Tapan Mahmud will perform Friday evening 6:30pm at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, as part of the celebrations of the 152nd Birth Anniversary of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore. Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in association with the State Bank of India in Bangladesh and Channel i as media partners is organising “An Evening of Rabindra Sangeet.”
On the occasion of Tagore’s birth anniversary, Dhaka Tribune caught up with Tapan Mahmud about various topics, such as Rabindra Sangeet, its popularity, the practice of Tagore’s music around the country and more:
What song are you performing tonight?
The songs I will perform today are from the major parts of “Gitabitan” (Garden of songs written by Tagore). I will sing songs from “Puja” (worship), “Prem” (love), “Prakriti” (Nature), “Swadesh” (patriotism), and “Aanushthanik” (celebration). “Choron Dhulite Deo go Amai,” “Shudhu Tomar Bani Noi Go Hey Bondhu” is a must in my list and after that I will perform requests from my audience.
Tell us about your new album
In February, I have released my latest album. I am thinking of releasing my next album featuring Tagore’s song in 22nd Srabon.
Tell us your thoughts of celebrating Tagore’s birth anniversary?
Rabindranath Tagore cannot be measured through any parameter, through his work, he will always live amongst us. Today, amid the tough times of the country, the poet and his immortal compositions are more relevant for all the peace-loving people.
Fusion or experimental Rabindra Sangeet is the new hype among contemporary artists of the music industry. What is your opinion in this subject?
Rabindra Sangeet is such a genre which does not need any modification, Tagore as the poet himself certified, is ever-modern. So, I don’t know why people, in the name of fusion, are changing Rabindra Sangeet and ruining its essence. I appreciate their passion about Rabindra Sangeet but I prefer to keep some things as it is.
Tapan Mahmud is a distinguished advocate of Rabindra Sangeet in Bangladesh, who specializes in correct grammatical orientation of tunes, forms and formulations of Tagore’s compositions. Mr Mahmud has devoted himself towards disseminating Rabindra Sangeet throughout Bangladesh through his active involvement with the prestigious Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha of Bangladesh.
During the Liberation War in 1971, he joined the Swadheen Bangla Betar Kendra and also rendered voice as a Rabindra Sangeet artist for the Akashbani Radio of Kolkata at that time.