'Deewana' proves Qawwali can be rendered masterfully in Bangla

Eid-ul-Adha, the second-biggest religious festival for Muslims, is only a few days away. On the face of such an occasion, Coke Studio Bangla has come up with another masterpiece, 'Deewana', which in theory is a Qawwali but has combined elements from many other musical styles. 

The song features an ensemble cast of Fuad Almuqtadir, Soumyadeep Sikdar (known by his alias Murshidabadi), Tasfia Fatima, Ripon Sarkar (known by his alias Boga Taleb), and Fuad Almuqtadir, who also plays the role of producer. 

As the song has fused more than one genre, there are parts composed by Pagol Goni Mastan and Srijato.

There was a popular misconception among many people that Bangla is not an appropriate language for a sophisticated rendition of Qawwali, which Deewana has dismantled. 

The song Deewana celebrates the divine and the feeling of jolliness, all while taking inspiration from love for the Almighty. As mentioned by Soumyadeep Sikdar himself, he learned this song from Armaan Faqir in Nadia, West Bengal, which is one of the hubs of Baul and Sufi music in the broader region of Bengal.

The song has received widespread popular acclaim for being a song that has an appropriate mix of spirituality and festiveness and is able to incorporate the spirit of Eid properly. 

The song also has an elaborate use of musical instruments, starting with Guitar, Ektara, Dotara, and khanjani, as well as Beatboxing. 

The melody of the song is a touch different from all other Coke Studio songs from this season, as its fusion of musical styles has been received well by the listeners. The use of this many instruments also never felt out of place, as the producers successfully synchronised the musical styles.

Combining so many musical styles, instruments, and artists in one song is a monumental task, and one of the biggest attractions of the song is that all these never looked cheesy or crass, and every one of these styles complemented the other styles well. 

Murshidabadi and Boga Taleb's melodic voices have also grabbed the listeners' attention as they continue to dazzle in the second season of Coca-Cola Studio.

The song is a must-listen for anyone interested in Bangla music's progression, as it not only washes off old stereotypes but also creates a fusion that has been unprecedented, thus providing the listeners with much joy.

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