Let the world get back to normal: Tapan Chowdhury
Popular singer Tapan Chowdhury returned to his family in Canada in April this year. He performed Wednesday night on Prothom Alo’s Facebook video show ‘Ghore Boshe Shunabo Gaan’. In an interview with Prothom Alo, the singer talked about his love for music and also his deep respect for Subir Nandi
So how are you doing?
I am doing all right. My family and I are safe.
How do you spend your time?
I listen to music, spend time with my family.
How come you left Dhaka for Canada in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic?
I had my tickets booked from beforehand so I had to leave. I stayed 14 says in quarantine when I arrived here. What else could I do? The whole world is going through abnormal circumstances. And there is so much bad news, it is very saddening.
When will you be back?
Let the world get back to normal. It is not about just a country or a continent. It is about the whole world. I don’t want to leave the house until things are back to normal.
You sing all sorts of songs – Rabindra sangeet, folk, modern, band music. Which genre do you like the most?
I like good music, no matter what the language or the genre it may be. I enjoy songs as songs, not any category.
What did you sing on Prothom Alo’s Facebook video show?
I sang a folk song, ‘Amar haat bandhibi, paa bandhibi, mon bandhibi kemne’. This song is very meaningful today.
Then I sang my own song ‘O kon Fagun’ in memory of Subir Nandi. I sang, ‘Polash futechhe, shimul futechhe,’ ‘Kando kene mon,’ ‘Oi Mohashindhur opar hote’ and ‘Dhonyo dhanyo pushpo bhora.’ The last two are very close to my heart. I miss my country and always will.
There was no official programme in memory of Subir Nandi on his death anniversary recently.
My life is entwined with Subirda’s life in so many ways. I hold him in high esteem. I never imagined he would depart so soon. We had an online get together in his memory on his death anniversary. Jahangir Rana arranged that from London. Joining from Bangladesh were lyricist Kabir Bakul, Subir Nandi’s daughter Falguni and singer Shakila Sharma. We honoured him with our words and songs.