When Sanzida Mahmood Nandita woke up to a screenshot from fellow musician Shuvendu Das Shuvo, she thought it was a joke.
The image showed Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman sharing their cover of Saawariya on his verified social media account. Nandita’s first reaction was not excitement but disbelief. She even responded with a laughing emoji.
Only after Shuvo called and she checked Rahman’s profile herself did reality begin to sink in.
“I called Shubhendu da and asked, ‘Is this real?’ The first thing I did was check whether Rahman’s account was genuine or fake. Then I saw it was a verified account. I was shocked! It took me quite a while to process everything because whenever something amazing happens, I forget how to express myself,” she told Times of Bangladesh.
For the singer, the unexpected recognition was the latest milestone in a journey that began far from the spotlight.
Born in Faridpur and raised in Munshiganj, Nandita moved to Dhaka to study at City College, where she started formal music training at Chhayanaut. While studying at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, she competed in Bangladeshi Idol in 2013 and finished seventh among the top 10 contestants. Since then, she has built a career as both a singer and presenter.
Her performances in Coke Studio Bangla’s Bulbuli and Darale Duare introduced her to a wider audience. Later, she and Shuvendu Das Shuvo launched their cover music project, Moji & Co. It was the duo’s latest rendition of Saawariya that eventually reached Rahman.
Ironically, the song was never meant to become such a defining moment.
“What happens for us usually happens suddenly. What isn’t meant to happen doesn’t happen, no matter how much we plan,” Nandita said.
She recalled recording the song spontaneously on a rainy evening while taking a break from work in the studio. Listeners embraced the cover, and many tagged Rahman on social media. Even then, she never imagined it would stand out among countless other versions.
Rahman has previously said that he uses social media to discover emerging talent. Asked whether she hopes to receive a call from the legendary composer one day, Nandita said she prefers to leave such things to fate.
“I don’t worry about whether someone will call me or not. I believe that if I do my work properly, I’ll receive whatever is meant for me. But if that call ever comes, it would be like a dream coming true.”
Rahman’s appreciation joins a growing list of recognitions the duo has received over the years.
Poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay has personally praised their work. Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay regularly listens to their music and encourages them. More recently, Rabindra Sangeet exponent Jayati Chakraborty commended their cover of Ghulam Ali’s ghazal Salona Sa Sajan.
Yet, for Nandita, these moments carry a meaning that goes far beyond praise.
“When we started Moji & Co., we never imagined all this. It was our breathing space. We created this music entirely for ourselves, as food for the soul. When such respected people appreciate our work, it no longer feels worldly. It feels heavenly.”
After spending more than a year and a half producing cover songs, Nandita and Shuvo have now turned their attention to original music.
She dreams of taking those songs around the world and believes Bangladesh’s music industry needs more collaboration between artists.
“There is still a shortage of artist collaborations in Bangladesh. I’d be happy to see more collaborations like these.”
The road, however, has not always been easy.
Nandita said that, especially as a woman, she often had to compromise in the early years of her career. At times, she worked with people she did not want to work with simply to survive. Today, she finally has the freedom to decide which projects to accept and whom to collaborate with.
Even so, she believes artists still face unnecessary struggles.
She pointed to poor organisation at many events and said performers are not always given the respect or basic facilities they deserve.
With summer bringing fewer stage shows, Nandita said an artist’s busiest work often happens away from the spotlight through practice, learning new instruments, exploring fresh ideas and constantly striving to improve.
Among everyone who celebrated Rahman’s recognition, one person came to her mind first — her late father.
“My mother is very happy. My mother-in-law, singer Shakila Zafar, was overjoyed. The love I’ve received from my family and friends has touched me deeply,” she said.
Nandita also spoke warmly about the support she receives at home.
“My husband is a very supportive person. My mother-in-law is the same. She loves me dearly. We have a beautiful, cosy little home. I don’t think I could have asked for anything more.”
For now, she sees Rahman’s recognition not as the destination but as encouragement to keep moving forward.
She believes her greatest achievement still lies ahead and hopes her original music will become the foundation of that journey.
