For Bangladeshi music lovers, Shayan Chowdhury Arnob is more than a singer; he is a source of inspiration, a comforting presence, and a beacon of light in times of darkness. Recently, Hussein, an ardent fan, shared on Facebook that how Arnob’s song ‘Hariye Giyechhi’ helped him rediscover hope during the Covid-19 pandemic. Such heartfelt connections are common among Arnob’s listeners, who have long praised his experimental melodies, poignant lyrics, and soulful singing for their almost therapeutic effect.
After a decade-long wait, Arnob fans can finally rejoice now, as the acclaimed singer has finally returned with his new album with 8 new songs, ‘Bhallage Na’. The launch event took place on Thursday, October 30, at a café in Banani, where the album’s first song, ‘Dustu Chele’, penned by poet Zahid Haider, was unveiled, alongside a preview of some of the songs from the album, and a live performance featuring some of Arnob’s most popular songs.
Speaking about the album, which is released under Adhkhana Music with support from Eastern Bank PLC, Arnob said, “It’s my first solo album in ten years, and I’m genuinely thrilled about this work. I’ve always wanted to work with poetry, so I’ve set three beautiful poems by three different poets to music. Alongside Dustu Chele, I’ve worked on Shreejato’s ‘Uronto Sab Joker’ and Jibanananda Das’s popular poetry ‘Hai Chil’, which is also my first collaboration with The Seesaw Band’s arrangement.”
The album also features songs written by his Kolkata-based friend Taufiq Riaz (who wrote the immensely popular ‘Bhalobasha Tarpor’, ‘Muhurto,’ ‘Tor Jonno’, ‘Somoy Kate’ etc); and the late Rajib Ashraf, who composed some of Arnob’s most iconic hits, including ‘Hok Kolorob’, ‘Naam Chilo Na’, and ‘Protiddhoni’. The title-track ‘Bhallage Na’ is the last song Rajib handed to Arnob, and the album is dedicated to the late lyricist and poet.
When asked why it took ten years to release a new solo album, Arnob explained, “My work with Coke Studio Bangla kept me busy, along with other projects over the years. Amid all this, I finally found the time to experiment and have fun creating something new; and hopefully, the next album won’t take so long.”
Tracks from ‘Bhallage Na’ will be available on Arnob’s official Spotify channel, with music videos for select songs including ‘Uronto Sab Joker’, ‘Dushtu Chhele’, ‘Hai Chil’, ‘Tomar Mati’, ‘Okale Brishti’ and the title track were previewed at the launch.
The event also featured remarks from M Khorshed Anowar, Deputy Managing Director & Head of Retail and SME Banking Division at Eastern Bank PLC, and Arnob’s wife Sunidhi, who performed the album’s title track “Bhallage Na” with him, shared her own reflections on the project. Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director at Eastern Bank PLC, was also present among the attendees.
Arnob’s previous albums, including ‘Chaina Bhabish’ (2005), ‘Hok Kolorob’ (2006), ‘Doob’ (2008), ‘Arnob and Friends Live’ (2009), ‘Rod Boleche Hobe’ (2010), ‘Adhekh Ghume’ (2012), ‘Khub Doob’ (2015), ‘Ondho Shohor’ (2020) and ‘Arnob and Friends 2’ (2022), have won widespread acclaim.
Expectations for ‘Bhallage Na’ are sky-high among fans eager for Arnob’s signature blend of soul-stirring music and lyrical depth.
