Photo: Collected

James, also known as the modern 'guru' of Bangladeshi rock music, has accomplished unimaginable feats since he started his career with the band Feelings. Today marks the National Award-winning artiste's 59th birthday.

Born in 1964 in Naogaon, Faruq Mahfuz Anam was brought up in Chittagong. He took up the moniker of 'James' as a stage name, winning the hearts of millions of music lovers not only in Bangladesh, but all over the world.

When asked why fans call him guru, James told The Daily Star, "The word 'guru' means one who knows everything. I am nothing like that. My fans affectionately call me by that name and I really don't know how and why it stayed with me forever."

His father, Mojammel Haque, was the chairman of the Chittagong Board of Education. His family did not approve him to pursue a career of a music artiste, thus, he left home and started living in Aziz Boarding in Pahartali, Chattogram.

He formed his band, Feelings, in 1980 and became the band's lead guitarist and vocalist. His first album, "Station Road", was released in 1987. He became famous with his super hit album, "Onnona", in 1988. After that he dropped simultaneous hit albums one after another starting with "Jail Theke Bolchi" in 1990, "Nagar Baul" in 1996, "Lace Fita Lace" in 1998 and last but not the least his album, "Collection of Feelings", which was released in 1999 under the banner of Feelings.

James received Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer twice for the films "Desha: The Leader" (2014) and "Swatta" (2017). As a solo artiste, he has released a total of eight albums and many mixed albums with renowned artistes of the country.

Some of James's iconic Bengali rock numbers include "Taray Taray Rotiye Debo", penned by legendary poet Shamsur Rahman, "Maa", "Bangladesh", "Pagla Hawaa", "Dushtu Chheler Dol", "Guru Ghor Banaila Ki Diya", "Mirabai", which cemented his legacy as guru to his fans in all over the world.

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There is only one James, today is his birthday

He has also established his legacy as a solo artiste and a successful playback singer in both Dhallywood and Bollywood. In 2006, he debuted in Bollywood as a playback singer in Anurag Basu's film, "Gangstar", and his journey in Bollywood was continued with three other films – "Woh Lamhe" (2006), "Life... in a Metro" (2007) and "Warning" (2013).