TBT DESK

Singer Mila Islam is currently busy with various musical programmes and concerts. On September 10, she performed at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), at TexVenture, an event organised by Austex 45 of the Textile Department of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology.

She is also in talks to perform at several other concerts this month. If everything goes as planned, the singer will take part in those events as well.

Mila said, “I have been busy with concerts. For quite some time now, I have repeatedly been welcomed back with references to my ‘comeback’. But that is not really the case. There was a bit of a gap in between. Besides, I have always been in the headlines, whether the news was positive or negative.

“If the question is whether I disappeared, I would say I never did. For the past four years, I have been regularly performing on stage. I have also been performing at shows abroad.”

A growing trend of remixing and reinterpreting folk songs in new ways can currently be seen in the music scene. While many have criticised the practice, Mila views it positively.

“I have remixed folk songs myself. I always say that whether music is new or old, it is not anyone’s sole property. An artist creates music for everyone, and it continues to live among people even after the artist’s death. I see reinterpreting songs in a positive way. It gives the new generation an opportunity to listen to old songs in a new form,” Mila said.

Although she has not recorded a film song in seven years, Mila now wants to regularly lend her voice to cinema again. She said, “In the past, there wasn’t much direct reaction from listeners regarding my songs. This time, that is happening, and I like it. Although I don’t work very often, films with good budgets are currently being made. From now on, I want to do more quality work in cinema.”

Mila Islam has not been a frequent presence in film songs in recent years.

During last year’s Eid, she lent her voice to a promotional song for the film Insaf. She returned to film playback singing after a long gap with Akash Jure Lokkho Tara. The song also led her to visit several cinemas as part of promotional activities.

The song, featuring the lyrics “Prem pukure boroshi fele anbor dhore,” was written by Sudip Kumar Dwip. Shaukat Ali Emon composed and arranged the track. The song also received a positive response from listeners.

Mila also released a new song, Kandari Chol, for football fans during the last FIFA World Cup. Created around the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup, the song marked her first collaboration with popular singer Pantho Kanai. Bammie, Sanjana, Nigerian artist Oly Boy and rapper Black Zang also contributed to the track.