Tête-à-tête
Momotaj: The singer of the masses
Ershad Kamol
Momotaj Begum is a well-known name for music lovers both in the cities and rural areas. She claims the distinction of having released a record 600 music albums since 1992. The popular albums are Return Ticket, Ashol Boithoki, Bhaab Boithoki, Murshider Talim and Ronger Bazar. Explaining the success of her music, she says, 'These albums have rich lyrics and a distinctive melody.' She also has her favourite singles. 'In every show I sing some common songs which are close to my heart. The songs are--Rasul Ashechhe, Khaja Baba, Mayer Kandon, Mala Kar Lagia Gathi, Doyal Baba and Pankchar Hoiya Gele.''Momotaj's success was hard won. Recalling the early struggles to popularise her audio album, she says that she released two albums without any remuneration from the production house. 'When those albums got popularity, the producer (who I would not like to mention) paid me Taka 2,000 for my next album on the condition that if the album did not do well, I would have to repay the money,' says Momotaj. To the readers, it might seem incredible that in the beginning of her singing career Momotaj used to record two albums a day without any rehearsal. 'In those days, the composers only provided me the lyrics and the music tracks of the songs. And I had to record the song at one attempt. In my early days I used to record duets with popular Bauls like Lal Mia Boyati, Porosh Ali, Abul Shorkar and Ashim Baul, ' she reminisces. Momotaj was introduced to music by her father Modhu Boyati. He used to take her along for stage programmes. Then she learned music from Matal Razzaque Dewan whom she considers as her mentor. On the stage she usually performs different types of mystic songs like Boithoki, Pallapalli, Murshidi and Marfoti which she had learned from her Ustad and her quality songs as well. Talking about her singing, she says, she enjoys singing mystic songs, Bichheder Gaan and folk songs which has the flavour of Sufism to some extent. She has already visited all parts of Bangladesh and many parts of India, particularly the North Eastern states. She has also gone to USA, UK, Australia, Italy and so on with government and non-government teams. Despite her formidable success as a singer, Momotaj has not forgotten her roots in Shingair village in the Manikgonj district. Her philanthropic leanings have led to the establishment of an eye hospital in the village because as she says, 'The poor rural people do not have the resources to come to the city for treatment.' She, along with her husband, Romjan Ali Chairman, also supports many schools, colleges, mosques and madrasas in Manikgonj district. Momotaj has won many awards such as the Bangladesh Cine Reporters Association Award(BACHSAS) and Dhaliud award among others. The public recognition of her talent should be an inspiration for the new singers venturing out into the music world.
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Momotaj Begum |
