Azad Rahman

Azad Rahman (January 1, 1944 – May 16, 2020[1]) was a Bangladeshi composer. He received a gold medal in 2011 from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata.[2]

Azad Rahman
NationalityBangladeshi
OccupationComposer
Spouse(s)Selina Azad

Rahman joined Radio Pakistan (Dhaka Centre) in the mid 1960s and was appointed the first executive director of the (now defunct) National Academy of Performing Arts, was a principal of the Government Music College, and served as the director general of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy for two terms. He provided music for films, radio and TV productions.

Career

Rahman was trained in classical music. As a music director, he set tunes to various songs for Bengali language movies both in West Bengal and Bangladesh. His first movie as a music director was Miss Priyambada (Kolkata). He made his own debut movie Goon Kotha and sang songs including "Dora Kata Dagh Dekhe Bagh Kena Jay," and "Bhalobashar mullo koto." He gave tunes to the patriotic song of Bangladesh "Jonmo Amar Dhonno Holo Maago" sung by Feroza Begum and later by Sabina Yasmin. He was a pianist, performing Indian classical ragas in his piano and traveling the world.[3]

Rahman was one of the pioneers of Bangla Kheyal and wrote lyrics for many raagas. These have been performed on BTV in the Dhrupodi program. He produced the first Bangla Kheyal LP in the 1980s and has also composed and sung Bangla qawwalis. He also played Hindustani raagas on the piano and released as an LP.

Rahman was the founder chairman of Sanskriti Kendra—Centre for Education, Creative and Performing Arts. This center has organized several international music festivals in Dhaka with participants from different countries. He was also on the faculty of Stamford University, Dhaka.

Rahman's wife, Selina Azad, is also a singer. The couple had three daughters.[4]

Rahman died at the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Shymoli on May 16, 2020. He was 76.[1]

References
  1. Azad Rahaman passes away
  2. "BAS Gold Medal Award Ceremony 2011". Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. Haq, Fayza (4 April 2006). "We want to link our music with the rest of the world ---Azad Rahman". The Daily Star.
  4. "Channel i Bangla classical festival". The Daily Star. 13 February 2016.
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