Prominent and popular Tagore exponents of Bangladesh, Salma Akbar and Sajed Akbar will entertain the Rabindra Sangeet lovers of the city at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Gulshan Friday evening with their soulful performances.
The couple has been entertaining Tagore lovers with solo and duet performances for over three decades. In an interview with Dhaka Tribune, the duo informs that they are quite impressed by the current popularity of Rabindra Sangeet. Salma Akbar informs with glowing satisfaction: “Even in this digital age, where the proliferation of international techno music is within reach, the younger generation of our country is still very much inclined towards this legendary genre.”
What is your opinion about the recent trend of presenting Tagore’s music with western musical arrangement?
Sajed Akbar: I think it is very much important to study Rabindranath’s works and understand his philosophy. Tagore himself said that his music is forever modern and suggested that his work should remain as it is. I personally believe that it is for the best that his music should be practiced as Tagore originally intended.
Do you have any suggestion for the newcomers of this genre?
Salma Akbar: I want them to learn to love Rabindranath, study his works and try to understand the inner messages of his songs. Only by maintaining his guideline and practicing his music like it was intended to, the satisfaction of this great musical genre would be found.
What songs will you perform tonight?
Sajed Akbar: I will give more preference to audience requests. However I made a small list of songs that includes numbers like, “Promode Dhaliya Dino Mon,” “Onek Kotha Bolechhilam,” “Nibhe Gechhe Momo,” and many more. I will open with “Ki Gabo Ami Ki Shunabo,” a duet with my wife Salma.
Salma Akbar: I will cover almost all the genres of Geetabitan, with songs like, “Hridoy Nondon Bone,” “Aji Pronomi Tomare,” “Amar Nishit Raater Badal Dhara” and some more melodious tracks.
Born in Barisal, Salma Akbar studied at Chayyanaut and received her initial training in Classical Music from Ustad Narayan Chandra Basak and Ustad Azad Rahman. She trained in Rabindra Sangeet under legends like late Kalim Sharafi and Sanjida Khatunin Bangladesh and under late Kanika Bandopadyay, Nilima Sen and Sanghamitra Gupta in India.
Sajed Akbar was born in Chittagong to renowned politician and Muktijoddha parents, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Gholam Akbar Chowdhury. Inspired by his parents, Akbar received initial training in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music from Ustad Fazlul Hoque in 1969. Subsequently, he trained in Rabindra Sangeet under Morhum Atikul Islam at the Bulbul Lalitkala Academy, Abdul Ahaad, Kalim Sharafi, Ajit Roy and few others. He was thereafter appointed as a trainer of Rabindra Sangeet at the Bulbul Lalitkala Academy.
