Passion for melody

Shelu Barua performing at a show

Shelu has released two audiocassettes: songs of yesteryears and a collection of Nazrul songs.

Among the favourite songs he has rendered are Jobey tulshi tolay priyo shondhya belay and Shonar meye shonar meye. He likes to perform melodious songs, including modern, Lalon, Atul Proshad, folk, ghazal, pure classical, semi-classical and also songs in other languages. He says, "I like melodious songs of any discipline. My favourite singers are Bade Gulam Ali, Salamat and Nazakat Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh, Lata Mangeshkar, Hemanto Mukhapadhyay, Manna Dey, SD Burman, Subir Nandi, Mita Haque and Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya."

Shelu began to pick up the elements of music from his brother Anupam Barua and learned classical music under Ustad Abdul Latif for several years. His other mentors are Phul Muhammad Khan, Nani Boshak and Mithun Dey. He gained admission at Chhayanaut to learn more about music but didn't continue till the end. He won the gold medal in the junior group in the category of Nazrul songs at the East Pakistan Music Competition in 1969. Eminent singers like Mitali Mukharjee, Subir Nandi, Farida Perveen, Abida Sultana and others also took part in the competition in different categories.

He has been performing songs on TV and radio since his childhood. However, according to Shelu, "Among all the media, I prefer the stage because I get a direct feedback from the audience. In one sitting, I usually perform about 20 songs."

On the occasion of Eid, Shelu will release two other albums: Shaibal Cottager Balcony, containing modern songs, and Amarey proshno korey neel drubatara, an album containing songs of yesteryears.

At present he is the Organising Secretary of Bangladesh Sangeet Parishad and the Vice President of a private bank. "The former organisation strives to promote promising singers by giving them a platform in various programmes," he says.

About the pivotal role that music plays in his life, Shelu asserts, "Maybe I do not live on music, but I don't render songs amateurishly. I believe in efficiency and perfection. Music should be worshipped and I wouldn't be able to survive without it."