Lalon songs reverberated at Shilpakala Academy

Lalon singers performing on the first day of the festival

Fisheries and Livestock minister Abdullah al Noman inaugurated the festival recently. Ahmed Nazir, director general of BSA, presided over the opening programme, while Shafi Kamal, director of Department of Music and Dance, delivered the welcome speech.

Discussants in the programme praised the initiative taken by BSA to patronise the promising Lolon singers. In his speech DG of BSA Ahmed Nazir said, "Because of faulty documentation, there are several controversies regarding Lalon, the legendary mystic bard of the country. There is also the dilemma in case of preserving authentic lyric and tune of Lalon songs. Proper initiatives should be taken by scholars to avoid all these controversies regarding Lalon, whose works are assets to our culture."

15 singers rendered Lalon songs in the opening day. The programme began with rendition of Balo swarup by Umme Jahan Arju. However, presentations by the singers, except Pagla Bablu and Sameer Baul, were not up to the mark. In most cases, high-pitched vocals of the singers did not incorporate with the theme of Lalon songs.

Stentorian presentations by Pagla Bablu and Sameer Baul were a relief at the musical soiree.