The voice that moved many

Shahnaz should know. She has been singing for 47 years and acquired a status on par with the other leading singers such as Runa Laila and Sabina Yasmin. The trio has reigned supreme in the music world and seems to have lost none of its appeal. Going back to their early days, Shahnaz recalls singing with Sabina in the children's programmes on radio in Dhaka. Both were all of six years old.

Since then Shahnaz had taken a gigantic step in her musical career. Among her early achievements is an award for best child artiste in a special children's programme organised by Radio Pakistan in 1964. She is also a recipient of the Ekushey Padak, a prestigious award, for her performance in the field of music and culture. This was in 1992. Then there's the National Film Award for best female singer in 1993. She won this award for her song Shagar-er Shaikatey in the film Chutir Phandey.

Though Shahnaz's favourite genres are Adhunik (modern) songs and ghazals, she is also adept at classical, patriotic, folk songs, playbacks and Nazrul songs. Playback singing has been relegated to the backburner. " The melody is absent, the script of the song is mediocre and sometimes the lyrics are vulgar," explains Shahnaz.

Songs that she's known for are Prothom Bangladesh, Ek Baar Jetey Dena Amar Chotto Sonargain and Jey Chhilo Drishtir Shiminaye. In fact, Shahnaz has earned a distinction with her patriotic songs. She recalls singing two patriotic songs-- Joy Bangla Banglar Joy and Sona Sona Lokey-- which used to be played from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation war, inspired the freedom fighters.

Her busy schedule is punctuated by concerts in many parts of the globe. Beginning as a member of the first cultural delegation from Bangladesh to China in 1977 she has also regaled audiences in Pakistan, India, USA, Norway, Sweden, and UK.

With the passage of time, of course she has slowed down. She recognises that the future belongs to a new generation of singers, such as Asif, Munir Khan and Akhi Alamgir.

Now she mostly performs abroad. A major attraction is that her son is in the US. Over the last year she has performed in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Boston and Indianapolis. Once again she will shortly be off to Canada and US at the behest of the Bangali expatriate community.

Shahnaz also points to obstacles that artistes face in the country. In her view, 'Bangladeshi artistes are deprived monetarily. There is no royalty system. When an artiste sings a song on TV or radio or a film all she gets is a small honorarium. The moment she signs a contract the song doesn't belong to her anymore. She does not get the monetary benefit even if the song becomes popular and is played a million times."

Shahnaz is quick to give credit to her gurus. Late Shaheed Altaf Mahmud trained her in Adhunik songs. She had been trained in ghazals by Mahdi Hassan and classical music by Ustad Munir Hossain from Delhi.

What's next for Shahnaz? She has a ready response. " Just yesterday I told my husband that I would like to sing even on my last day on earth. I am a born singer and identify completely with my art."