Popular Bangladeshi singer Rumana Morshed Kanak Chapa is celebrating her 56th birthday today, marking another milestone in a career that has spanned more than three decades. Known for her distinctive voice and versatile singing style, the artist has built a lasting connection with audiences through her work in Bangladeshi cinema, modern songs, classical music and Nazrul Sangeet.
Kanak Chapa was born in 1969 in Shantibagh, Dhaka. Although her ancestral home is in Kazipur of Sirajganj, she grew up in the capital. She is the third of five children of Azizul Haque Morshed. Her musical journey developed through formal training as well as exposure to different genres of Bangla music.
She received musical training from legendary singer Bashir Ahmed and also studied classical music and Nazrul Sangeet. This broad musical grounding helped shape the vocal style that later became one of her defining characteristics.
A major part of Kanak Chapa’s career has been associated with playback singing in films. She has lent her voice to more than 3,000 film songs during her career and has released 35 solo albums. Her songs have remained familiar to generations of listeners, particularly those who grew up with Bangladeshi cinema and modern Bangla music.
Among her widely recognised songs are ‘Onek Sadhonar Pore Ami Pelam Tomar Mon’, ‘Tomake Chai Shudhu Tomake Chai’, ‘Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko’, ‘Tomay Dekhle Mone Hoy’ and ‘Ananta Prem Tumi Dao Amake’. Her repertoire reflects the range of themes commonly found in Bangla popular music, from love and longing to emotional and romantic expression.
Kanak Chapa has also established herself as a writer. Her published books include ‘Sthobir Jajabor’, released in 2010, ‘Mukhomukhi Joddha’, published in 2012, and ‘Megher Danay Chore’, published in 2016. Her literary work has provided another platform through which she has expressed her experiences and creative interests beyond music.
Her contribution to the film music industry has brought significant recognition. Kanak Chapa has won three National Film Awards during her long career. She has also received the Bangladesh Cholochitra Sangbadik Samity (Bachsas) Award and other honours for her contribution to music.
Beyond her career in the arts, Kanak Chapa has also been involved in politics. She contested the 11th parliamentary election as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate from the Sirajganj-1 constituency.
On her 56th birthday, fans, fellow artistes and well-wishers are extending greetings to the singer. For many listeners, the occasion is also an opportunity to revisit the songs that have accompanied different periods of their lives.
With more than three decades in the music industry, thousands of film songs, numerous solo releases and several major awards to her name, Kanak Chapa remains a familiar figure in Bangladesh’s musical landscape. Her birthday is being marked by admirers who continue to remember her distinctive contribution to Bangla song.
