Remembering a true maestro

National Award winning composer and music director Alauddin Ali, a legendary name in Bangladesh's music industry, was one of the finest music directors of not only Bangladesh, but also the entire sub-continent. Today marks the first death anniversary of this maestro.

Born to Ustad Jadob Ali and Zohora Khatun on December 24, 1952, his first musical lessons were from his uncle, Sadeq Ali. In 1968, he joined as an instrumentalist and assistant to Shaheed Altaf Mahmud.

Alauddin Ali's entered the music industry in 1972 was working as an assistant to music director Anwar Parvez. His friend, Abul Umrah Mohammad Fakhruddin, showed him a poem describing the seasons of Bangladesh which Ali transformed into the song, "O Amar Bangla Ma Tor", voiced by noted singer Sabina Yasmin.

At the age of 23, Alauddin Ali signed "Shondhikkhon" in 1975, and since, there has been no looking back for him.  With over 300 film songs to his name, Alauddin Ali was unparalleled when it came to conjuring melody and musical direction. His National Award ventures include "Golapi Ekhon Train-e" (1978), "Sundori" (1979), "Koshai" (1980), "Jogajog" (1988) and "Lakhe Ekta" (1990).

Soon, Ali went on to conjoin hands with renowned director and lyricist Amjad Hossain. This duo has been one of the most influential pairs when it comes to shaping up the musical scene of Bangladesh. Their most noteworthy creations include, "Ami Achhi Thakbo", "Ekta Kotha Bolar", "Keu Jodi Konodin Amare", "Tumi Jodi Shukhi Hou", and "Ronger Manush", among numerous such super hit tracks.

Throughout his career, Alauddin Ali has composed around 5,000 songs which are still among the hearts of Bangla music listeners.          

Alauddin Ali passed away at the age of 68 at the capital's Universal Medical College Hospital at 5:50 on August 9, 2020, after fighting several life-threatening complications including cancer, for a long time. He rests at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur. He is survived by his children -- Afrin Ali, Ajmeri Ali Minu, Showkat Ali Rana, Adrita Alauddin Rajkonnya and popular singer and media personality Alif Alauddin.

"My father was very uncompromising when it came to his work. I still remember how he used to manage it all in the studios during recording," shares Alif Alauddin. "Despite being at the peak of his career, he never let go of the dedication he had had from his days as a struggler, and he never failed to give us family time. Losing him an year ago was painful and his absence is equally painful today. Even today when I close my eyes, I still feel I am sitting by him, sipping my morning tea, as I used to every morning when he was here."