Legendary Lalon Singer Farida Parveen Passes Away

Darwin, September 14— Farida Parveen, the iconic Bangladeshi folk singer best known for her soul-stirring renditions of Fakir Lalon Shah’s spiritual songs — including the timeless “Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi” (The Mysterious Bird Inside the Cage) — passed away on Saturday night at 10:15 PM. She was 70.

Her son Imam Upol confirmed the news of her passing.

Parveen had been battling kidney complications for a long time. In recent weeks, her condition deteriorated to the point where she required dialysis twice a week. On September 2, she was taken to Universal Medical College Hospital in Mohakhali for routine dialysis, after which her condition worsened. Doctors admitted her to the ICU, where she remained until her death.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Known as the “Queen of Lalon Song,” Farida Parveen was born on December 31, 1954, in Shaul village, Singra Upazila, Natore district. Her father, the late Delwar Hossain, was a village doctor, and her mother was Roufa Begum.

She was married first to the renowned lyricist and singer Abu Zafar and later to celebrated flutist Gazi Abdul Hakim.

Parveen began her musical training in Magura under Ustad Kamal Chakraborty. Later, she trained in classical music under prominent teachers including Rabindranath Ray, Motaleb Biswas, and Osman Gani in Kushtia. After about six to seven years of rigorous classical training with the tanpura, she moved on to Nazrul Sangeet, initially under Ustad Abdul Kader in Kushtia, and later under Mir Mozaffar Ali in Meherpur. It was with Mir Mozaffar that she first learned to play and sing Nazrul songs using written notations and harmonium.

In 1968, she was enlisted as a Nazrul Sangeet artist with Rajshahi Betar (Radio).

The Lalon Connection

After Bangladesh’s independence, Farida Parveen began singing Lalon’s mystic songs while living in Kushtia. Her family was close to the spiritual teacher Moksed Ali Sai. In 1973, she learned her first Lalon song “Satya Bolo Supathe Cholo” from him. Following his passing, she studied Lalon music under Khoda Box Sai, Brajen Das, Behal Sai, Yaseen Sai, and Karim Sai.

Though best known for Lalon songs, she also performed modern Bangla songs and patriotic music with equal finesse.

Popular Songs

Some of her most celebrated songs include:

• “Ei Padma Ei Meghna Ei Jamuna-Surma Nodir Tire”

• “Tomra Bhulei Gechho Mallikadir Naam”

• “Nindar Kanta Jodi Na Bidhilo Gaaye”

• “Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi”

• “Barir Kachhe Arshi Nagar”

Awards and Recognition

Farida Parveen received the Ekushey Padak in 1987 and the National Film Award in 1993. In 2008, she was honored with the prestigious Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize for her contribution to music. She also received the Citycell-Channel i Music Awards and the Anannya Top Ten Award, among others.

Farida Parveen leaves behind a towering legacy in Bangladeshi music, especially in the realm of spiritual and folk traditions. Her voice, rich with emotion and mysticism, will echo through the hearts of generations to come.