Ferdausi Rahman with ‘Esho Gaan Shikhi’ for 58 years
Sheikh Arif Bulbon :
Bangladesh Television (BTV) started its journey on December 25 in 1964. After two days of its inauguration, a programme on learning music titled ‘Esho Gaan Shikhi’ started on BTV with the hands of living legend of the country’s music arena, Ferdausi Rahman. Since then to till date, Ferdausi Rahman has been conducting this popular programme for last 58 years. This programme is being aired on BTV four times in a month till now. Ferdausi Rahman said, “I couldn’t understand how time flied. This programme is already passing 58 years. With the blessing of Allah, it is really a great luck for me to continue this programme for so many years and it is a great identity for the BTV authority to run this show cordially. Now ‘Esho Gaan Shikhi’ has become a historical matter for the
television channel. I am attached with this history- it is really a likeable matter to me. I have cordial gratefulness and loves for them who were involved with this programme from its beginning and also for them who are now related with this. With Allah’s blessing, I have been still conducting this show regularly, which is really a great matter for me. Everybody prays for me as I can remain well.”
A Ferdausi Rahman is an icon of Bangladesh’s music industry. She is at a time a folk, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti and playback singer. Her colourful musical career that started
during childhood and it is still continuing. In her long
time musical career, Ferdausi Rahman got Ekushey Padak, Lifetime Achievement Award in National Film Awards, etc.
As a music director, she also received National Film
Awards and others in and outside the country.
In 1948, Ferdausi Rahman first rendered song for Betar’s
programme ‘Khelaghor.’ In movie ‘Achhia,’ she lent her voice for a playback song titled ‘O Mor Kalare,’ which was composed by her father legend of folk songs, Abbasuddin Ahmed.
Before this, she debut with her career as a playback singer
by releasing movie ‘E Desh Tomar Aamar.’
Ferdausi Rahman was born in Cooch Behar, West Bengal in India on June 28 in 1941. She completed SSC from Banglabazar School, HSC from Eden College, honours and master’s in Sociology from University of Dhaka, and then also completed course on ‘Staff Notation’ from Trinity College of Music in London under the UNESCO fellowship programme. Through BTV’s ‘Esho Gaan Shikhi,’ she is still popular among all by
name ‘Khalamoni.’ She got the National Film Award in category of Best Music Director for movie ‘Megher Onek Rong,’ directed by Harunur Rashid. But as a music director, she first worked with late Robin Ghosh jointly for movie ‘Rajdhanir Bukey.’ She has rendered playback songs in 260 movies till now.
According to Ferdausi Rahman, she has recorded more than 5,000 songs including 3 long plays, 500 disk records and 20 audio cassettes. She tied the nuptial knot with mechanical engineer Rezaur Rahman on October 26 in 1966, said the legendary singer.
