Star Search 2002 Music Award

An atmosphere of an electrifying nature prevailed at the Winter Garden throughout the evening of September 13. This was the venue of the final event of Benson & Hedges' One & Only Star Search 2002, a promotional band music contest that is held annually with open selection from across the country.

Eleven bands and four solo vocalists, who had earlier crossed preliminary barriers at district levels, appeared before the jam-packed auditorium and performed two songs each.

Best Soloist Award 2002

'Abong Sristy', a group of four performers, arrived first on stage to perform. This band, that originated in Dhaka, likes to play two kinds of music, rock with fusion and pure hard rock. 'We are influenced by the spirit of Bon Jovi', said one of the members. 'Warrior', a soft rock band, coming from Chittagong, who are motivated by local icons like Ayub Bacchu and James, performed next. Nigar Sultana Shumi took control of things on stage, being the first of the four solo vocalists to appear before the audience. A singer with inclination of style towards rock and fusion, Shumi, from Khulna division, had basic trainings in classical music. The fourth contender to step up on the stage was 'Salvation', a rock-based band from Rajshahi. Greatly influenced by seniors like 'L.R.B.' and 'Deep Purple', 'Salvation' aimed at good tunes. Comprising of seven members, a Chittagonian group, 'The sound vibration musician team' performed two folk and contemporary numbers.

Jury Panel

Once again, it was the turn of a solo performer and this time, Beauty Das, a young female artiste of modern songs from Chittagong reached the finals. Being a winner of two national awards, she seemed quite confident at the final of Benson & Hedges event. 'Fusion: Purba-Poschim', from Dhaka, gave a big surprise when a five-member band played instrumental composition of semi-classical and fusion type with a touch of jazz and rock. The main attraction of the team remained centered on a flautist, the band's main performer, Zubair Malik. 'Dhruba', a band from Dhaka, presented an alternative, rock and rock-n'-roll, and comprised of four members.

Based in Khulna, 'Chorus' seemed attracted to tasteful lyrics and soft melodies.. 'Music, to us, is a second nature', said the 'Chorus' members. Yet another solo performer from Rajshahi, Ashfaqul Bari Rumon, performed a couple of reggae and soft rock numbers with suavity. M. Shamsuzzaman, another soloist from North Bengal, soon followed. He performed soft melodious songs. Bands, 'Triangle' and 'Recent', both from the port city, arrived on stage with their rock and semi-soft compositions.

The last band of the show was 'Orchid' was also from Chittagong and who seemed quite apt. Before 'Orchid''s arrival, came the hot favourites, 'Subconscious', a band from Dhaka that comprised of five members. They performed intense punk rock and fusion numbers. The band was named as the best band of the evening, hence, of the overall Star Search program.

The evening's schedule stretched till past 10:00 p.m. due to some fine treats from former Star Search winners including singers Mimi Farhana Huq and Ariful Islame, in addition to 'Vikings' and 'Shaptak', two renowned bands of the present time.

Award Highlights!:
The extravaganza ended through the declaration of the winning list that gave away awards to ten entrants in the form of soloists and bands, but not before a show was presented by members of the Jury Panel - Ayub Bacchu, Foad Nasser, Neo Mendis, Feisal Siddiky, Omar Khaled Rumi and Naquib Khan through their special 'jamming' session.

Winners of 2002

Apart from 'Subconscious', that won the award for best band, the other winners, in category, were Rajshahi-based Ashfaqul Bari Rumon for best soloist and also for best lyricist, Beauty Das for best vocalist, Johan Alamgir of 'Subconscious' for best guitarist, Kamrul Hassan of 'Warrior' for best bassist, Ruptanu Das Sharma of 'The sound vibration musician team' for best keyboard player, Zubair Malik of 'Fusion: Purbo-Poschim' for best instrumentalist, Tony Vincent Gomes for best percussionist and the band, 'Warrior' for best musical composition.