Latiful Islam Shibli
Dhaka
He was born in just before the dawn of first day of Bengali New year. It was the dawn of an Independent Bangladesh as well when the country was at the most critical stage in its history. At a turning moment of the war, when the allied forces start shelling over the targets of Pakistani armies at the bank of Bahadurabad, Fulchori (Rangpur), a frightened little boy on the lap of his Freedom Fighter father cried out by praying “O’ Allah! Please protect us’. This was the story that was told by his mother in one rainy day.
Time flies indeed! Such a scared kid of ‘71 dared to frighten the dictatorial regime of 90’s with his juvenile rocking moves trumpeted up in the sky by breaking the shackles of traditions.
The branches of his artistic aptitudes creeping up with his joining the Group-theatre Nattochakra in early ‘90
Shibli is one of those young wild but sensible band musicians who had brought changes in the prevailed concepts of modern Bangla songs. His lyrics reflect the feelings of contemporary young minds which are suffered from painful and complex dilemma of materialistic life. His rule of Simplification in his scholarly works has made him widely known in Bangladesh within a short span of time. He is now no less a Legend Lyricist in the world of Bangla Band Music.
A few among the list of many popular and hit songs written by Shibli are:
* Jail thaka bolchi জেল থেকে বলছি( Speaking from the Jail) Lyrics and Tuned by shibli. Sung by James of Nagar baul
* Tumi Amar prothom sokal( You are the first morning)by Shakila zafar and Tapan chowdhury
* Kosto petay valobashi (I rather love to be pained) by Ayub Bachchu of LRB
* Kew suki noy(None of us is happy ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Hastay dekho gaitay dekho(You saw me laughing and singing ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Koto kostay achi (Imagine the pain that I am carrying on ) by James
* Palabay kothay (Nowhere to hide) by James
* Ma key bolis (Let my mom know) by Ayub Bachchu
* Kosto kakay bolay (What the pain is ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Ekjon bibagi ( A tale of a gambler) by James
* Rajkumari (The princess) by Ayub Bachchu
* Aahh jibon (O’ life ! ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Nil bedona (The pain in blue ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Chand mama (Do you have a job for me uncle moon ? ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Las kata ghor (A mortuary ) by Neloy das
* Kar kachay jabo (Where to go ! ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Kivabay kadabay tumi (jotota megh holay bristi namay) (How would you love to see me crying ) by khalid of Chime
* Jossy preem (Jossy Love ) by James
* Natore station (Natore Rail station ) by James
* Preo akashi (My Dear Aakashi ) by James
* Valobasar joutho khamar (Joint venture for love ) by James
* Moddho rater dakpeon (A midnight Postman ) by James
* Monnan mear titas molom (Titas cream of Mannan Miah ) by James
* Jungle e valobasa (Love in Jungle ) by James
* Kotota kangal hoya thaki (How Much i beg lov from u ) by James
* Hajar borsha rat (Thousands of rainy nights ) by Partho borua of SOULS
* Boro babu master (Station master) by Ayub Bachchu
* Polasir prantor (Across the battle field of Polasi ) by MILES
* Ghumao tumi (Let you be slept) by James
* Guiter kadtay janey (Guitar knows how to cry) by James
* Hat baralay bondhu hobo (I can be a friend upon call) by TIPU(obscure)
* Janala vora akash (The sky in the city) by James
* Chi jol (Water please ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Manus boro eka (Men are so lonely) by Ayub Bachchu
* Oh amar preem (O’ my love ) by Ayub Bachchu
* Nil akash joto dur dekkha jay (Across the blue sky ) by James
* Peshader khuni (Professional killer) by James
* (Hallo Dhaka ! ) by Shafeen ahmed of MILES
* Premik mayor (A lover Mayor) by Shafeen ahmed of MILES
* Tomar chokay amar apon thikana (To your eyes my destination) by Hamin ahmed of MILES
* Majeh kichu bosor galo (In between of some years) by Shumona hoque
* Kar kachay jabo ( Where to go) by Ayub Bachchu
and many many more......
Shibli was also known as a fashion icon in his time when he modeled in a television advertisement for Century fabrics as “Complete man”. though He was a model by born, When baby food promotion and advertisement was not forbidden, in those times (1969) he was baby food model in Glaxo (Pakistan) Pharma for their baby food ' Ostermilk' and 'Farex'. Glaxo selected him for their calendar model.
that calendar was lost during liberation war at 71, since his father was freedom fighter, his family was continuously on run, and was badly effected by war.
A successful Dramatist too! The drama – ‘I see the world through your eyes’ (tomar chokhay dekkhai) telecasted in BTV became popular in the first instance.
Memories can still be recalled about a TV drama ‘the Princess’ (Rajkumari) where he was a Actor in his own drama fabulously as a main character – Mirja Galeeb.
His first published book of verses was ‘I can touch your vanity if I wish’ (Eccha holay chutay pari tomar oviman)
followed by his second one – ‘Let my pain be green’ (Tumi amar kosto gulo sobuj koray dao na’)
He is the author of a book entitled ‘The movement of Band-music in Bangladesh’ (Bangaldeshe Band Sangit Andolon) sponsored and published by the Bangla Academy. As a complete research book on Band music, this was the first of such kind in Bangladesh.
His first music Album ‘The rules for breaking the rules’ (Niyom Vangar Niyom) was also tuned, composed and sung by him.
Shibli thrilled with lives of the Bohemians and travelled across a number of countries in Europe and Asia, namely England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, India, Saudi Arab, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Although he graduated in Master of Arts (MA), he has special interests for Comparative Ideology and Religion studies, Politics, History, Environment and Paintings.
In fact, Shibli was born in Rangpur, brought up in Natore, enriched and flourished in Dhaka and London.
He loves to catch fishes, hangs around in jungles, sweats down in the green farmlands and rests in the breezy moonlit evenings with barbecue and grilling.
He is now blessed being a father of two children – Omar and Usman.
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