Suzana Ansar ( bn, সুজানা আনসার; born 14 February ) is an English singer, actress and

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces, hosts television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. Nowadays, it is common for people who garner ...

Bangladeshi Bangladeshis ( bn, বাংলাদেশী ) are the citizens of Bangladesh, a South Asian country centered on the transnational historical region of Bengal along the eponymous bay. Bangladeshi citizenship was formed in 1971, when the ...

descent.

Early life

Ansar was born

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million pe ...

i expatriate parents. Her mother, (Jenney) Syeda S Karim, is a community activist and her father, Mohamed Ansar Uddin, is a chartered accountant and businessman. She is the eldest of two children. Her mother was one of the founders of Bengali International. She has a younger brother, Syed Saadi Ansar. She grew up in

Woodford Green Woodford Green is an area of Woodford in north-east London, England, within the London Borough of Redbridge. It adjoins Buckhurst Hill to the north, Woodford Bridge to the east, South Woodford to the south, and Chingford to the west. Epping ...

, attended

Ilford Ursuline High School Ursuline Academy Ilford is a Roman Catholic secondary school and sixth form for girls in Ilford, London, England. The school was established by the Ursulines as Ilford Ursuline High School in 1903. It converted to academy status in 2011 and is ...

, and then

Forest School, Walthamstow Forest School is an independent day school in Walthamstow in the London borough of Waltham Forest. The school occupies a large campus around its original Grade II listed Georgian and Victorian terraced buildings. The school has more than 1,430 ...

. She then studied BSc Mathematics and Business Finance at Queen Mary and

Westfield College Westfield College was a small college situated in Hampstead, London, from 1882 to 1989. It was the first college to aim to educate women for University of London degrees from its opening. The college originally admitted only women as students and ...

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degre ...

. She is a part qualified

Chartered Certified Accountant Founded in 1904, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the global professional accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification (ACCA). It has 240,952 members and 541,930 future members worldwi ...

. Ansar's grandparents are originally from

Mymensingh Mymensingh ( bn, ময়মনসিংহ) is the capital of Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh. Located on the bank of Brahmaputra River, about north of the national capital Dhaka, it is a major financial center and educational hub of north- ...

Brahmanbaria Brahmanbaria ( bn, ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া, Brāhmaṇabāṛiẏā) is a city of Bangladesh and the capital of Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila as well as Brahmanbaria District. It is the second largest city after Cumilla ...

, and Chandpur, however, they are settled in

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...

. Her aunt is current Bangladeshi foreign minister Dipu Moni.

Music career

Ansar's parents encouraged her to connect with both her eastern and western cultures thus taking up

harmonium The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...

tanpura The tanpura (), also referred to as tambura and tanpuri, is a long-necked plucked string instrument, originating in India, found in various forms in Indian music. It does not play melody, but rather supports and sustains the melody of ...

sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form i ...

and

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the ...

and

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...

lessons as well as learning to play the piano. Ansar started singing from the age five. Her first music teacher, Gulab Mangal Chaudhary, taught her the harmonium. In 1988, she went to in Bangladesh, and learned from Ustad Zakir Hossain and some other teachers. In 1989, at the age of 11, she started learning classical music from Pandit Haridas Ganguly at Pandit Horidas Ganguly School who started her on tanpura. At the age of 11, she started learning classical music. From the age of 10–11, Ansar trained in

Indian classical music Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as ''Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...

from a young age singing in genres ranging from Uchango Sangeet,

Khyal Khyal or Khayal (ख़याल / خیال) is a major form of Hindustani classical music in the Indian subcontinent. Its name comes from a Persian/Arabic word meaning "imagination". Khyal is associated with romantic poetry, and allows the perfo ...

, Nazrul Geeti,

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of North India, northern, Central India, centr ...

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fol ...

and fusion. From the age of 15 or 16, Ansar started teaching and has her own music school "Suzana Ansar Music School" where she trains young British Bengali children. The school was featured on a

Channel S Channel S is a UK-based, free-to-air television channel targeting the British Bangladeshi community. The channel was established on 16 December 2004 by Mahee Ferdous Jalil, a Bangladeshi businessman in London. On Sky it at first had a timesha ...

programme called ''Suzana and Kids''. In 2006, a case study was written about Ansar in the book ''A Tale of Three Generations''. Ansar has collaborated with State of Bengal on the track "Burn Your Toes" from his 1999 album ''

Visual Audio ''Visual Audio'' is the debut studio album by English dance music DJ and music producer State of Bengal, released on 29 March 1999 by One Little Indian. Critical response John Bush of AllMusic rated ''Visual Audio'' 3.5/5 and described it as ". ...

'' and the track "Sukno Patar" from his 2007 album ''

Skip-IJ ''Skip-IJ'' is the fourth studio album by dance music English DJ and music producer State of Bengal, released in 2007 by Betelnut Records. Critical response Louis Patterson of '' BBC Music'' said of ''Skip-IJ'', "Proof that the Asian Undergroun ...

''. She has also collaborated with Clottaire K. In November 2009, Ansar's solo debut album ''

Suzana Ansar with Khansar ''Suzana Ansar with Khansar'' is debut band album of Suzana Ansar, alongside band members Syed Ansar, Imran Khan and Yamin Chowdhury. Released for Eid ul Adha in November 2009, 'Suzana Ansar with Khansar' by G Series. It was in the top ten chart ...

