03/06/2024
"Musafir Tumi" by ''Zinga Goshty'
"ZINGA" the first POP Music group of Bangladesh; the band was originally formed in 1963 by a group of young students from Chittagong Government College. The group was the first of its kind who played a number of Western musical instruments such as Accordion, Drums, Guitar, Grand Piano, etc. to modernize traditional Bangla Tunes and to appeal to mass population. Zinga's music journey started as an Orchestra Band in Bangladesh which later became the first POP group of the nation.
Under the inspiration and leadership of late Shafaat Ali, Zinga soon became a pop music icon in the Indo-Pak-Sub Continent for its distinct music/song composition, theme oriented lyrics that focused on patriotic values, societal issues, human temperament, and passion.
Zinga was the first to experiment of blending Eastern music and tunes with Western instruments, music composition to accentuate Bangla songs in a big, new way. The group started playing Popular Tagore songs in an orchestra style, sang and composed tempo-Nazrul Songs, various popular folk, Bangla movie hit tunes in Western Orchestra style as well. People embraced this novelty with arms wide open and the group indeed had little trouble in winning the hearts of the heartland Bangladeshi crowd.
Bangla societal values and times were quite conservative and different in those days. As anticipated, Zinga and Shafaat endured a great deal of controversy, raised eyebrows, and constructive criticism from the orthodox, conservative music pundits media. However, Shafaat was committed in his mission; he hoped for that day to come when our nation will cherish and value his music innovation and contribution towards Bangla music as part of launching a new era of music for Bangladesh--- The Pop Music Era. Shafaat strongly believed that true innovation and continuation of any given culture has to follow with changing times, must have a strong vision for the future which requires both collaborative spirit and positive transformation of both worlds…. East and West. Shafaat's love, devotion and passion for Bangla culture and music never let him lose focus; he continued his journey through Zinga, composed songs and music in spite of all the criticism, challenges, and odds. Zinga was not going to let go of their beliefs as they wanted to attract, captivate, and appeal to a large number of new-age, emerging, young audience as a way o withstand the changing waves of times.
The 1960's was the era of Rock & Roll as Elvis made his debut in the Western world. Inspired by Elvis and Solil Chowdhury's music, Shafaat too dreamt of a new era for Bangla music world. He continued composing modern songs, tunes, and allowed Zinga to take a leap forward from an Orchestra band to becoming the first Bangla POP band.
It was 1964 when Shafaat's teenage sisters, Najma and Shehla Parveen joined the band. Both Najma & Shehla not only possess gifted vocal talents, they had a unique, differentiating, distinct personality and vocal aesthetics. Like brother Shafaat, they too had the talent of playing various musical instruments themselves such as the Grand Piano , B**g, the drums, Trampoline, etc. In 1965 Zinga was invited to perform in the first ever television broadcasted show of East Pakistan TV (which later became BTV) with many other noted artists of that time such as Shehnaz, Ferdousi, Sabina, Mehedi Hassan, etc.
In 1970 Shafaat's parents left Chittagon and the family moved to Dhaka; this move also forced Zinga to leave Chaittagong behind and start spreading its wing in Dhaka. They began performing in the East Pakistan Radio, East Pakistan TV, and in live shows. The move gradually forced the band to integrate between family members and select, gifted newly acquired local music talents from Dhaka.
Najma & Shehla soon produced several hit numbers under Zinga's label from (HMV) EMI records. Examples are "Phule Phule"; Ranna Kori, Dur Alaponi Dara, Cholo Na Jai, "Dhaka"; "Duti Mon Ekti"; "Shagor Tire"; and the infamous Pop Queen Najma Zaman's legendary song Hit "Tomari Jibone". Najma's evergreen HIT "Tomari Jibone" was produced by EMI Pakistan record label in 1968.
In 1971, Shafaat tied the knots with wife Nighat, who then joined the Zinga family and became a vocalist for the band as well. During the 70's, Zinga established many professional music talents such as Kaderi Kibria, Linu Billah Jalal Abedin, Nazrul Islam, Pomi, etc in the mainstream music world. In fact, it was Shafaat who gave the stage name of "Kaderi Kibria" to introduce the artist as a way to brand his new stage name and image within the music community.
