The three-day-long ‘Bangla Utshab 2019’ is scheduled to kick off today at the Nazrul Mancha in south Kolkata, India. The theme of the festival is ‘Dui Bangla: Seemana Bhule, Ek Sur-e’. Attending the festival, eminent singers Fahmida Nabi and Bappa Mazumder from Bangladesh will be performing together for the first time in Kolkata.

DhakaLive has news that Bappa Mazumder is currently touring in Darjeeling with his wife. He will reach Kolkata today, while Fahmida Nabi has already reached the city yesterday.

Interestingly, today is Fahmida Nabi’s birthday and she is excited to spend the day in Kolkata and sing for the audience there. She said she will miss her family members and her friends there.

“I can’t tell you exactly how I feel on the eve of my birthday! But I have to perform on my birthday. This birthday is going to be quite unique from the perspective of a singer. I have invited my friends in Kolkata to come to the festival. I hope they will enjoy it,” she said.

Bappa Mazumder said that apart from singing their solo songs, the singers will be singing some of their duet songs.  “It has always been a pleasure to sing as a representative of the country. To tell the truth, it’s a unique feeling to perform outside the country. I’m really grateful to the organisers of the festival and hope there will a large crowd in the festival,” he added.

Sabina Yasmin (Bangladesh) and Arati Mukherjee (India) will be awarded with lifetime achievement award at the festival this year. l

Photo courtesy l Mohsin Ahmed