Joler Gaan captivates music lovers

Folk-fusion band Joler Gaan enthralled the audience presenting its popular songs at a concert held on February 14 at Bengal Boi premises at Lalmatia in the city.
Joler Gaan is an independent folk band, which was established in 2006. The lyrics are based on human stories. Few lyrics are collected from various sources. Some songs are especially written. Joler Gaan makes new instruments and sometimes customises foreign ones. The instruments of Joler Gaan are usually portable, and do not require electric wires and jacks.
 At the event, the band started the soiree rendering Holud Phul Holud Phul. Afterward, the band rendered songs like Kagojer Nowka Kew Baniche, Jhora Patar Gaan, Emon Jodi Hoto and others.
Under the title "Phagun Shamirane", the concert was organised by Bengal Foundation.
The festival was inaugurated on February 12. Noted cartoonist cum painter Rafiqun Nabi's autobiography 'Smritir Pathrekhay' was launched on the opening day of the festival. Artist Nisar Hossain and Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman were present as discussants at the book launch.
Rafiqun Nabi (1943) is a veteran landscape and figurative painter. He is also an accomplished cartoonist. His works reflect an artist's reactions to the mysteries of nature. Sharp shadows and melting tones give his paintings a transcendental appeal. Nabi feels that landscape paintings have an ethereal touch.

Nabi uses his landscapes and figurative paintings to evoke memories of the past. The noted painter still recollects the memories of his childhood in his birthplace, Chapainababganj. Consequently a number of distinctive themes have appeared recurrently in his paintings: life of fishermen and boatmen, herds of cows and buffalos, day labourers, crows, kingfishers, goats, wild flowers and people at leisure chatting. Interrelationship -- among man, animal and nature -- is another noticeable subject in his paintings.
Nabi is a family-oriented man by nature, which shows in his works. Many of his paintings depict happy family life. The figures are superbly drawn and their facial expressions carry jovial mood. He portrays parents and their children with a realistic approach. The paintings' backgrounds are engrossed with large compositions and diverse vague forms, which carry his personal hallmark. These works remind us of our family values and the importance of bonding.
The manner of drawing is a predominant aspect in Nabi's paintings. From the onset, the painter has emphasised on drawings, particularly still life; subject study and pastoral atmosphere have always been highlighted in his works. The painter feels that drawings are a reflection of personal observations of an artist. It is the fundamental foundation of art.
Nabi's "Tokai" delves deep into a life of street children. The drawing gives a satirical image of society. He is also critically acclaimed for his woodcut engraving.
Besides the five day event, an album of noted folk singer Rathindranath Roy named "Dhorola Nadir Parey" was also launched.