Few voices in South Asian music evoke as much reverence as Runa Laila’s, a singer whose melodies have defined generations and blurred borders. Now, her extraordinary life and artistry are inspiring a new form of tribute through a novel.
Titled ‘Mayar Singhashon’, the forthcoming novel by Abdullah Al Muktadir reimagines the legendary singer’s journey through the language of fiction.
Published by Chandrabindu Prokashon, the book will be released on November 17, marking what the publishers describe as “a new fusion of music and literature in Bangla writing.”
Unlike a conventional biography, Mayar Singhashon does not merely chronicle Runa Laila’s six-decade career. Instead, it drifts between melody and memory, portraying a woman’s creative odyssey through rhythm, emotion and the passage of time.
The novel weaves together fragments of song, silence, and introspection to explore the invisible bond between voice and soul.
In Mayar Singhashon, music becomes the true protagonist. The story seeks to uncover the unspoken emotions behind Runa’s songs: love, solitude, triumph and the quiet ache of fame, rendered through lyrical prose that reads almost like composition.
Publisher Chandrabindu describes the work as “a novel where literature listens to music.”
The release of Mayar Singhashon follows a milestone moment in the artist’s own life: Runa Laila celebrated 60 years in music last year. To mark the occasion, Bangladeshi television channel Maasranga TV aired a special edition of its programme Star Night, featuring rare anecdotes, archival photos and tributes from renowned Indian and Pakistani musicians who have worked with or been inspired by her.
