A fresh wave of nostalgia has swept across digital platforms as five iconic Bangla songs return in a new sonic and visual form. Released on BHN Fan’s YouTube channel and social media, the project features reimagined versions of Bhoboghure, Ghumonto Shohore, Rong, Sraboner Megh and Odbhut Shei Chheleti, with music rearranged by Fuad Al Muqtadir.
Produced under Creative Agency DotBirth Limited and Runout Films, and directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, the project brings together some of the country’s leading alternative musicians, including Rafa, Zohad and Elita. Among them, media personality and Cryptic Fate frontman Shakib Chowdhury has drawn particular attention for his vocal performances in Ghumonto Shohore and Odbhut Shei Chheleti.
Listeners have flooded social media with praise, with many noting that Chowdhury’s voice comes remarkably close to the original artists in tone and emotion. The response, however, is something the singer himself attributes less to technique and more to instinct.
Speaking to The TIMES of Bangladesh, Chowdhury said his involvement in the project was driven primarily by collaboration. “I like working with people I admire,” he said, referring to fellow musicians such as Zohad, Rafa and Fuad. He also highlighted a larger artistic motivation: the need to keep classic Bangla band songs alive through reinterpretation.
Drawing comparisons with global music practices, Chowdhury noted that songs abroad often survive for decades because they are continually reimagined. He expressed concern that without similar efforts, works by legends like Ayub Bachchu and Azam Khan could gradually fade from public consciousness.
On Ghumonto Shohore, originally by Ayub Bachchu, Chowdhury shared that he was initially reluctant to perform the track solo and preferred a collaborative version. The final rendition, featuring fellow vocalists Zohad and Rafa, turned out to be his personal favourite. “Shooting and recording it together was pure joy,” he said.
In contrast, Odbhut Shei Chheleti, the popular Aurthohin song by Saidus Khaled Sumon, brought immense pressure. Chowdhury described the track as deeply tied to a generation’s coming-of-age experience. “It’s an iconic song that resonates with that uncertain phase of youth,” he said, adding that he feared disappointing the original artist, who is also a close friend and brother to him.
Rather than attempting to replicate the originals, Chowdhury approached both songs with a simple philosophy: authenticity over imitation. “I cannot sing like the great Ayub Bachchu bhai or our Bassbaba Sumon bhai. I focused on expressing what I feel when I hear these songs,” he explained.
Beyond music, Chowdhury is also gearing up for the release of his upcoming horror film Andhar, directed by Raihan Rafi and starring Siam Ahmed, Chanchal Chowdhury, Nazifa Tushi and Mostafa Monwar. Co-produced under 221B Films, the project also involves Sumon and Shakib himself as co-producers and writers.
The film, currently in post-production, is targeting a year-end release. Chowdhury emphasized that the team is deliberately avoiding rushed timelines in favour of technical precision. “We want the audiences of our industry to explore something they never explored before, through this film,” he said. The narrative will focus on four core characters rather than a single hero-centric arc, marking a departure from conventional commercial storytelling.
Alongside his work in music and film, Chowdhury continues to nurture his long-running book review platform Book Don, which he co-hosts with Farooq Shams. A self-professed bibliophile, he described literature as his first love, predating music. The show has helped him connect with authors both locally and internationally, turning what began as a passion project into a thriving creative community. He is also hosting Geek Myth, a weekly entertainment review show alongside singer Alif Alauddin and Farooq Shams.
With music, cinema and literature intersecting in his career, Shakib Chowdhury appears committed to storytelling in all its forms. Whether through reimagined classics or original narratives, his focus remains clear: to create work that resonates, endures and evolves with time.
