The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Noted Tagore artiste Ajit Roy yesterday at a function unveiled the cover of a CD on songs of Radharaman by artiste Bishwajit Roy.

The function was held at the Shaheed Zia Auditorium of the National Museum in the city organised by Nibedan, a musical troupe.

The programme was divided into two parts. On the first part, the CD was launched and on the second part, artiste Bishwajit rendered songs of Radharaman.

Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Ramendu Majumder, Prof Jatin Sarkar, Dr Syed Manjurul Islam, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, Tagore artiste Tapan Mahmud, Sadhan Das, Sutopa Roy, among others, spoke at the inaugural session.

Noted artiste and President of Nibedan Anup Bhattacharya chaired the session, while Mahmud Selim moderated the function.

Anup in his speech said, "Nibedan has been working with the creative songs. Earlier, it has organised 'songs of post-Rabindranath,' 'Bangla songs of twenty first century' and reception to Amar Shil and his songs. Bishwajit Roy has been working with the songs of Radharaman for many days. This is the first time in Dhaka that a CD of Radharaman" was released.

Later at the solo musical soiree artiste Bishwajit Roy rendered songs of Radharaman. Artiste Bishwajit rendered songs where Debabrata Chowdhury assisted him on tabla, Almas Ali on behala,

Md Tanvir Daud Rony on keyboard, Rezaur Rahman on guitar, Hossain Ali on flute and Jharu Mia on percussion.

Production house Commitment Products and music distribution house Laser Vision took the initiative to launch the CD of Radharaman.

Both Radharaman (1833-1915) and Hasan Raza (1854-1922) were the contemporary artistes. Both hailed from Sunamganj. Forefathers of Radharaman were residents of Birbhum district in India. But he was born at Keshabpur village in Jagannathpur upazila in Sunamganj. The number of songs, which were written by Radharaman, was uncountable. From his songs it is said that he composed about 2,000 songs. Besides Sunamganj, his songs are popular in Mymensingh, urban areas of Assam and Tripura and some parts in Comilla. Basically 'Kirtan' and 'Dhamail' songs are known as Radharaman's songs in those areas.