'' was released by Bangladeshi record label G-Series/Agniveena featuring her band which is made up of herself, her brother Syed Shahdin Ansar (Saadi),

tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

player Yamin Chowdhury (Shagor), and Imran Khan. In February 2013, Ansar's second album ''

Mehvashaa ''Mehvashaa'' ( ur, محوشاہ) is a studio album by English singers Raja Kaasheff and Suzana Ansar, released on 14 February 2013 by Movie Box UK. Composition and release ''Mehvashaa'' was recorded in December 2011, launched at the House of ...

'', co-recorded with

Raja Kaasheff Raja Kaasheff or Raja Kashif (born 26 August 1978) is a United Kingdom-based Asian singer/music director equally known in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh Urdu/Hindi-speaking diaspora around the world. He learned music under the guidance of music d ...

, was released by Movie Box UK and launched at the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

. The album features tracks Ansar sang in

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

and Persian. In March 2011, Ansar was interviewed by Anwarul Hoque on

BBC Asian Network BBC Asian Network is a British Asian radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station's target audience is people "with an interest in British Asian lifestyles", especially British Asians between the ages of 18 and 34. The station ha ...

. In December 2013, she performed live on

's ''Saima Ajram Show''. In March 2014, Islam was interviewed by Nadia Ali on BBC Asian Network. Ansar's music has represented the works of Bengali poet

Kazi Nazrul Islam , pseudonym = bn, ধূমকেতু, Dhūmketu , image = Nazrul.jpg , image_size = , caption = Nazrul in Chittagong, 1926 , birth_date = 11 ''Joiṣṭhyô'', 1306 '' Bônggabdô ...

. She has toured U.S, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. She has performed alongside Bangladeshi singers Ayub Bachchu,

Baby Naznin Baby Naznin (born 23 August 1965) is a Bangladeshi singer. She won the 2003BACHSAS Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She also won the 2003 Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her performance in the film ''Sahosh ...

, Runa Laila,

Asif Akbar Asif ( ar, آصف) is an Arabic masculine given name. In Persian and Urdu it is often pronounced as 'Asif' or 'Asef' though the original form is 'Asaf'. This name referred to Solomon's vizier in the Islamic tradition, and by extension to a wise, ...

Momtaz Begum Momtaz Begum (born 5 May 1974) is a Bangladeshi folk singer and the incumbent Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Manikganj-2 constituency since 2014 and Reserved Women's Seat-21 during 2009–2013. Referred to as "''The Music Queen''," she h ...

, James Nagar Baul and

Habib Habib ( ar, حبيب, ''ḥabīb''; ), sometimes written as Habeeb, is an Arabic masculine given name, occasional surname, and honorific, with the meaning "beloved" or "my love", or "darling". It also forms the famous Arabic word ‘''Habibi’'' ...

as well as Indian singer

Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian singer, music director and actor. He has been described in the media as one of the most popular and successful playback singers of Hindi Cinema and Kannada Cinema. He has been honoured by the Gover ...

Television career

Ansar has been on television several times, sometimes working as a presenter. The programs are ''Poboner Boytha'', ''Valentines Special'' and ''Series Rupban'' on Bangla TV UK; ''Suzana n Kids'' and ''Sur Jolsha'' on

, ''Phoney Phone Gaan'' on NTV UK; ''Amaro Gaitey Ichhey Holo'' and ''Music Jam'' on NTV; '' Boishakhi Special'' on

ATN Bangla ATN Bangla ( bn, এটিএন বাংলা), 'ATN' being the acronym of the unused Asian Television Network, is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel owned by Multimedia Production Company. It is based in th ...

; ''Ta NA NA NA'' and '' Tommy Miah's Recipe'' on

Ekushey Television Ekushey Television ( bn, একুশে টেলিভিশন; , in reference to 21 February), also known by its acronym ETV, is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language privately owned satellite and cable television channel owned by S. Alam Group ...

Acting career

Ansar has appeared in UK television films in Sylheti and

dialects, including ''Mayar Taney'', ''Friends'' 1 and 2, and ''Projonmo''. She has also appeared in Bangladesh television serials, including ''Fifty Fifty'' on Banglavision; ''The Graduate'' on NTV; ''Life Partner'', ''Borishaila Mama Bhaigna'', ''Aite Shaal Jaite Shaal'' and ''Colours of Cambridge'' on ATN Bangla; and ''Dead End- 30 days''. In 2012, she played the role of Suzanne in BBC educational game show '' BBC Janala Mojay Mojay Shekha'' for a segment titled "Raisa in Bangladesh".

Personal life

On 1 August 2014, Ansar married Yamin "Shagor" Chowdhury. His father is the Mukti Juddha, teacher and artiste Mahmudur Rahman Benu ( who starred in Muktir Gaan directed by cousin Tareque Masood

Discography

Albums

References

External links

* * * *Iqbal, Jamil
Suzana Ansar
''Swadhinata Trust''. 17 May 2006 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ansar, Suzana 1978 births Living people English Muslims English people of Bangladeshi descent 21st-century Bangladeshi musicians Bengali-language singers Hindi-language singers Urdu-language singers Persian-language singers English television actresses English film actresses English women singers English actresses of South Asian descent Singers from London Actresses from London People from Leyton Fusion music genres 21st-century women singers People from Woodford, London People educated at Forest School, Walthamstow Alumni of Queen Mary University of London 21st-century English women singers 21st-century English singers