Legendary traditional singers Abbas Uddin Ahmed and Abdul Alim were remembered through a musical sprogramme organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Monday at its
National Music and Dance Centre.
A discussion session was also held on the life and works of the two legends at the same venue prior to the programme. Folk singer and researcher Indramohan Rajbongshi, folk singer Nadira Begum and director of Music and Dance department Sohrab Uddin Ahmed delivered speeches at the programme.
In presence of a large audience, leading folk singers of the country like Nadira Begum, Safiul Alam Raja, Rahima Khatun, Indramohan Rajbanshi, Dilruba Khanom rendered songs composed by the legends.
Nadira Begum moved the audience through her rendition of Abbas Uddin’s popular bhatiyali song Oo ki garial bhai. Later she performed Abdul Alim’s popular song Majhi baiyo na baiyo nau and received a huge round of applauses from the crowd.
Other singers performed Abbas Uddin’s songs like Safiul Alam Raja rendered O mor kalare and Baukuntha batashe, Rahima
Khatun sang Fande poriya and Nodite na jaiyore, Indramohan Rajbongshi performed Kondin asiba bondhu koya jao.
‘No other singer could surpass Abbas Uddin’s emotional, powerful rendition of folk songs. He also sang songs composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jasimuddin and Golam Mostafa’, Nadira Begum said during discussion.
Abdul Alim’s sons, Zahir Alim and Ajgar Alim also performed their father’s popular songs like Holudia pakhi, Porer jayga porer jomi, Tomaro lagiyare and Pakhi jabere urey, which received wide audience acclaims.
Abdul Alim’s songs, Ato diner pirite go bondhu
and E songsare kew nai aponjon were rendered by contemporary folk singer Dilruba Khan.
‘Abdul Alim’s presentation was simply magical. His songs epitomised the very essence of folk culture and mesmerised listeners across the country,’ folk singer and researcher Indramohan Rajbongshi remarked during the discussion session.
‘The folk songs are inherent treasures of the riverine Bangladeshi culture. The songs express the hopes and frustrations of young hearts and it also upholds the life and culture of the different regions in the country. Yet in recent times folk songs have not received their due share of eminence which is sad but true’, a student of Dhaka University, Masud Hasan, told New Age after enjoying the cultural programme.
-With New Age input
