Farida Parveen (born 31 December 1954) is a Bangladeshi folk singer. Referred to as "the Queen of Lalon song," she received

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak () is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of martyrs of the Bengali language movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contributions in a number of fields, including culture, education, and e ...

in 1987 and

Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer () is the highest award for female film playback singers in Bangladesh. History Bangladesh National Film Award for best female playback singer has a long history. This is the most ...

for the film ''Andho Prem'' (1993).

Early life

Parveen was born in

Natore Natore is a city ("town" in some sources) in western Bangladesh. It is the headquarters of the Natore District. Its current administrator is Asha Khatun. The Narod river is passing through the center of the city with pollution from upstream industr ...

and was brought up in

Kushtia Kushtia () is a city located on the banks of the Gorai River in Bangladesh. It serves as the headquarters of Kushtia District and is considered the cultural capital of Bangladesh. The city is known for its Tiler Khaja (sesame sweets), kulf ...

. Her father worked in the health service. As a child she used to play a

harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...

. In 1968, she was enlisted with Rajshahi Betar as a Nazrul singer. She graduated from Kushtia Government College under

Rajshahi University The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a Public university, public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 ...

. Parveen first took lesson from Komal Chakrabarti. Later on, she received lessons in classical music from Ustaad Ibrahim Khan, Ustad Rabindranath Ray, Ustad Osman Goni and Ustad Motaleb Biswas. She then learnt Nazrul songs from Ustad Mir Muzaffar Ali and Ustad Abdul Qadir. She was introduced to Lalon music by Moksed Ali Shai.

Career

Parveen started her career with

Nazrul Sangeet Nazrul Sangeet (), also Nazrul Geeti (; ), refers to the songs written and composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam, who is the national poet of Bangladesh. Nazrul Geeti incorporate revolutionary notions as well as more spiritual, philosophical and roman ...

. In 1973, she performed the patriotic song ''Ei Padma Ei Meghna'' and the Lalon song ''Shatyo Bol Shupothey Chol''. Her other songs are ''Tomra Bhulei Gechho Mallikadir Naam'', ''Nindar Kanta Jodi'' and several Lalon classics. She sings mostly Lalon songs. In 2014, she performed in a

sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

festival organized by Bangladesh embassy and the Centre for Fine Arts in Belgium. In 2015, she performed in New Delhi at a program organized by Bangladesh High commission on

Pohela Boishakh Pohela Boishakh () is the Bengali New Year celebrated by the Bengalis, Bengali people worldwide and as a holiday on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April or 14 April (leap year) in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam ( ...

Personal life

Parveen was married to lyricist and composer

Abu Zafar Mohammed Abu Zafar (born 1 March 1963) is a Bangladeshi civil servant and career diplomat. He is the Incumbent Ambassador of Bangladesh to UAE. Earlier, he permanent representative to the UN offices or intergovernmental organizations in Vienna. ...

(1943–2024).

Works

Songs

* "Ei Padma Ei Meghna" * "Barir Kache Arshi Nogor" * "Shatyo Bol Shupothey Chol" * "Tomra Bhulei Gechho Mallikader Naam" * "Nindar Kata Jodi" * "Porga Namaz Jene Shune"

Albums

* ''Khachar Vitor Ochin Pakhi'' * ''Kishoree Bou'' * ''Milon Hobe Koto Dine'' * ''Nindar Kata'' * ''Pap Punner Kotha'' * ''Shomoi Gele Shodhan Hobena'' * ''Tomra Vule Gacho''

Awards

* Feroza Begum Memorial Gold Medal (2019) *

Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize The is an award established by the city of Fukuoka and the Fukuoka City International Foundation (formerly The Yokatopia Foundation) to honor the outstanding work of individuals or organizations in preserving or creating Asian culture. There ar ...

(2008) *

(1993) *

(1987) *

Anannya Top Ten Awards Anannya Top Ten Awards () is the prize for women in Bangladesh recognition of contribution to the fields of agriculture, industrial, trade, economics, acting, music, sports, education, liberation war, social welfare and development-work-law, hum ...

(2008)

References

1954 births Living people People from Natore District Kushtia Government College alumni 20th-century Bangladeshi women singers 20th-century Bangladeshi singers Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Honorary Fellows of Bangla Academy Best Female Playback Singer National Film Award (Bangladesh) winners People from Kushtia {{Bangladesh-singer-stub