Acclaimed Bengali singer, lyricist and composer Kabir Suman performed in Dhaka after 13 years at a solo music programme held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Saturday.
Kabir Suman last came to Dhaka in October 2009 and returned to Kolkata after being prevented from performing music at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. He has not come to Dhaka again though 13 years have passed. In an interview, he said that he would never come to Bangladesh again.
After 13 years, Kabir Suman’s fans in Bangladesh got the opportunity to experience his live performance at the music programme titled ‘The 30-year Celebration of Tomake Chai: Suman’s Bengali Song and Kheyal in Dhaka’.
Before beginning his performance, Kabir Suman talked about his music career. He said, ‘I came to Bangladesh for the first time to sing songs at the age of 47. My first solo album of self-penned and self-composed songs Tomake Chai was released when I was 43 years old.’
‘Earlier, when I came here, I came alone but now I have become old. I face problems to move and need help from others. I am suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and cannot play guitar anymore but do not feel sad about it,’ added the singer.
‘I still can sing and it is much for me,’ said Kabir Suman.
The legendary singer began his performance of his modern Bengali songs with Ek Ekta Din, following which he continued with rendering Surja Doyer Rage, Jage Jage Raat and others.
Event management organisation Peephole organised the music programme, sponsored by the Bengal Classic Tea, marking the 30th anniversary of his popular solo album titled Tomake Chai.
Tomake Chai is the debut solo album of Kabir Suman consisting of 12 songs released in 1992 under the banner of HMV. The first song of the album or the title track is often considered as a milestone, which brought a huge change in Bengali music.
Kabir Suman is scheduled to perform in two more solo music programmes at the same venue on October 18 and 21. He will perform Bangla Kheyal in the second concert and modern Bengali songs in the third concert at 4:30pm each day.
‘We are happy that tickets for Kabir Suman’s concert on October 15 and 21 were sold out within 72 hours after they were available in different outlets. We wish a great success of the concerts,’ said Peephole managing partner Mir Arif Billah.
The three music programmes were scheduled to be held at the Bangladesh National Museum on the same date but the concert venue was changed as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police did not give permission to hold the concert at the Bangladesh National Museum.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner for media Faruk Hossain said that the National Museum was a key point installation which needed to have proper security measures.
The DMP does not have any objection to programmes like discussions with small gathering at the National Museum, Faruk Hossain said, adding that but the Kabir Suman’s concert would turn a large scale public gathering where ensuring security checks of audiences would be difficult.
Faruk also said, ‘Besides, there are many artefacts with historical and cultural values in the museum. The large scale gathering might pose a concern for the artefacts.’