Star Melodies pays tribute to two music legends

Star Melodies, an initiative of The Daily Star, organised a special musical programme, Kothay O Gaaney Sangeeter Dui Kingbadantir Shathe, in honour of two legendary musicians, Geetisroshta Gazi Mazharul Anwar and Sursroshta Ali Hossain. The event is organised every month to promote Bangla music. The programme was held at the AS Mahmud Seminar Hall of The Daily Star Centre, yesterday. The featured artistes of the evening were Badshah Bulbul, Moutushi, Dithi Anwar and Opu.

Hosted by Sadya Afreen Mallick, Chief, Culture Initiatives, The Daily Star, the exclusive event turned out to be an interesting interaction between the honoured music creators, featured singers and music lovers.

The show began with  the observance of one minute's silence in respect for recently deceased  artist Kalidas Karmakar.

Ekushey Padak awardee Gazi Mazharul Anwar is an eminent Bangladeshi lyricist, music director, screenwriter, film director and producer. He has composed around twenty thousand songs, many of which gained immense popularity. He has won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Lyricist, six times, for the films, Tit for Tat (1992), Ajante (1996), Churiwala (2001), Lal Dariya (2002), Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti (2003) and Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe (2016). He started writing for Radio Pakistan in 1964 and has been credited with numerous national and international awards for his contribution to the music industry.

“The singers of the present generation lack humility. They fail to credit the lyricist and music composer prior to a performance,” said Gazi Mazharul Anwar, the lyricist of Joy Bangla, Bangla’r Joy, the first song that was aired on Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. “Bangabandhu patted me on the back for composing the song and honoured me with the President’s Gold Medal after independence.”   

Ali Hossain is a renowned Bangladeshi music composer and film music director. Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), he grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, where he taught at the Nazrul Academy. He studied music under the tutelage of Ustad Pyare Khan and gained popularity for composing the evergreen song Osru Diye Lekha E Gaan. Hossain started his career as a music director with the Urdu film Parwana, in 1965. In the following year, he directed music for his first Bangla film Dakbabu. He was honoured at the 12th Channel i Music Award for his lifetime contribution to Bangladeshi music. 

“Without dedicated Gurus, you cannot expect disciples to learn music properly,” said Ali Hossain. “Music fades away without proper devotion to its creator. You have to pay due respect to the creators of songs you perform.”

Moutushi set off the soiree with the song Ami Bhalobashi Jarey, written and composed by Gazi Mazharul Anwar and Ali Hossain, respectively. She also performed songs Osru Diye Lekha E Gaan, Parina Bhule Jete and Chanchala Hawa Rey, amongst others.

Badshah Bulbul’s melodious performance started with Dhako Jotona Noyon Duhaatey. He also sang the Urdu ghazal, Tum Zid Toh Kar Rahein Ho, amongst his Bangla renditions, Neel Akasher Niche Ami and Chaturi Jane Na. Badshah Bulbul and Moutushi presented the popular duet, O Chokhe Chokh Porechhe Jokhoni.

Dithi Anwar rendered her father’s song Shudhu Gaan Geye Porichoy. She also beautifully performed other compositions, including Akasher Hatey Achhe and Jodi Amake Jante Shadh Hoy. 

Opu began his performance with Koto Je Tomake Beshechhi Bhalo. As the evening progressed, he enthralled the crowd with Chokh Pherano Jaay Go and Gaaneri Khatay Swaralipi. Dithi and Opu also performed the duet ( O Prane Raja ) at the event.

Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of the Daily Star, delivered  the vote of thanks at the event. He also presented the two legends with Daily Star Books.