A Dedicated Worker

After migrating to East Pakistan in late 60s, Azad Rahaman started working as a Music Director, Composer and Trainer at the Radio (East Pakistan). He was known as ‘Explorative Music Director’, who had keen interest in experimenting with tunes. ‘After Bangladesh attained independence, Azad Rahaman dedicated himself to build a unique musical arena for Bangladesh, free from influence of Kolkata & Karachi’- Sargam Magazine . 'When I went back to Dacca, finishing my studies in London in 1966/67, I found this gentle man Mr Azad Rahaman working as a Music Director for Radio' said eminent cultural personality, Ferdousi Rahman. 'He was trained in Classical Music from Rabindrabharati and gave us some melodious songs for Radio that time'.

'Azad Rahaman's compositions and tunes brought unique contemporary style in Radio Songs during late 60s. His experiments with tunes is evident in many songs,  one particular song was 'Tumi Bolo Ondhokare' which he composed in five different scales', said popular singer Khurshid Alam.  Also, the orchestration in the songs 'Choncholo du noyone', which was penned by Zebunnesa Jamal, was so innovative  and catchy for that period of time'.

'I was very young when I started rendering voice for Azad bhai's songs. His songs were very different from others and somewhat difficult to sing', said renowned singer Sabina Yasmin, who rendered voice for  Ogo Cholo Cholo Aaj Ei Dhup Chaya Shondhay (lyrics Zebunnesa Jamal), O noyon Pakhire (Lyrics Alimuzzaman chowdhury), Ratri Ghonay Adhrer Dana Mele (Lyrics Dr Abu Hayder Sajedur Rahman) and many more. In an article (Azad Rahman Night) lyricist Dr Abu Hayder Sajedur Rahman mentioned that Azad Rahaman's compositions revived and enriched the collection of Commercial Service during late 60s to early 70s. 

Shehnaz Begum, Zinat Rehana, Khurshid Alam, Syed Abdul Hadi, Mahmudunnabi, Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar were few of many artistes during that period who worked with Azad Rahaman at the Radio Commercial. Shehnaz Begum's 'Amay Keno Mukto Hote Bolo' (Lyrics: Poet Al Kamal Abdul Wahab, Tune: Azad Rahaman), Khurshid Alam's ' Choncholo Du Noyone'  'Tomar Du Hat Chuye Shopoth Nilam' (Lyrics Dr Abu Hayder Sajedur Rahman), Zinat Rehana's 'Ei Chokhete Kajol Ar Aakhbona' were some of the  super hit songs.