2014 saw great losses through deaths of 11 prominent cultural personalities, which have left irreparable holes in the cultural arena of the country. Seasoned painter Qayyum Chowdhury; renowned film actor Khalilullah Khan (popularly known as Khalil); filmmakers Kazi Morshed and Belal Ahmed; poet Fazal Shahabuddin; artist and curator Subir Chowdhury; and legendary singers like Feroza Begum, Ramkanai Das, Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Ali Siddiqui and Baul Abdul Karim Shah have passed on.
Celebrated painter Qayyum Chowdhury died at the age of 80 on November 30 after he felt sick while addressing a huge crowd at a music programme at the Army Stadium.
In his kaleidoscopic artistic career spanning over six decades, he received the Independence DayAward, Ekushey Padak, Shilpakala Academy Award and several others at home and abroad.
Nazrul Sangeet legend Feroza Begum died of old age complications on September 9. She was 84.
Feroza Begum is regarded as one of the veteran Nazrul singers of the country. She is also credited for sustaining popularity of Nazrul songs during times that proved difficult for the genre.
She received Independence Day Award in 1979. West Bengal government in India honoured her with Nazrul Sammanana Award in 2012.
Pandit Ramkanai Das died at the age 79 on September 6 following a brain surgery.
Originally a folk singer, he switched to classical music later. He also composed music.
Ramkanai joined Bangladesh Betar’s Sylhet station in 1967. His albums include Bandhur Banshi Baje, Raganjali and Pagla Majhi. His book on classical music, Saral Sangeet Sikkha, was published in 2007.
Das received many prestigious awards including Ekushey Padak, Rabindra Padak and Bangla Academy Fellowship.
Noted actor Khalilullah Khan died of old age complications on December 6. He was 80.
In recognition of his acting career spanning over five decades, Khalil was honoured with lifetime achievement award by the government. He acted in about 800 films and numerous teleplays.
He earlier won National Film Award in best actor [negative role] category in 1976 for his performance in Gunda.
Singer Bashir Ahmed died on April 21 at the age of 74. One of the most popular singers of the country, Bashir dominated the music industry in 60s and 70s.
Evergreen songs like Jare Jabi Jodi Ja, Ogo Priyotoma, Onek Sadher Moyna Amar and many more numbers established him as one of the most popular singers of his time. He was conferred with Ekushey Padak.
Noted poet, journalist Fazal Shahabuddin died on February 10 after suffering from old age complications. He was 78.
He wrote about 27 collections of poems including the likes of Anakankhito Asundar, Nisarger Sanglap and others.
Veteran singer Baul Abdul Karim Shah died at the age of 90 at his residence in Kushtia after suffering from different old-age complications on June 10.
The iconic baul singer dedicated his life following in the footsteps of Baul legend Fakir Lalon Shah. He received Ekushey Padak in 2011.
Filmmaker Belal Ahmed died at the age of 64 after suffering from cardiac complications on August 18. Ahmed began his career in the eighties and directed many noted Bengali feature films like Nayaner Alo and Nagor Dola. His last film was Tabuo Bhalobashi.
Veteran singer Mohammad Ali Siddiqui died of old-age complications on November 3. He was 70.
Siddiqui sang around 3,500 songs and recorded songs for 206 popular Bangla films during the ’60s and ’70s. He performed both on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar for many years.
Bashi Baje Oi Dure and Hoi Hoi Rongila Rongila Re are two of his popular numbers.
-With New Age input
