Momtaz

Momtaz

Momtaz is a reknown Bengali singer from Bangladesh. With an unbelievable 600 audio albums to her credit she is unarguably the most adored singer of the country. At a time when band musicians are the craze in live concert shows she is indeed the biggest crowd puller.

She has a soft, mellow voice, it's rather slightly on the rough, husky side. The lyrics of her songs are not exactly refined, but often colloquial, sometimes even rustic. But it is with that unconventional combination that she achieves a distinct quality that the audience finds irresistible. Her strength doesn't lie in the soothing effect on the ear, rather she kind of stirs up the audience's heart and demands their response. Thus when she comes on stage the audience goes into a frenzy and when she sings out the audience invariably joins in chorus. Her infectious charm and undeniable talent has made her one of the most popular entertainers of the country.

Her Background:

Mumtaz Begum's initiation into music occurred early. She was a mere child when she accompanied her singer father Modhu Boyati at first as an audience but very soon as a co-performer. Her father aside Matal Razzaque Dewan was another of her guru who she considers her mentor. She took to music almost unknowingly, but then she must have dipped deep into the sea of music and come out intoxicated, for ever. She never looked back again and never even distantly thought of doing something different.

The kind of music she used to perform like Marfati, Boithoki, Murshidi can roughly fall under the genre of mystic songs. It was not always rosy though. There were also occasions when she did albums entirely free of cost and when those albums became popular the producer offered her Tk 2,000, not for the ones she had already done, but for the one she would do next. That too on the condition that if it didn't sell well she would be bound to pay the honorarium back. Mumtaz didn't have to pay back, the album sold out instantly and suddenly Mumtaz became extremely busy. At times she was recording two albums a day. "I used to be handed down the lyrics and the music tracks minutes ago and there used to be hardly any time for rehearsal and I had to record it at one go," she reveals in an interview with the Daily Star last May. Some of her most famous music albums include Return Ticket, Ashol Boithoki, Murshider Talim, Ronger Bazar etc.

Though Mumtaz sings other varieties than those of mystic songs her concentration remains there. One of Mumtaz's great achievements has been to broaden the audience base of mystic songs which has been largely confined to rural areas and rural people. And most surprisingly today's middle class urbanite youths also make a part of her fans.

As a person Mumtaz is a woman of great kindness who is ever ready to extend a helping hand to people who come to her. She was an active supporter in the establishment of an eye hospital in her native Shingair village.

Note: In an exclusive interview with VOA Bangla Service Momtaz talks about the Baul Song and its different types. Momtaz also talks about the use of modern music in Bangla folk songs. She hopes that an exclusive Baul Academy should be established in Bangladesh.

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1. Asol Nokol Cintay Hoy
2. Bondhu Ailona
3. Bondhu Porobase
4. Bondhu Tumi Ailana
5. Jare Uira Jare Pakhi
6. Khobor Nile Na
7. Ki Dukkhe Din Katai
8. Ki Jadu Korilo
9. Mithe Tasar Ghor
10. O Poran Bondhu Re
11. Soilo Na Bujhi Kopale
12. Tore Loia Jamu Ami
13. Fagun Mashe
14. Jalmohol
15. Jholmolaia
16. Jor Othe
17. Mobail Number
18. Oi Bashore
19. Pagri Mathay
20. Poran Bondhure
21. Rong Lagailo
22. Soigo
23. Bhasha
24. Dewana
25. Ghotona
26. Kata
27. Korjo Korar
28. Maya
29. Mobail
30. Morile Kandishna
31. Rastha
32. Amay Bhule
33. Chumuk Chumuk
34. Dekhi Ei Dunia
35. Gao Geramer
36. Hazi
37. Kudroti Sob
38. Lare Lappa
39. Moisal Gari
40. Prothom Piriti
41. Tumi Morcho
42. Bondhure Tui
43. Denger Man
44. Faita Jay
45. Monta Manush Kor
46. Morar Kokile
47. Namaj Hoilonare
48. Nantu Ghotok
49. Pran Soi
50. Premer Kotha
51. Songsar Amar
52. Tui Boro Seana

Watch some of her Songs

1.Sujon bondhu momtaz......................2.khairun lo
1.2.

To download 1st video enter this url below:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_5F5maw1aE

To download 2nd video enter this url below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrpOTR4SvMs