"Our folk songs have a universal appeal" --Meena Barua

Meena Barua

Meena has earned popularity for her soulful rendering of Bichchhedi Gaan (melancholy folk songs). Her presentation of the song Jare Ja Chithi Leikha Dilam, written and composed by Abdul Latif, has placed her at the peak of folk genre.

On her learning years, Meena says, "I embarked on music studies at the age of five. Gopal Sarkar and KM Munaim were my first mentors. I trained under PC Gomez and Phul Mohammad in classical music. Then I learnt folk music from Abdul Latif, Osman Khan and Mamtaz Ali Khan. Morshed Ali Shah was my mentor for Lalon Geeti while Krishna Kirtan and Bijoy Sarkar were my guides for Kirtan songs. Later, I completed Sangeet Visharad, the highest degree in music, from Prachin Kala Kendra, India."

"I sing different genres of folk songs like Kirtan, Lalon, Bichchhedi and others. However, the Bichchhedi style greatly appeals to me. During my stage performances I am often requested to sing such melodious songs," adds Meena.

She has been singing for the radio since 1967. In the course of her 38-year kaleidoscopic journey in the music arena, Meena has sung numerous folk songs and playbacks. Meena says, "I was once a busy playback singer. Nowadays however, films are not a suitable place for veteran folk singers.”

Meena Barua is disillusioned with the current scenario of folk music. To quote her, "I see a decline in the audience's musical taste. People nowadays go for folk songs with cheap and tawdry lyrics, which have been popularised by a few commercial singers.

Moreover, because of poor handling of remix and fusion of the folk songs, the authentic tunes of folk songs are fading away. Immediate steps must be taken to preserve our authentic heritage, that is folk music. Otherwise our future generation will be detached from the roots."

"Only radio has enough slots for folk songs. But, nowadays, radio has lost it's popularity amongst the masses. And television has never adequately promoted folk songs to begin with," adds Meena.

She believes, "We should always bear in mind that our folk songs have a universal appeal."

"After the death of Abdul Latif, a production house of Kolkata has released my tribute to him. But no such initiative has been taken in Bangladesh. In Kolkata I am often invited to perform Bijoy Sarkar's Bichchhedi songs, one of the best bards in Bangladesh. He however, never received his due in Bangladesh," claims Meena.

Meena has rendered folk songs at musical programmes in Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore. So far she has released 20 albums, mostly on Bichchhedi genre.

The opinions of artistes who are always true to the cause like Meena should be heard more often.