With their unique melody, singers of the Rangpur District Shilapakala Academy such as Ranjit Kumar Das, Shefali Rani Roy, Bhupati Bhushan Barma, Pallabi Sarkar Maloti, Rowshan Ara Soheli and others attracted the urban audience. And their rendition of the folk genre was much more spontaneous than that of the singers from Dhaka and other districts.

Thirteen singers from Rangpur and 20 singers from the other districts rendered Bhawaiya at the Plaza of the National Art Gallery at BSA on April 21.

Bhawaiya is classified into two styles: one presentation is in melancholy notes, while the other has a chatka or skipping tone. The first type is emotional in theme and usually about a young woman's tender feelings of love and separation. The fast paced chatka is comic and light. It is about expectations and ambitions, about conflicts between husband and wife as well as about the ups and downs of family life. Singers at the musical soiree rendered light chatka more than melodious Bhawaiya.

Bhawayia songs presented at the soiree are Fande pariya baga kande re, Oki gariyal bhai, Dhiko dhiko dhiko moishal re, Je jan premer bhab jane na and others. Other songs presented at the programme included Aji Kattush ki kuttush Koriya, Mui Bajalo Mor, Aaisho mor kala chan, Rongpuriya chengra bondhure, Bapui changra re and many chatka songs.

Such initiatives taken by BSA to promote the endangered folk musical form of Bhawaiya, was widely appreciated. In the process, upcoming Bhawaiya singers at the district level will get much needed encouragement to refine their musical skills.