Nayak Raj Razzak remains one of the most enduring figures in the history of Bangla cinema –a star whose presence reshaped popular film culture and whose songs continue to echo long after the final reel. On his birth anniversary, that musical legacy returns to the foreground, reminding audiences why Razzak still occupies a singular place in the nation’s cultural imagination.
The day’s commemorative programming opened with a special episode of the morning show “Gan Diye Shuru”, broadcast live from 7:40am on Friday (January 23). The episode is built entirely around songs from films starring Razzak—melodies that once filled cinema halls and now live on as cultural touchstones.
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Veteran playback singer Khurshid Alam will appear as a guest artiste, joined by younger-generation singers Swarna and Imran Khandakar. Together, they will perform songs drawn from Razzak’s most popular and enduring films, tracing the emotional arc of a career that spanned decades and genres. Through these performances, the programme revisits not only familiar tunes but also the cinematic moods and moral universes that Razzak helped define.
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Razzak’s association with film music was never incidental. His on-screen persona—romantic, defiant, vulnerable, heroic—found its fullest expression through song. For generations of viewers, his films are inseparable from the music that carried their stories, aspirations and conflicts. Many of those songs remain staples of Bangla popular culture, still circulating across radio, television and digital platforms.
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The live programme is directed by Mustafaizur Rahman Nantu, Jamal Reza and Iftekhar Munim. According to the channel’s programme department, beginning the day with Razzak’s film songs is a deliberate attempt to reconnect audiences emotionally with an actor whose appeal crossed class, age and geography. Additional programming dedicated to Razzak will run throughout the day.
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Often described as the uncrowned king of Bangla cinema, Razzak was more than a matinee idol. His career mirrored the evolution of the industry itself, from its post-independence momentum to its later commercial and aesthetic shifts. Yet his popularity never rested solely on box-office success. It was sustained by a deep bond with audiences—one built on recognisable characters, memorable music and a screen presence that felt both intimate and monumental.
