Bari Siddiqui (15 November 1954 – 24 November 2017)[1] was a Bangladeshi singer-songwriter and flautist.[2] His songs include Shua Chan Pakhi, Amar Gaye Joto Dukkho Shoy, Pubali Batashe and Manush Dhoro Manush Bhojo.[3]

Bari Siddiqui
বারী সিদ্দিকী
Siddiqui at a concert in SUST campus (2012)
Siddiqui at a concert in SUST campus (2012)
Background information
Birth nameAbdul Bari Siddiqui
Born(1954-11-15)15 November 1954
Barhatta, Netrokona, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan
Died24 November 2017(2017-11-24) (aged 63)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
GenresFolk, classical
OccupationSinger
InstrumentFlute
Years active1981–2017

Early life

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Popularly known as Bari Siddiqui, Abdul Bari Siddiqui was born on November 15, 1954, in Barhatta, Netrokona, [Bangladesh]. At the age of 12, he received formal vocal training from Gopal Dutt of Netrokona. Starting in 1981, Bari took lessons for six years under Ustad Aminur Rahman. He later received professional tutelage from V. G. Karnaad in Pune, India.[4]

Siddiqui completed intermediate studies at Netrokona Govt College and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Dhaka. He joined Bangladesh Television around 1985.[4]

Career

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Siddiqui made his first appearance on television in 1995 on Ronger Baroi, a musical program produced by Humayun Ahmed, who is considered to be one of his patrons. He came into the mainstream media with the release of Humayun Ahmed's film Srabon Megher Din (1999).[5] Siddiqui won a Bachsas Award for the Best Male Playback Singer for his song "Shua Chan Pakhi" in the movie Srabon Megher Din.[6]

He also attended the World Flute Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 1999. His songs mainly featured pain, love, human life, and existence. Siddiqui voiced around 160 tracks during his career[3] and released a folk album titled Lokhkho Tara in April 2000.[3][4] Some of his albums are Matir Deho, Mone Boro Jala, Matir Malikana. Siddiqui also appeared in the films Rupkothar Golpo and Stories of Change.

In 2013, Siddiqui also appeared in the drama Pagla Ghora, directed by Amol Palekar to extend his artistic expression.[3]

Personal life

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Bari Siddiqui was married to Farida Easmin, and together, they had three children - sons Sabbir and Bilash and daughter Elma.[7][8]

Death and legacy

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Siddiqui was admitted to Square Hospital in Dhaka on 17 November 2017 with heart disease and died on 24 November 2017.[9][10]

To continue the Baul tradition in music, Siddiqui established a Baul music research centre named "Baul Bari," near his home village in Netrokona, Bangladesh.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Eminent folk singer, flautist Bari Siddiqui passes away". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  2. ^ Zahangir Shah (31 May 2011). "Bari Siddiqui Performance in Manikganj". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e "An ode to Bari Siddiqui". Dhaka Tribune. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Sadya Afreen Mallick (14 January 2009). "Bari Siddiqui unplugged". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Bari Siddiqui on life support". The Daily Star. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  6. ^ Zahangir Alom (15 November 2015). "A Medley of Soul-searching Melodies". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  7. ^ Aminul Islam (24 May 2016). "Bari Siddiqui performs in Mymensingh". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  8. ^ বারী সিদ্দিকী মারা গেছেন. bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Folk singer Bari Siddiqui no more". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  10. ^ প্রখ্যাত সঙ্গীতশিল্পী বারী সিদ্দিকী আর নেই. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.