Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's endeavour falls short

Artiste performing on the last day of the festival

"Over 100 of prominent and upcoming singers such as Farida Parveen, Pagla Bablu, Sameer Baul and others were invited to the festival from different corners of the country as well as institutions such as Department of Theatre and Music, University of Dhaka, and Music College. Another attraction of the festival was the presentation of research papers on Lalon by Dr Tapan Bagchi, Mohsin Hossain and Asafudaullah," asserted Abul Kalam Shafi Ahmed (Shafi Kamal), the director of the Department of Music and Dance of BSA.

However, the arrangement raised question amongst the viewers.

Jamaluddin Bulu, one of the viewers who attended the festival, said, "Like millions of Lalon lovers I came here to listen to the renditions of the mohajans (devotees) from the akhra (den) of Kushtia. I'm concerned about the distortion of Lalon songs, which UNESCO has acclaimed as part of 'Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'. My aim was to discover the difference between Lalon songs presented by the mohajans and that of the renowned musicians who render songs for the urban ear. But, I'm frustrated when I see so many upcoming urban singers in the festival who are not attuned to Lalon music."

Shafi Kamal said, "One has to realise the ambience of a festival. It was not a musical soiree on Lalon songs, in which only selected prominent singers participate. Because of some unavoidable political crisis many of the invited Lalon devotees from Kushtia could not attend. To increase the number of the singers for a festival we had to compromise. That's why we invited even the singers of other folk genres who sing Lalon songs. Moreover, our aim is to encourage younger singers."

However, on condition of anonymity, a prominent folk singer who also sings Lalon songs, said, "In my long music career I've never seen Shilpakala do justice to its role as a promoter of the arts. It is evident that at the end of the fiscal year several departments of BSA arrange 'eye wash' festivals to 'utilise' the annual budget (except Department of Fine Arts). Despite being a recognised Lalon as well as folk singer, I was not invited. "

The principal objectives of BSA are to represent the cultural heritage of Bangladesh and foster the arts. The activities of the academy include extending patronage to artists, conducting research, arranging art exhibitions and festivals of music and dance at national and international levels. It is imperative that BSA lives up to expectations.