Coke Studio Bangla Sunday released its fifth track "Chiltey Roud" – an ode to loved ones – where the show curator and producer Shayan Chowdhury Arnob made his singing debut. Young folk singer Ripon Kumar Sarkar, popularly known as Boga Taleb, voiced the soulful fusion – combining legendary Bhawaiya song "O Ki Ekbar Ashiya" written and sung by Abbasuddin Ahmed – with Arnob. No matter where or who someone is, the deep blue sky speaks to them just the same. The same sky that bestows shade over the arable soils of the village also brings relief over the busy streets of a metro city. The language of love and yearning for loved ones is universal. The urban lyrical picturisation of Chiltey Rodey written by Saron Datta interweaves with the pain and yearning of O Ki Ekbar Ashiya to express the same deep emotion and hunger in people's hearts, in cities and villages, to be close and in the presence of love. The chief sound engineer of the song is Faizan R Ahmad (Buno) and the track was mixed and mastered by Buno, Saadul Islam and Yash Divecha. Jannatul Firdous Akbar and Rubayat Rehman provided backing vocals. The track was performed by Jalal Ahmed (bansuri), Saadul Islam (electric guitar), Imran Ahmed (electric guitar), Shuvendu Das Shuvo (acoustic guitar), Faizan Rashid Ahmad (Buno) (bass guitar), Rahin Haider (tenor saxophone), Sayonton Mangsang (bansuri), Hassan Haider Khan (shehnai), Pantho Kanai (drums), Mithun Chakra (percussions), Pradyut Chatterjea (piano), Mubarak Islam (percussion) and Md Ashikul Islam (esraj). Directed by Krishnendu Chattopaddhyay, the video production of the song was done by Dope Productions Private.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said on Monday that music was one of the main and influential sources of inspiration for the Bengali nation in various democratic movements, including the Language Movement of 1952 and the great Liberation War of  1971.  The minister was speaking as the special guest at the launching ceremony of ‘Coke Studio Bangla,’ which will be the local adaptation of the widely-acclaimed platform for fusion music that started in Pakistan.in the early 2000s. Monday night's launch was organized by Coca-Cola Bangladesh in the ballroom of the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden.  “February is the month of our glorious Language Movement, and our enriched musical heritage is widely revered by music enthusiasts around the world. I believe Coca-Cola Bangladesh's debut of the 'Coke Studio Bangla' platform, the Bengali version of 'Coke Studio' for Bengali speakers in many nations across the world, including Bangladesh, is an amazing initiative in this glorious month,” the minister said at the event. Highlighting the popularity of Coke Studio for its fusion songs, he added, “I believe that 'Coke Studio Bangla' will become more popular worldwide than the way ‘Coke Studio’ has gained popularity in different countries of the world, including our neighbouring country India. We are hopeful that this wonderful platform will further uphold the glory of our diverse collection of songs." READ: Lata Mangeshkar: India's Legendary Singing Diva State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak also spoke as the special guest on the occasion, while Coca-Cola Bangladesh Managing Director Ta Duy Tung delivered the welcome speech. Popular singer-composer and music producer of ‘Coke Studio Bangla’ Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, singer-actor and Coca-Cola Bangladesh’s brand ambassador Tahsan Khan, folk-icon and Member of Parliament Momtaz Begum, and other popular music stars including Bappa Mazumder, Ankhi Alamgir and others also joined the gala launching event of the world-famous musical fusion programme. The ‘Coke Studio Bangla’ Season 1 theme song "Ekla Cholo" was also premiered at the event, simultaneously released at Coke Studio Bangla’s Facebook and YouTube platforms. The song is a beautiful fusion rendition of Bengali Polymath Rabindranath Tagore’s popular song “Jodi Tor Daak Shune Keu Na Ashe,” Baul singer Gagan Harkara's famous song "Ami Kothay Pabo Tare" and popular band Shironamhin’s cult hit song “Tumi Cheye Achho Tai,” performed by Arnob, Bappa Mazumder, Samina Chowdhury, Momtaz, Kona, Pantha Kanai, Rituraj, Masha, Mizan, Boga Taleb, Sheikh Ishtiaque and more. The inaugural event was then followed by musical performances by the project's participants. Coke Studio's first season will premiere in mid-February, featuring a total of ten tracks. Music enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the fusion performances on Coca-Cola Bangladesh's official Facebook page, YouTube channel and Spotify.

After striking a chord with the audience in Bangladesh and Bengal with his brand of music, fusion renditions of Rabindra sangeet, popular singer-composer Arnob is all set to give a new dimension to Nazrul geeti for the first time in his career.

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, the immensely popular and talented singer-songwriter with a fanbase spanning Bangladesh and West Bengal, got married Wednesday to Sunidhi Nayak, a fellow musician as well as alumni of Shantiniketan - although they attended at different times.