Nazrul for Peace!

On the occasion of the 40th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, a major exponent of Nazrul and a famous Bangladeshi singer of Nazrul compositions, Sadya Afreen Mallick was recently awarded the Nazrul Award 2015. A multi-talented personality, Sadya apa or Sadya ma'am is the Editor of the Arts and Entertainment page of the Daily Star. For years, not only has she been researching on Bangladeshi music and sharing with many a young mind, Sadya and her young team of journalists have successfully been able to reach out to musicians, singers, actors, artists, writers and so many more, and bring them under one platform. Surely, she has played a significant role in shaping the views on Nazrul compositions and also all kinds of music in Bangladesh. 

Sadya Afreen Mallick had the opportunity to engage and study with big names and knowledgeable personalities in the subcontinent from a very early age, namely, Sudhin Das, Sohrab Hossain and Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, amongst many others. In the year 1990, Sadya had accompanied the legend herself -- Feroza Begum -- on a three-month tour of the United States of America. There she attended the inaugural of the first North American Nazrul Conference. They had performed at landmark venues at MIT, Pittsburgh, New York and more.

After making quite a name in the country, Sadya did not stop there. She toured the world-- the US, Europe, Far East and India, either as part of a troupe or for solo concerts. She accompanied Feroza Begum to 12 states in America, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and more. She has also appeared on live talk shows on Voice of America and the BBC to promote Nazrul Sangeet and Bangladesh's culture. Along with Manabendra Mukherjee, Sadya performed for a special documentary on Nazrul Islam produced and aired by Britain's Channel 4 in the UK. 

Over the span of three decades, a number of records were released by private, government and international institutions. In 1991, she became only the second person from Bangladesh, after Feroza Begum to have her album on Nazrul songs released by HMV, India. This was also the only label ever directed and promoted by Feroza Begum---in Bangladesh. Titled 'Elo Phuler Morshum', the record, which Sadya considers to be yet another major achievement in her life, was released in 1991. 

Recently, Sadya initiated a video titled 'Calling all Peacemakers' where she brought together many of Nazrul's compositions, messages and words through which she plans to reach out to the younger generation. "Nazrul's words are timeless," says Sadya. "And they must come to the limelight once again, especially for the younger people in Bangladesh who are forever soul-searching and seem to be looking for outlets to express themselves." The video can be viewed on the official YouTube channel of The Daily Star. 

Through music and particularly Kazi Nazrul Islam's words, Sadya Afreen Mallick dreams of making it bigger -- of bringing about a little more peace -- and eventually making this country a better place to live in.