Keeping Nazrul's music alive

There is no question that Kazi Nazrul Islam's legacy goes beyond literary acclaim. The aptly-named Rebel Poet has triggered a groundbreaking call to revolution, a demand for social change that continues to stir the hearts of millions today and for generations to come. Nazrul exponents have played a key role in driving this legacy forward, through promoting the practice of his songs and spreading his ideology. Reputed Nazrul singer Masuda Anam Kalpona has been practicing the Bard's songs since her childhood and has released a number of albums till date. Yesterday, marking the Rebel Poet's 118th birth anniversary, the artiste released three new albums of Nazrul songs.

While she has a particular fondness for his Raga-based songs, Kalpona Anam endeavours to highlight his lesser-known compositions. Her new albums, titled “Keno KaNde Poran”, “Nomo Nomo Bangladesh Momo” and “Phiriya Jodi Shey Ashe” contain ten songs each, and will be uploaded on her website at kalponaanam.com. “I have released the CDs online to make it more accessible for listeners,” said the singer. “Technology has played a vital part in preserving Kazi Nazrul Islam's legacy, and now his rarer compositions are readily available on YouTube and other online platforms.”

The artiste went onto add that these songs were composed during Nazrul's prime years. “These are the songs written during his youth, when he was between the ages of 20 to 30,” she stated. “Some of the songs included have numerous debates regarding the authenticity of tunes, but I carefully researched the most original melodies, and recorded them accordingly.”

There are endless possibilities to diversify the works of Nazrul and bring them closer to the mainstream. “It is not possible to carry out this momentous responsibility on your own,” the singer mused. “We require greater support from more driven individuals. Some of his works have been composed by various artistes over time, which has been received well by listeners. However, the popularity of these songs has rendered the loss of the original tunes, and in my next album I plan to release these songs the way it has always been intended. An archive must be kept and maintained once the original works are found, to preserve his legacy in the rightful manner.”