Meghdol Revisits Century-Old Tea Heritage in New Coke Studio Track

Celebrated Bangladeshi alternative rock outfit Meghdol has returned to the Coke Studio Bangla stage with ‘Mulluk’, a powerful new release inspired by the century-old folk music and oral histories of the nation’s tea-garden labourers. The track marks the band’s first appearance on the franchise since their hit ‘Bonobibi’ in the platform’s second season in 2023.

Premiered as the fourth track of Coke Studio Bangla’s fourth season, ‘Mulluk’ reconstructs a traditional folk ballad passed down through generations of tea workers. The production delves into themes of belonging, displaced identity, and the enduring yearning to return to one’s ancestral homeland. By combining traditional regional melodies with contemporary rock arrangements, the piece amplifies the collective memory and historical struggles of an often-overlooked community.

Across a career spanning more than two decades, Meghdol has distinguished itself through a distinct fusion of poetic lyricism, folk idioms, and experimental rock. In ‘Mulluk’, the ensemble draws upon the evocative folk phrase ‘Pinjirake pushlo moyna’, channelling the historical resonance of the 1921 ‘Mulluk Cholo’ movement—a watershed moment when thousands of indentured tea workers rebelled against colonial exploitation to march back towards their native soil.

The arrangement, crafted with lyrics and melody developed by Shibu Kumer Shill, features guest vocals from grassroots tea-community performers Ranju Tanti and Ranjit Tanti. The rhythmic cadence of the traditional dhol from the tea heartland of Sreemangal lends raw emotional weight to the performance, grounding its modern instrumentation in authentic regional textures.

‘Mulluk’ follows the season’s previous single, ‘Patar Banshuri’, released in July by Ishan Mozumder and Sunidhi Nayak, produced under the musical direction of Adit Rahman. The latest release underlines Coke Studio Bangla’s ongoing focus on unearthing regional oral traditions and integrating authentic community voices into modern music production.