Kanan Devi's magic, relived

The name Kanan Devi may not be instantly recognisable to the youth of today, but to an older generation, the name resonates with a rare kind of stardom, of style and substance.  Kanan Devi, born Kanan Bala on April 22, 1916, is said to be the first Bangalee woman superstar of film and music. Beginning her acting career at the age of 10, Kanan Devi did not take too long to become a big name in the film industry, and continued to mesmerise audiences with her acting and singing for decades. On her birth centenary year, Star Melodies of The Daily Star paid tribute to this pioneering figure, and an enthusiastic audience proved that Kanan's appeal still lives in those who saw and heard her on screen. 

The programme on September 27, however, began on a sombre note, with the news of master litterateur Syed Shamsul Haq's passing away, coming minutes before the start. After a one-minute silence in his memory, Sadya Afreen Mallick, who planned and compered the programme, asked Tanjina Toma to open the show. By that time, the AS Mahmud auditorium of The Daily Star Centre was packed to capacity, despite it being 6:30pm on a mid-week day. Toma opened with Tagore-written and composed “Aj Sobar Ronge Rong Meshate” (from the 1937 film “Mukti”), followed by eminent artiste Dalia Nausheen singing a familiar tune: “Akashe Helan Diye Pahar Ghumaye Oi” (written and composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam for “Sapure”). Badrunnesa Dalia and the young Raisa Islam then carried on the musical evening, crooning hits from the '40s and '50s, including “Ami Bonophool Go”, “Phele Jabe Chole Jani Jani”, “Jodi Bhalo Na Lage Toh Diyo Na Mon” and “Tufaan Mail”, among others. Star Arts & Entertainment's Zahangir Alom, an amateur singer (and painter, for a matter of fact) joined Raisa in the only duet of the night, “Onadikaaler Srot'e Bhasha”.

An august gathering of guests enjoyed the programme, including eminent educationist Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury; Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ar-Rashid Bir Protik, former Army chief; Muhammad Abdul Hannan Khan, chief coordinator and investigator of International Crimes Tribunal; Amanul Haque, an Ekushey Padak-laureate dance exponent; Masud Ahmed, comptroller and auditor general of Bangladesh and Nilufar Mahmud, the widow of late AS Mahmud – founding Managing Director of Mediaworld, The Daily Star's mother company, who this very auditorium is named after. Many of them spoke at the event, fondly recalling memories of Kanan Devi's career at its peak, and of the memories these songs brought back.

A capacity audience (L) enjoyed the lively performance by the singers. Photo: SHEIKH MEHEDI MORSHED

Selim Shamsul Huda Chowdhury remained at the helm of the artistic design of the stage, with frilly fabric hanging from the top reminiscent of an older time, some sarees hanging like drapes on the side walls, and an aesthetically-placed set that complemented the mood of the programme. Visuals of the songs on a projection screen, along with a montage of Kanan Devi's photo, the most striking of them being the actress pictured with iconic Hollywood actress Vivien Leigh, added to the atmosphere.

Eastern Bank Ltd. and Chalachchitram, as they have so often done, assisted in the programme.