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A musician with a difference: Adib Emon & his band “Madly Bangali”
June 27: Music, as it is said transcends time and space and makes a nest in our heart to provide joy for ever. The entry of new generation in the arena of music has enriched it further with their concept of fusion and use of their own style of presentation. Barak Valley too is culturally rich and is continuously producing musician and artist of high calibre. One such household name in Silchar is Adib Emon and his popular band ‘Madly Bangali.’ In this write up, Dr. Himabrata Das dives deep into the musical journey of Adib Emon.
Adib Emon has always impressed me as a lively and passionate performer. I remember the colossal impact the folk medley that his band “Madly Bangali” sang had on the pulsating crowd on a Plexus (SMC’s cultural fiesta) evening a few years back. A glittering name in the Silchar cultural sphere, Adib has had an eventful musical journey spanning a decade.”
It’s important that performers don’t get let down by the fact that they can’t get the audience feedback on Facebook. At best,only 50% of the effort put in gets translated to the audience because of a lot of technical issues.Performers need to appreciate this. That is the beauty of being part of a band. There is love and there is brotherhood.And there is belief and trust.The response from the musicians drives the vocalist. The audience emits energy into the performance. I think that is what defines Madly Bangali.
“We have no inhibitions and we have performed in almost every imaginable scenario and have been appreciated by very diverse audiences. I am fond of all kinds of music. And that is evident in our performances. We take into consideration the audience and try to perform what they might love most. The most important thing is to enjoy one’s own performance. The audience response comes second. To reach a harmony between the performer and the audience is the dream,” Adib tells me.
An initiative “Live for Banjara Children” jointly launched by Adib featuring notable artists from the region is an attempt to reach out to the less privileged through music.” We are lucky to be in a comfortable place in our homes. But we need to do our bit to stand beside those who have been worst hit by the pandemic. Pt. Ravi Shankar and George Harrison performed “The Concert for Bangladesh” in 1971. We have to realise the massive power of music beyond being just a means of entertainment,” he adds.
Adib and his friends celebrate the birthday of Gautam Chattopadhyay, the co-founder of the progressive rock band Moheener Ghoraguli, every year on the 1st of June. “It’s a day to celebrate the alternate strand of Bengali music. All the bands come together to regale in the spirit of folk,rock and progressive. Creative people with diverse pursuits also participate in the event. This year we had to go online but the response was encouraging like always. There’s a niche for this genre in our region. The response to our Facebook Lives tell us that. We often cover compositions of other bands and artists. In the end,we have to ensure that music triumphs. Musicians are very often driven by instinct. It is natural to have the urge to sing a song that you love. But the performer has to decide whether that particular song suits his or her style of singing. With maturity and time you figure out your strengths as a singer. Some songs you attempt, some you just let go”, Adib speaks with the ebullience of a pupil.
As I ponder over the enriching conversation, I am filled with a sense of optimism. What strikes me more than his musical acumen is Adib’s astute understanding of the contemporary music scene. His sense of altruism and a vision for a better world make Adib Emon a musician with a difference.
**Dr. Himabrata Das, Registrar, Department of Psychiatry, Tezpur Medical College & Hospital (TMCH). Apart from this, he is a vivid lover of sports & aesthetics, an eloquent commentator and a columnist.
