Prolific composer passes on

Born in August 17, 1936 in Assam, India, he moved with his entire family to the-then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), in 1948. 

He completed SSC and HSC from Noakhali Zilla School and Jagannath College respectively with distinction, and studied philosophy at University of Dhaka. He joined Radio in 1959 and the next year, joined the gramophone company His Masters Voice (HMV) as a composer. The versatile musician was actively involved with BTV since its inception. Khandakar Nurul Alam directed music for the popular BTV programme “Barnali”. He started working in film media as a music director in the Urdu film “Is Dharti Par”. He first directed music for two Bangla films -- “Ontorongo” and “Je Agune Puri” -- in 1968. His song “Chokh Je Moner Kotha Boley” from the film “Je Agune Puri” got immense popularity at that time. 

From then on, he never looked back and directed music form many timeless films like “Ora Egaro Jon”, “Sangram”, “Jalchhobi”, “Debdas”, Chandranath”, “Shubhoda”, “Biraj Bou”, “Padma Meghna Jamuna” and “Shongkhonil Karagar”.

Legendary singer Nilufar Yasmin recorded film songs -- “E Adhar Kokhono Jabey Na Muchhe” and “Eto Shukh Shiobo Kemon Korey”, composed by Khandakar Nurul Alam.  

Apart from films, he composed and recorded many popular adhunik songs like “Tumi Bhoy Peyo Na”, patriotic songs -- “Du Nayan Bhorey Joto Dekhi Tarey” -- and set some famous poems to tune. He also composed the National Sports song and songs of the Ansar-VDP, Scout March and Rotari Club (both Bengali and English). Khandakar Nurul Alam worked for swaralipi and staff notation for many songs as well. 

For his lifelong contribution to music, he was bestowed with many awards and honours including, Ekushey Padak (2008), National Film Award, Bachsas Award, Chalachchitra Projojok Samity Puroshkar and Shaheed Altaf Mahmud Smrity Puroshkar.