Bangla Music Concerts & Events

Sushmita Ahmed rendering a Tagore song

(Afsar Ahmed) Music is deeply rooted in our hearts. And the strains of Rabindra or Nazrul Sangeet, with their pensive lyrics and magnificent tunes, often have the power to transport us to a higher realm and reinforce our cultural identity. Despite the current trend of westernisation, these songs continue to maintain their appeal. But are we doing enough to pass on our rich musical heritage to the new generation?

This was the question uppermost in the minds of many on June 21. This day marked the beginning of a four-day programme featuring the upcoming as well as established Tagore and Nazrul singers. Organised by the Music and Dance Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the programme was staged at the National Exhibition Hall.

While inaugurating the programme, Ahmed Nazir, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, said, "It is our duty to promote both the established and upcoming singers. We need to bring them on a common platform, judge their potential and present them to the audience. This programme is an opportunity to familiarise people with aspiring singers of Tagore and Nazrul genres."

The ongoing musical soiree features Tagore songs on the first two days and Nazrul songs in the latter part. A good number of upcoming and promising Tagore artistes as well as the established ones performed on the first day.

The first part of the programme was dedicated to the young ones who had come from distant places, as far flung as the Hill Tracts, to demonstrate their talent. 12 artistes such as Selina Huda, Rumana Sharmin, Golam Haider, Sharmin Ahmed, Nafisa Sher, Shimu Dey, Jhuma Chakma and others rendered a medley of Tagore's popular numbers: Amar ei path chalatei anondo, Badolo dinero prothomo kadamo phul, Mor bhabonarey, Ami tomar shongey bedhechi amari pran and many others. Some of the singers performed well. However, sometimes the amateurish presentations, poor accent of some singers and their inability to sing in the proper scale and tune was a damper. The dreadful audio system that sometimes gave an echo also proved troublesome for the audience.

Many in the audience questioned the rationale of terming a few mediocre singers as upcoming artistes by the academy. Barun Kumar Sen, Deputy Director of the Music and Dance Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, said, "The interested artistes from different parts of the country sent in their applications. After the audition, our musical team did the selection for the performance."