Music Icon Ferdausi Rahman Releases Her Highly Anticipated Autobiography

Ferdausi Rahman, a legendary figure in Bengali music, has formally launched her autobiography, titled Loke Bole Prem Ami Boli Jwala. The grand book-unveiling ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The celebratory event drew an illustrious gathering of cultural personalities, including veteran vocalist Syed Abdul Hadi and renowned singer Rumana Morshed Kanak Chapa, alongside numerous distinguished figures from the national arts sector.

The title of the autobiography is derived from one of her most celebrated songs, Loke Bole Prem. Explaining the philosophy behind the name, Ferdausi Rahman remarked that her profound love for music represents ‘Prem’ (love), whilst the relentless practice, sacrifice, and rigorous discipline required to preserve that devotion over the decades embody ‘Jwala’ (the burn).

With characteristic humility, the veteran artist stated that she did not believe she had achieved anything extraordinary in her lifetime. However, she noted that the pages of the book serve as a vessel for the stories of countless individuals, historical events, and changing times. Readers will find a vivid depiction of old Dhaka, including its atmospheric neighbourhoods, forgotten social customs, traditional culinary heritage, and bygone lifestyles.

During the launch, her long-time contemporary Syed Abdul Hadi shared fond reminiscences of their shared journey. Their acquaintance began in 1958 when both enrolled at the University of Dhaka. Their professional and personal camaraderie deepened significantly in 1965 after they recorded their first cinematic duet for the film Dak Babu. He observed that as the daughter of the revered folk maestro Abbasuddin Ahmed, Ferdausi Rahman enjoyed the rare privilege of interacting with the finest musical minds of the subcontinent from early childhood, an exposure that profoundly enriched her artistic trajectory.

Paying tribute to her immense legacy, Kanak Chapa described the veteran singer as the ‘Himalayas’ of Bengali music. She highlighted that Rahman’s versatile mastery across diverse genres—ranging from modern tracks and Nazrul Sangeet to classical pieces and traditional folk music—remains an unparalleled feat in the subcontinent. The evening commenced with a tribute performance by vocalist Anupama Mukti, who rendered two of the icon’s signature melodies, Loke Bole Prem and Ami Sagorer Neel Noyone Mekhechi.

Born on 28 June 1941 in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, Ferdausi Rahman received her earliest musical lessons from her father. In 1947, at the tender age of six, her voice was broadcast for the first time on Radio Pakistan. Following the partition of the subcontinent, her family relocated permanently to Dhaka.

Her career as a playback singer began in 1960 with the film Asiya. Over the next two decades, she lent her voice to approximately 250 cinematic productions. A true pioneer, she also performed live on the historic debut broadcast of Dhaka Television in 1964. Beyond national borders, she toured extensively across India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Russia, introducing international audiences to the richness of Bengali music.

For younger generations, she remains the beloved face of the state television children’s music programme Esho Gan Shikhi. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Music Director in 1977, the Independence Award, the Ekushey Padak, and the Churulia Nazrul Gold Medal. Through this autobiography, the icon successfully opens a window not just into her own life, but into the cultural evolution of Dhaka itself.