“Music requires a lifetime of devotion”

One of the torchbearers of Nazrul Sangeet in Bangladesh, Shaheen Samad has an illustrious music career that spans over five decades. Trained in classical music by Ustad Ram Gopal, Ustad Fazlul Haque and Ustad Ful Mohammad, she attended BAFA and later on, Chhayanaut where she found Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, Sohrab Hossain and Anjali Roy as mentors. At one point, she also trained under Dr. Sanjida Khatun, one of the troupe leaders of Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha.

For her lifetime contribution to music, Shaheen Samad has been honoured with the country's highest civilian award Ekushey Padak this year. She with other recipients received the award yesterday (February 20).  

“I am elated and touched, as many of my fans are congratulating me over the phone, SMS and social media. I feel extremely lucky to receive the award during my lifetime, rather than posthumously,” said Shaheen Samad.  

Shaheen Samad vividly remembers the turbulent days of 1971; on a truck with fellow members of Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha -- Lubna Mariam, Naila Zaman, Bipul Bhattacharjee, Mahmudur Rahman Benu, Dalia Nausheen, Debu Chowdhury and others -- she went from camp to camp, singing to refugees and Freedom Fighters to boost their morale.

“This was our contribution to the War. The sight of Freedom Fighters being moved to tears while listening to these songs is something I'll never forget,” shared the artiste.

“Musical practice requires a lifetime of devotion and perseverance. I think I am yet to learn more to perform better. The present generation of artistes are prone to their ornamentation rather than their melodic practice,” added Shaheen Samad.  

Thanks to her personal initiative, a collection of 14 timeless songs in an album “Rupantor-er Gaan” was brought out by Laser Vision on Pahela Baishakh, 2011. Shaheen Samad and Enamul Hoque recorded songs for the album. The singer urged both government and private institutions to permanently preserve the songs that stirred our nation during the War of Liberation.     

She also wants a live performance of those moving songs on TV channels, at least one song in a week and thus encompassing the entire year and not only in the months of December, February and March.