IGCC’s ‘Bangla Kheyal’ at National Museum on Tuesday

Twelve classical vocalists will perform ‘Bangla Kheyal’ by eminent music maestro of Bangladesh, Azad Rahman, at Kobi Sufia Kamal Auditorium, Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbagh, Dhaka at 6:30 pm on Tuesday. Presented by Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, the show will include Bangla kheyal, dhrupad, dadra, thumri and ghazals of Azad Rahman. The classical vocalists are music maestro Azad Rahman, Dr. Harun – Ar – Rashid, Ustad Karim Shahabuddin, Anil Kumar Saha, Dr. Mintu Krishna Pal, Chandana Debi Hajong, Rituparna Chakraborty, Ranjan Chandra Sarkar, Lotifun Julio, Ratan Chandra Majumdar, Tanjina Karim Swaralipi and Zerine Tabassum Haq. Bishwajit Notto and Pulin Chakraborty will play tabla and pakhowaj. Chorus classical song will also be presented by students of Sangskriti Kendra. Azad Rahman is the founder chairman of Sangskriti Kendra (Centre for Education, Creative and Performing Arts), established in 1990 in Dhaka, which has organized several international music festivals. He is a famous Bangladeshi musician who has given music direction in over 350 films of Bangladesh and West Bengal. He received National Film Award in 1993 for music direction and vocal music and again in 1997 for music direction. He has also received several other awards including Best Composer and Conductor of Orchestra Award (1980), Radio Bangladesh Staff Artist Award (1982), Zahir Raihan Film Award (1975), Purbani Film Award (1975), Chitrali Film Award (1975) and Desh Film Award (1978) for music direction. Azad Rahaman has held many high administrative posts including Director General, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy for two terms, Principal of Government Music College, Music Director in Radio Pakistan and Radio Bangladesh etc. He has also held high professional posts including chairman of University Music Syllabus Committee, judge of National Music Competition Committee, member of National Cultural Advisers Board etc. Azad Rahman is one of the pioneers of Bangla kheyal and has written lyrics for many raagas. He produced the first Bangla kheyal LP in the 1980s and has also composed and sung Bangla qawwalis. He gave tune to the patriotic song of Bangladesh "Jonmo Amar Dhonno Holo Maago" sung by Feroza Begum and later by Sabina Yasmin. He also played Hindustani raagas on the piano. He has traveled to many countries such as UK, USA, Japan, India, Germany, Russia, Italy, Australia etc.