Tête-à-tête with Sefali Sargam
Sefali Sargam is a promising folk singer from Rangamati. She started singing when she was barely four years old and couldn’t even play the harmonium properly. Her elder sister, Lily, was her first mentor in music. Later she trained under noted musician Debu Chowdhury.
“I’m taking lessons in classical music from Salahuddin Ahmed and in folk music from noted singer Safi Mondol. Classical is the mother of all music and every singer should train in this genre. However, my passion lies in folk music,” asserts Sefali.
LNB Multimedia Production produced Sefali’s first solo album, titled “Bondhur Bari Bandarban”, featuring traditional folk tunes of Chittagong in 2010. The folk fusion album contains 10 tracks, “O Jeda Foirar Baap”, “Mon Kachara Majhi”, “Tui Bondhuar Shukh Pinjirar”, “Bhagyo Lottery” and more. Syed Mahiuddin wrote the lyrics and composed tunes while Fuad Reza directed music for the album.
Another solo album by the artiste, titled “Binodini Rai”, featuring 10 original songs such as “Ami Binodini Rai”, “Jedin Bondhu Tomarey Dekhi”, “Buker O Bhetorey” and “Bondhu Amaye Korilo Jadu”, was launched the same year from Geetghar, London. Amin wrote the lyrics, while Nayan directed music for the folk album.
Featuring folk tunes of Sylhet region, Sefali’s third solo album is in the pipeline. The album will contain songs written by Hason Raja, Radha Raman Dutta, Shah Abdul Karim, Durbin Shah, Quari Amiruddin, Arkum Shah, Plabon Koreshi, Matir Mamin and Prince Rubel. Debu Chowdhury is directing music for the album. Meanwhile some of the songs from the album are being aired on various channels such as ETV, Desh TV, Channel i, ntv and BTV.
Sefali simultaneously performs on stage, especially in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. “I perform all genres of folk music like Bhawaiya, Bhatiali, regional tunes, and songs written by mystic bards. I even perform Bangla Qawwali. I want to render folk classics written by Bauls, Sufis and mystic bards in English. I seek blessings from all so that I can materialise my dream,” says Sefali.
Sefali is an enlisted singer both at BTV and Bangladesh Betar (radio). The artiste can fluently converse and render songs in the dialects of Chittagong, Barisal, Noakhali and Chandpur. Her performance at “Matir Pinjira”, a major programme featuring folk music on the 20th anniversary of The Daily Star, was widely acclaimed.
Sefali received a national award as a child artiste. She came up first in Nazrul Sangeet and Folk Music categories, at the National Education Week (Chittagong Division) in consecutive years from 1998 to 2007. She also received the Sangeet Protibha Anneshon Award (Folk), Chittagong in 2007.
Sefali is now in the midst of completing her graduation from Siddheswari University, Dhaka.
-With The Daily Star input
