Tonatuni releases three albums for the Baishakh

Hey Nirupama is a Rabindra Sangeet album presenting a blend of songs and poems, inaugurated earlier by artist Mostofa Munwar. The album contains duets as well as solos by popular Rabindra Sangeet artistes Papiya Sarwar, Kaderi Kibria and Mita Haq, and recitation by Mujibur Rahman Dilu. Shedin dujone dulechinu bone, Badhu michhe raag korona, Mone robe kina robe are some of the splendid tunes of the cassette.

Bhorer Doyel is an album of modern Bangla songs performed by Sabina Yasmeen, Haimanti Shukla, Subeer Nandi, Shakila Zafar and MA Khaleque. There are also old Bangla tunes like Chokher jole gora, Harano diner majhe, Pagol mon and others by Late Alamgir Kabir and Syed Abdul Hadi.

Ami Patheri Baul is a folk album by Arif Dewan and contains a good number of songs like O majhire ghate bhirao, Dukkher shari gaiya ami and others.

Papyia Sarwar, Mita Haq, Arif Dewan, Shakila Zafar and the music director of the three albums Sujeyo Shyam were present at the programme. Mujibur Rahman Dilu of Tonatuni conducted the whole programme.

'Though we haven't been able to release so-called hit cassettes so far, we never gave up our vision of quality productions for cheap yet popular songs. And we are trying hard to gain the international standard in both audio and visual media', said Dilu about their new venture to make music video of Rabindra Sangeet.

'Tonatuni wants to be the initiator of the royalty system in the country to assist the artistes as well as to improve the standard of the music industry', Dilu added. 'We are not given proper remuneration for our albums and it is pathetic to watch the pirated version, that too in very bad condition,' said Papiya Sarwar. She, however, praised Tonatuni for always helping to conserve the authenticity of music, and said, 'It is encouraging that Tonatuni will come forward to initiate the royalty custom.'

In her speech Mita said: 'We are hopeful that Tonatuni will promote music in its pure form among the next generation.' She also highlighted the necessity of royalty tradition, as it is a common custom everywhere in the world. Shakila Zafar, Sujeyo Shyam and Arif Dewan also raised the same question and were proud to be in touch with the production house.

After the discussion session, songs were played from the three albums. Singer Kiran Chandra Ray, dancer Tamanna Rahman and others were also present on the occassion.

With Tonatuni at the helm, the talented artists of this country can hope for better times ahead.