Famous folk singer Farida Parveen has passed away. She passed away at 10:15 pm today, Saturday. (Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un). The news was confirmed to Prothom Alo by Ashish Kumar Chakraborty, Managing Director of Universal Medical College Hospital. She was 71. She is survived by her husband and four children.
Farida Parveen had been suffering from kidney complications for a long time. For some time, the situation had reached such a point that she had to undergo dialysis twice a week. She was taken to Universal Medical College Hospital in Mohakhali on September 2 as part of regular dialysis. But her physical condition deteriorated after dialysis. Then the doctor advised her to be admitted to the hospital. Since then, she has been undergoing treatment in the hospital’s ICU. When her condition deteriorated last Wednesday, it was decided to put her on ventilation. Finally, after all the doctors’ efforts failed, she left for the land of no return.
Born on December 31, 1954 in Singra police station, Natore, Farida Parveen spent 55 years singing. Farida Parveen’s professional music career began in 1968 at the age of 14. After that, she had to go through many ups and downs. She came to the world of music through family ties. Her father was very interested in music. Her grandmother also sang. Due to her father’s job, she had to go to different districts.
When she was in Magura as a child, she was introduced to music by Ustad Kamal Chakraborty. After that, despite various adversities, she did not stay away from her studies. Although she sang various types of songs, her recognition, popularity, and the love of countless people in her artistic life were mainly through singing Lalon Sai’s songs. Since she started singing Lalon’s songs, she has not stopped.
Although Farida Parveen’s journey began with Nazrul Sangeet at first, and later with modern songs, she spent most of her life singing Lalon Sai’s songs. In this regard, Farida Parveen said, ‘It happened through a dramatic incident. A local homeopath doctor in Kushtia was a very impressed listener of my singing. But for some reason, he wanted to hear Lalon songs in my voice. He thought that Lalon’s songs would sound better in my voice. So one day, he suddenly advised me to learn Lalon Fakir’s songs. But at first, I did not want to sing Lalon’s songs. Seeing my reluctance, my father persuaded me to learn singing after much persuasion. He said, “If you don’t like it, don’t sing.” I agreed to this condition and started taking lessons from the pioneer of Lalon music, Mokshed Ali Sai. I learned Lalon’s famous song, “Satya Bol Supathe Chal Ore Amar Mon.” The same year, when I sang the song at the Dola Purnima festival, the audience requested me to sing another song by Lalon. Then I refused to sing. I told the audience, “I have learned to sing one song. I want to sing this one well.” This song became the direction of my new path. Then I gradually learned to understand what was in Lalon’s songs. The spiritual words and philosophy mixed in his songs made me think. At this stage, I felt that Lalon had become an incomparable creator through his creations. After understanding this, I cannot think of anything else except Lalon’s songs.’
Farida Parveen has many memorable memories in her 55-year musical career. She said about one such incident like this, ‘1973. Ustad Makshed Ali Sai planned to bring Baul artists from different akharas to Dhaka to record Lalon’s songs. He was working in the transcription of the radio at that time. I came to Dhaka radio at his invitation. At that time, prominent musicians like Abdul Hamid Chowdhury, Kamal Dasgupta, Samar Das, Quader Jamili were present in the studio. I was very scared. I had to sing in front of them. I received their appreciation by performing a 15-minute solo concert. This is one of my most memorable memories.’
Farida Parveen has been practicing Lalon Sangeet in Kushtia for a long time. Born in Singra, Natore, Farida Parveen was a restless child. She used to run around and play almost all the time. There was a river between her grandfather and grandmother’s house. The name of that branch of Atrai was Gur. Most days, young Farida would cross that river and go from her grandfather’s house to her grandmother’s house. There was a huge pond next to her grandmother’s house. As a child, she would go to that pond to pick lotus flowers with her cousins and siblings.
Farida Parveen liked Sandhya Mukherjee’s songs since childhood. At that time, she did not even realize that she was Sandhya Mukherjee. But she would leave the radio and listen to his songs. Farida Parveen did not grow up in the village without interruption. Because her father worked in the medical field and due to his job transfer, Farida had to move to different places with other family members at different times. Due to this, Farida grew up with the impression of different places. Farida Parveen spent her school life in different cities. However, her school life began in Magura. After studying in several schools, she passed her SSC from Mir Mosharraf Hossain Girls’ School in Kushtia. In 1974, she completed her HSC from Kushtia Girls’ College and graduated from the same college.
Farida Parveen’s singing career began in Magura district. That was in 1957-58, when she was just four or five years old. At that time, Ustad Kamal Chakraborty introduced her to singing in Magura. After that, she took singing lessons from different people wherever she lived. She first learned to sing Nazrul’s songs on the harmonium and in her voice from Ustad Mir Muzaffar Ali. In 1968, she was selected as a registered Nazrul singer of Rajshahi Betar. After the independence of Bangladesh, Farida Parveen came into contact with Lalon Saiji’s songs, when she was living in Kushtia. Their family friend there was Mokshed Ali Sai. In 1973, Farida Parveen took training in Lalon Saiji’s songs by learning the song ‘Satya Bol Supathe Chal’ from him. After the death of Mokshed Ali Sai, she took lessons in Lalon Sangeet from Khoda Box Sai, Brazen Das, Behal Sai, Yasin Sai and Karim Sai.
After independence, Farida Parveen moved to Dhaka. Transcription services started with the songs she sang. Mokshed Ali Sai was at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. He asked Farida Parveen to sing some Lalon songs in Dhaka. At his request, she sang the songs ‘Khachar Bhitar’ and ‘Barir Kache Arshi Nagar’. Then she came from Kushtia and learned Lalon songs from Mokshed Ali Sai and started recording them in transcription. Farida Parveen’s first husband was the renowned lyricist and vocalist Abu Jafar. They had three sons and one daughter; Jihan Faria, Imam Nimeri Upal, Imam Nahil Suman and Imam Nomani Rabbi.
Farida Parveen’s contribution in popularizing the lyrics and melodies of Lalon Saiji’s songs is widely acknowledged. Not only in Bangladesh, but also in the world, she was involved in promoting Lalon Saiji’s lyrics and melodies. She has performed Lalon Sangeet in many countries including Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom. Farida Parveen received the Ekushey Padak from the Bangladesh government in 1987 for her contribution to Lalon Sangeet. Apart from this, she won the National Film Award as the Best Singer (Female) for the song ‘Nindar Kanta’ used in the film ‘Andh Prem’ in 1993. She received the Fukuwaka Prize in Japan in 2008. She is well known as a Lalon singer, and several modern and country songs have become popular in her voice. Notable among them are ‘Tomra Bhule Gech Mallikadir Naam’, ‘Ei Padma Ei Meghna’ etc.
Chief Advisor’s condolences
Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Farida Parveen. In a condolence message, the Chief Advisor said, “Although she sang Nazrul songs and patriotic songs, Farida Parveen is known to the audience as ‘Lalonkanya’. For five decades, the songs of Lalon Sai in her voice have touched the hearts of people. Her songs also highlighted the inner philosophy and meaning of life of our culture to a new level.
The Chief Advisor prayed for the forgiveness of Farida Parveen’s soul and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.
Advisor for Cultural Affairs Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Farida Parveen. In a condolence message, the Advisor said, “Farida Parveen’s contribution will be remembered forever. We remember her with deep respect.” I pray for the forgiveness of the departed soul and express my sincere condolences to his bereaved family.
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