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Khondokar Faruk Ahmed (1 January 1940 - 11 July 2001) was a prominent Bangladeshi singer. He was a pioneer of modern Bangla songs. [1]
Faruk was born on 1 January 1940 in Bogra. His father was a police officer. He studied at Bogra Zilla School, Rangamati Zilla School and Jagannath College. Manna Dey was his favorite singer. He received training in classical music from music teacher Mithun Dey. [2]
Faruk was admitted to the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka. His friend Parvin Begum discovered his musical talent and encourage him to sing at various functions. Singer Anowar Uddin Khan and thespian Nazmul Huda motivated him to pursue a career in music. Sachin Dev Burman enthusiastically praised him when he performed at a function in Mumbai. [3]
In 1961, he passed auditions for Dhaka Radio. He became a familiar name after lending his voice to the film Chawa Pawa, directed by Narayan Ghosh Mita. Later he sang in films like Abhirbhab, Etotuku Asha, Deep Nebhe Nai , Nil Akasher Niche , Jibon Sathi, Alor Michil , Swapno Diye Ghera, Ashikkhito . [2] He was the first choice of Composers for the voice behind leading Bangladeshi Actor Abdur Razzak's lips.Songs like “Neel akasher niche ami rasta cholechi eka” (Under the blue sky, I walk alone), “Ami nijer mone nijei jeno gopone dhora porechi” (As if secretly caught by my own heart), “Amar e gaan tumi shunbe, jani shunbe” (I know you will listen to my song), “Na hoy ektu kichu ogo tumi bolo” (At least say something, my dear), “Ar koto dure ure jabi ore amar bolaka mon” (How far will you fly away, my crane-like heart), “Kothay tomay jeno dekhechi” (I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere), “Rikto hate jare phirae dile ogo bondhu” (O friend, whom you turned away empty-handed), and “Amar bou keno kotha koy na” (Why doesn’t my wife speak to me?) were all instant hits in films. [4] He sang duets with Sabina Yasmin, Ferdousi Rahman, Shahnaz Rahmatullah.He also lent his voice to patriotic chorus songs alongside Ajit Roy, Mahmudun Nabi and Syed Abdul Hadi. [5] Eminent Bangladeshi Singer Runa Laila's debut Bangladeshi song "O Jibon Sathi Tumi Amar" was a duet with Faruk. [6] His song "Kache Eshe Tumi Bolo" from the film Abirbhab was also popular. [7]
His radio songs — “Basonti rong sharee pore” (Wearing a sari of spring’s color), “Sedin tumi ki jeno ki bhabchhile” (That day you were thinking something, what was it?), “Prothom dekhar shei din” (That day of our first meeting), “Ke jeno aral hote dake amare” (Someone calls me from behind the veil), and “Sohagi lo ki deb bolo” (O beloved, tell me what gift you desire) — resonated throughout the entire country. [4]
Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, impressed by Ahmed's rendition of the song "Rickshawala Bole Kare Aj Ghrina Koro", awarded him a gold medal. The song was popular among the working class. [3]
Faruk was present at the first recording of the national anthem of Bangladesh alongside Ajit Roy, Nilufar Yasmin, Mahmudun Nabi, Sabina Yasmin and other prominent singers. [8]
In 1968, Faruk was named best television singer in a poll of readers' poll conducted by The Express. [5] He received the 1974 Bachsas Film Award for the song "Dinbodoler Din Eseche Kaan Pete Oi Shono" from the film Alor Michil. [8] . An organization based in the United States awarded him the title of "Hunting Singer" in 1980 for his song "Ami Je Pothik Dekhechi." He also received the Bhasani Padak, Rishijo award and Shere Bangla Padak. [8] [3]