During the independence war, Shafaat wrote and composed dozens of patriotic songs such as: "Naam Na Jana koto phul", "Ektoo Hethai Daro Pothik", Ora Bole Bir shohidher rokto" "Tumi Je Daak diey Gele". These songs were recorded in their family Living room and was broadcasted by The Shadhin Bangla Radio Station. The songs had successfully inspired numerous freedom fighters and their families who ultimately gave us our independence and freedom.
In late 70's Zinga took under their wing several young musicians as part of creating new music albums for the group as well to perform in live stage show performances (examples: Piaru Khan (who later formed a band of their own Feedback), Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, Sheikh Ishtiaq, Fuad Naser Babu, etc.)
In the 80's Zinga had the honor of being invited to the BangoBhaban State & Presidential House to perform for various eminent, distinguished foreign Presidents, Royal, and VIP dignitaries. In the late 80's Shafaat encouraged his young song and daughter to take part in the group's BTV shows; he included these youngsters in various children songs and chorus Zinga music numbers. Shafaat was visionary individual and was always one step ahead of times; he realized in order to keep his music alive and to continue Zinga and Najma's music legacy, it was important to groom the next generation of immediate family members in the art and passion of music and performing arts. By involving these youngsters in Zinga TV shows a very early age, they could learn firsthand from their father and aunts the art of Zinga music. Shafaat also wanted to capture a new, versatile audience constituent. By including children Zinga became a family entertainment attracting and inspiring both children and adults.
Zinga had always been selective and quite strategic when it came to position itself in the eyes and minds of the audience. They historically accepted to participate in selective TV performances and stage shows. The reason was to ensure their die hard fans would always crave their presence and would not loose interest. They were conscious and wanted to avoid becoming overwhelmingly monotonous in the eyes of the public and media. This is why when Zinga shows were to be broadcasted in the BTV, large number of audience would be drawn to their Television sets.
In 70s & 80s Zinga become the common name in every household and conquered millions with their POP songs. During this era Zinga's fame served as an inspiration to other noted POP singers of the time such as Azam Khan, Ferdous Wahid, Late Firoz Shai, etc.
In 1979, Zinga decided to segregate itself from non-family music artists and went about surrounding itself with only immediate Zinga family members. This redefined Zinga's brand identity, positioned itself with a new revolutionary image. Here onwards, Zinga was being compared to other leading Western bands such as the BeeGees, Beatles, Abba, Boney M, etc.
In the 90's Zinga released several big hits such as Alibaba, Anchaan- Anchaan, Bol Shokhi, Maaj Raat, "Majhi Bhai", Kothai Kothai (Family fued song), O' Dadi Dadi Jaan, Dhaka, Sorry, etc etc. I
In late 90s and 2000's, Zinga started a video production company that produced music videos for mass public as well as for other outlets such as: Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The group also participated in a number of international VDO contests under Shafaat's Video & Record label Ipsha Record Ltd. Zinga performed in live stages in Australia, Asia, and in various Middle East, European countries such as London, Denmark, Netherlands, Luxembourg, U.A.E and represented Bangladeshi POP Music and also won several awards and recognition.
In mid 90's Zinga slowed as the groups' lead singer Najma Zaman moved and settled in the USA (Chicago). Other family members too began to migrate to USA and other parts of the world. 1997, Shafaat Ali, the revolutionary musician, lyricist and the leader of the band suffered an unexpected death. But by then, it is not to anyone's surprise that Shafaat's passion for music and his spirit had already been engraved and passed over to his beloved siblings and children: Najma, Shehla, Shayan, Nahiyan and Shazia. It is these individuals who are now proudly carrying his baton, Zinga's Pop Music legend by creating new pop music as a way to keep Zinga's music alive for many more years to follow.
61 years have passed to this legendary POP Music group of Bangladesh.
Video Courtesy- Zinga Shilpi Goshty
