only victims. If we are there for everybody, only then we can expect everybody to be there for us too”.
The Life Coach:
Shampa Reza is the founder of the schools Anando Niketan and Rodela Chottor, where she teaches Indian classical music at the children's club. ”I love working with children; I teach them traditional music in the most untraditional way,” adds Shampa. She admits that she has always felt the need to modify and change our education system, so that it caters to our basic needs. The curriculum and the system should be geared more towards our country's needs. “The education system needs to be reformed so that instead of running after grades, we educate ourselves in a manner that helps us learn to be good human beings who are capable to look after themselves, the planet and this country,” she concludes.

STYLING & WARDROBE: FARZANA MUNNY
LOGISTICS SUPPORT: KAUSHIK HOSSAIN TAPOSH
LOCATION: QUE BELLA