Music Director
Shubal Das, the famous Bangladesh music director, was born in Brahmanbaria seventy seven years ago. His interest in music started from his school days. During his early years, he visited local stores where musical instruments were sold.
Another important influence on his musical interest surprisingly came from the Muslim call to prayer. He recalls that not far from his house was situated the Brahmanbaria madrassa and the imam’s misti (sweet) voice used to wake him up early every morning. He used to get up to listen to the morning azan (Muslim call to prayer) as he loved to hear it.
Although he developed his career in music, this was however not inevitable. In fact, as well as being a music lover, he was also an accomplished sportsman, and it was because of his love for sports that he did not take much interest in academic study. He came to Dhaka City in 1944 to fulfil his dream of becoming a successful footballer. However, he soon changed his mind and decided to dedicate his life towards film making and music, and the rest is history.
Among his accomplishments, there are a number of immortal songs that he gave music to, such as “Tumije Amar Kabita” (you are my poem) and “Ghaneri Khatai Shorolipi Likhe Bolo Ki Habe” (write on the music pad and say what will happen). The discovery and making of famous singers like Runa Laila and Syed Abdul Hadi were also part of his achievements.
Shubal Das has four children and of them have followed the father’s footsteps. While his daughter’s (Shubarna Sen Gupta) sweet voice can generate a state of musical concentration, his son Shajal Boron Das is himself an accomplished music director.
Among the numerous influences behind the music of Shubal Das, include foreign and old Bangladesh folk music. He feels that the music of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are interlinked by a long tradition and it is reflected in what he produces.
During his Pakistan period, he worked in Lahore from 1960 for nine years. It was while in the then West Pakistani city he met a young Bengali girl from the then East Pakistan, and gave her a chance by coaching her to become the famous Runa Laila that we all know and love her sweet voice so much.
He recalls how Runa Laila turned up with her mum at his studio in Karachi. As he was very busy he asked them to come back and have breakfast with him the next day. It was during the early breakfast encounter that he recognised the talents of Runa Laila. When he heard her voice he loved it so much that he decided to produce a song with her, and ‘Ghaneri Khatai Shorolipi Likhe’ was the result.
About the city of Dhaka, he feels that this is his home and he loves the neighbourliness that exists amongst its residents. Shubal points out that he loves ‘Bangla Katha’ (people speaking in Bengali). As examples, he says that when people see or meet other people on the streets they would say ‘kuthai jasso’ (where are you going?); ‘edike asho’ (come here); ‘ey uke cha deo’ (please give him tea). He loves this Bengali antorikata (affectionate feelings) towards each other.
He loves the old part of Dhaka City the most, especially the dishes that originated with the Moghuls. But in 2004, he pointed out that at the age of seventy-six his doctor forbade him from eating some of the items that he used to love so much, such as the tasty sweets of Dhaka that he used to enjoy in his earlier years.
After a long life of achievements Subah Das died in September 2005.
