Commercial interests have taken over talent--Mozakkyer

Muhammad Mozakkyer

'My office room was a hub for all the senior artistes since the early-70s,' recalls Muzakkyer. 'We interacted with the artistes and composers on a regular basis to make the radio programmes a success. Although it is considered next to obsolete nowadays, radio was the only source of entertainment then.'

Muzakkyer has been closely associated with the cultural arena since 1967. He feels privileged to have started his initial career at the radio. After retiring as the Director, recently, he joined a private TV channel.

The high point of his career was when he established links with great composers: Abdul Ahad, Samar Das, Abdul Latif, Ajit Roy, Shujeo Shyam, Alauddin Ali, Anwar Pervez and Selim Ashraf to name a few. This period also saw the rise to popularity of artistes such as Syed Abdul Hadi, Ferdousi Rahman, Khondokar Faruq Ahmed, Sabina Yasmeen, Mahmudun Nabi and many more.

'Why is it that the lyricists of timeless songs often go unrecognised?' contemplates cultural personality Muhammad Muzakkyer. In the early 1980s, his song Shukh tumi ki boro jantey ichcha korey, sung by eminent singer Runa Laila, was an instant hit. So were many other songs written by him and sung by Sabina Yasmeen, Samina Nabi and Subir Nandi, among other renowned artistes.

He believes that the songs occupy a permanent place only when the lyrics and the tunes merge together in harmony. Wordless songs are mere tunes, which might be hummed or played through instruments.

'Under what circumstances do you usually compose the lyrics?' I ask. 'It's not a question of timing. This is more or less instinctive. Whenever I feel that words come flocking to my mind, whether it's while I am fishing or during busy hours, I make it a point to write. I am then isolated from the rest of the world. It is something, which cannot be explained. It has to be felt from within,' responds Muzakkyer.

'Are you involved with the music composition as well?' I ask. 'Well, as all other composers, I too have a definite choice regarding the performer of the song. I even take time to decide on the tempo of the song. It is only after my final nod that the song takes a definite shape,' adds Muzakkyer. It then rests entirely upon the artistes to turn the musical creations into a success.

'The audience now demand more bangs for bucks. Compared to present times, I feel that songs of the bygone days expressed deeper feelings. It is not that the presenters were more into showbiz only, in the earlier days they empathised with the compositions. Which is why songs were more intense and compact. As the lyrics and tunes matched with the style of the presenters, it blossomed in melody and mood.'

Muzakkyer boasts of arranging over 1,000 programmes so far, which include the state-sponsored programmes. He takes pride in having organised a dance drama during the SAARC summit in 1997, titled A Symphony of Seven Melodies and later another titled Golden Pigeon. A collector of original records of Kazi Nazrul Islam, Muzakkyer is also involved in research on our National Poet.

Heading the programme department of ntv, Muzakkyer directs a popular programme Kichhu Kotha Kichhu Gaan. Like a whiff of fresh air, contemporary artistes present unique songs of the bygone days through live performances in this programme.

'Entertainment should be more culturally oriented. We have to abstain from shifting from our roots,' asserts Muzakkyer. 'I often feel that my creativity and consciousness is at a dead end as commercial interests have taken over talent. As the clock ticks away it is time to find a solution,' he concludes.