The queen of Lalon songs

Farida Parveen drew the attention of music lovers through her Lalongeeti filled with passion and dedication.

Coming upon Farida Parveen's residence was not an easy task. We practically had to gallivant from place to place hunting for her house. Fortunately, Farida Parveen's name is well known amongst the people living in the area. Several of them directed us to her house, where she welcomed us with a lazy but easy smile.

Clad in a simple black and white saree, Farida's eyes twinkled while she spoke of her first teachers. 'I had learnt my first ABCs of music from Kamal Chakrabarty at Magura at the age of four. Nazrul's songs were my initial passion. Eventually I caught hold of Lalon.'

'The depth and inner meaning of the lyrics of Lalon is a akin to Sufism which caters for peace and love among human race. Some brand him as a humanist. This is so because he was against the social caste, creed and religious bindings. His own words reflect such ideas where he utters shob lokey koi Lalon ki jaat shongsarey"' says Farida.

She speaks of the early Fakir tradition, when during Dol Purnima, Lalon would sit with his disciples and sing to their heart's desire. Even now this tradition continues in many parts of the country. It was right after independence in Kushtia, when a family friend and Guru Maksed Ali Shai asked Farida to sing one of Lalon's compositions at one of these traditional gatherings. Farida's initial response was negative. However, when her father, whose job used to take the family from region to region, uttered his desire to have his only child sing at this gathering, Farida agreed and sang Shotyo balo shupothe chalo, her very first Lalon song. The appreciation and the love Farida received that night was enough to have her go deep within the heart of Lalon Fakir both as a person and a poet.

Creases suddenly appear on her face, when asked about the Lalon Academy in Kushtia. 'Sadly, this academy has not produced any individual dedicated to Lalon or to his compositions. The institute has the name, but does not posses the academics or the right ingredients to run the proper school of Lalon.'

In August 2002, along with the Japan government, the Farida Parveen project committee was formed which made her travel all over Japan, where she spoke of Lalon and rendered his songs, to the Japanese' delight. 'This kind of a project was never done with a foreign singer in Japan before.' she mentions.

Besides her professional life, Farida also has a life very personal and dear to her, comprising her four children, students, housework and music. 'I do my own work at home, if no help is around. I prefer to finish up with my housework before my students come home.'

When asked about the various re-mixed versions of the original Lalon songs, which are coming out today and are being sung by popular artistes, she says that as long as the artists learn and develop the correct technique of singing the Lalon songs, she does not have any kind of problems. The magic in Lalon Shah lies with its tunes. 'In re-mixes the tune often tends to sway away from the original flavour. The new generation has come to appreciate the lyrics and tunes no doubt, but they should also be able to relate with what is pure and original. The media has all the advantage of presenting these songs with care and high professionalism. Modern and developed musical instruments and technology can be used to make the compositions sound better, but the tunes should not be manipulated in any way.' said Farida Parveen the queen of Lalon songs.

Her face lights up when she talks of her students. 'My students come to me from far away places like Kishore Ganj, Sylhet, even Japan, who visit me once a year.'

Farida also enjoys listening to Tagore songs. She finds many of the songs very similar to Lalon's own compositions. 'In fact, our national anthem is a carbon copy of one of Lalon's compositions' says Farida.

Tagore termed Lalon as his Kibiya Lakkhi since the Noble Laureate was himself deeply influenced by his Baul songs. Baul songs were later on extensively used in the songs of Tagore. The message of the Baul songs are for peace and tranquility.

According to Farida Parveen, singing Lalon's compositions requires deep respect for our culture and also our country. Farida portrays an incredible sense of patriotism in her words, and the love, dedication and respect for her country, music and Lalon are always seen hovering in her eyes strengthening everyone around her.