Nafid Imran Ahmed

DHAKA'S music lovers had much to savour at the Coca-Cola 'Dhaka Dhoon' concert at the Army Stadium on April 13. The concert featured some of the front-ranking musical groups and talents of the country. But the cynocure of the musical feast was music sensations from West Bengal Anjan Dutta and Nochiketa.

The concert was due to kick off at 3 p.m. but the crowd started pouring in the Dhaka Army Stadium premises long before the scheduled time.

The audience toasted the foot-tapping music of Anjan Dutt.He begun his performance with the song,'Hello Bangladesh'. The crowd simply loved the song.

Anjan said, "Today's concert has a special cause. It's for a child who will one day overcome his sufferings". His next song, John Denver's 'Sunshine', was dedicated to the boy suffering from cancer. The audience went crazy and sang along with him as he played his all-time favourites. 'Maryann', 'Hasi ar Hasina' and 'Ranjana', one after another. Before the next number, Anjan talked about his friend Mohin, who had a band during the '70s known as 'Mohin-er Ghoragooli'. He played one of their numbers, 'Tomay Dilam'. Next he played 'Boshe Achi Estatione'te' and 'Kanchanjangha'. Then Anjan's guitar player sang LRB's 'Shei Tumi'. The audience enjoyed it very much and sang along.

Next came Dalchhut-- a new band in town. They have already been acclaimed as an alternative band and their number "Tumi Amar", very much, proved their distinct style. They have already released two albums. Their first album 'Aah' became quite popular. But it was their second release 'Hridoypur' which made them popular. Recently the band is working on their third album, which will be released shortly. In the concert they performed 'Erpor Chole Asho', 'Ami Tomake Bole Debo', 'Praner Shonkolon' and 'Kano Tumi Nei Je Amar'.

Nochiketa took the stage next. He went off with his famous number 'Antabihin Poth Cholai Jibon'. His voice worked like magic and the audience came alive. Nochiketa performed his popular numbers, 'Sharkari Karmachari', 'Tumi Ke', 'Onirban' and 'Ambition,'.

Warfaze, one of the front-ranking musical groups of the country was next to the stage. But before they took the stage there was a slight disturbance. The show was paused for a while.

Formed in 1984, the band became very famous when their first album was released in 1991. Every single song of that album was remarkable. Till now they have released 5 albums. 'Progressive Rock' is what they call their music. Their lyrics are about social facts. Recently they have a new line up. Before the concert bandleader Tipu said, "Warfaze has always stood for charity. We are participating in a concert after quite sometime and with a new line-up, so there will be surprises." It was indeed a surprise. They started off with 'Hotasha' a number from their latest album Alo. The audience was moved to see the new line-up's performance. They went back to their first album next and played 'Shadhikar' and 'Boshe Achi'.

It has been seven years since the people of Bangladesh have seen the pop 'guru' Azam Khan perform in a live concert. Dhaka Dhoon provided this rare opportunity to see him onstage and perform live. Pop-King Azam Khan started his musical career after the Liberation War with a band titled 'Uccharan'. His first album titled 'Ek Jug' was released in 1982.

The concert will no doubt stay in the memories of Dhaka's music lovers for a long time to come