After releasing nine fusion songs since its launching in February this year, season one of Coke Studio Bangla comes to its conclusion with the launch of the latest song, “Hey Samalo.” The team of Coke Studio Bangla released this song at a gala event and exclusive screening for 500 fans at hotel Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden on Thursday night. A tribute to the undying spirit and the rebelling nature that can be found among all Bangladeshi netizens, the song came as a majestic fusion of Salil Chowdhury's 1946–1948 Tebhaga movement–inspired original song of the same name and Abdul Latif's 1952 Language Movement–inspired the song "Ora Amar Mukher Bhasha." The biggest artistic collaboration of the season, “Hey Samalo” is sung by 15 prominent Bangladeshi singers - Bappa Mazumder, Samina Chowdhury, Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Sunidhi Nayak, Rituraj Baidya, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Warda Ashraf, Armeen Musa, Sanzida Mahmood Nandita, Masha Islam, Rubayat Rehman, Jannatul Firdous Akbar, Sinha Hasan, Ripon Kumar Sarkar (Boga Taleb), and Animes Roy. The music video of the song also contains musicians belonging to the Mro community in Naikhongchari of Bandarban, who performed a mesmerizing flute performance and a Raibenshe folk martial dance. Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Music Producer of Coke Studio Bangla said, “We tried to explore something different for the finale by using Gono Sangeet in an effort to bring musicians and artists from different genres and backgrounds in unison. Everyone synced together beautifully, and the bond we created through this song was the real magic.” “This song brings out the undying spirit of the Bangladeshi people and I hope our audience will feel the same passion we felt when we sang together,” he added. “Bengalis have always fought for their rights throughout their lifetimes, whether it was during the anti-British movement, the struggle for independence from Pakistan, the fight for the mother tongue, or the anti-dictatorship movement. We wanted to close the first season with the spiritual strength that our nation never lost,” Coke Studio Bangla Creative Producer Syed Gousul Alam Shaon said about the song. The maiden season of Coke Studio Bangla featured a total of 10 songs from different genres including its rocking opener “Nasek Nasek,” followed by “Prarthona,” “Bulbuli,” “Bhober Pagol,” “Chiltey Roud,” “Bhinnotar Uthshob,” “Shob Lokey Koy,” “Lilabali.” “Dokhina Hawa” and lastly, “Hey Samalo.” The season featured a star-studded lineup of Bangladeshi legendary musicians, such as Momtaz Begum, Bappa Majumdar, Pantha Kanai, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Samina Chowdhury, Mizan, Tahsan Khan and more, along with new promising singers from music industry such as Animesh Roy, Boga Taleb, Nandita, Makhon and others. Also read: Coke Studio Bangla concert held at Army Stadium

Conquering the brutal aftermath of Thursday's heavy showers, the first-ever concert of Coke Studio Bangla was held at Dhaka's Army Stadium last night. The special concert, which was arranged by Coca-Cola Bangladesh and Bangladesh Football Federation marking the global tour of the FIFA World Cup trophy that arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday, was delayed for several hours as the arena was flooded due to heavy showers. Bangladesh Football Federation even announced that the concert was postponed; however, the event finally began at 9pm, minimising its earlier schedule while billions of viewers from home and abroad also virtually joined the concert on Coke Studio Bangla’s Facebook and YouTube Live. Also read: Coke Studio's 'Chiltey Roud': Arnob whips up another magical track The first large-scale, open-air concert featuring all Bangladeshi artistes after the Joy Bangla Concert in 2020 and the global outbreak of COVID-19, the performances began with Coke Studio Bangla season one theme song “Ekla Cholo” by the music producer of the ongoing season, Arnob, alongside Sunidhi Nayak, Zohad and more.

Coke Studio Bangla swayed the country to the sound of its first track "Nasek Nasek," a Hajong fusion song of celebrations, Wednesday night. The song is a tribute to the diversified and vibrant indigenous languages in the country. Written, composed and sung by Animes Roy in his native language, the song was complemented by Pantha Kanai's electrifying performance of the legendary folk ballad "Dol Dol Doloni," written and composed by Abdul Latif and originally sung by folk legend Abdul Alim. The song was released during a Facebook Live, hosted by popular singer-actor Tahsan, from the official page of Coke Studio Bangla and on its YouTube channel. Curated and produced by popular singer-music director Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Nasek Nasek was composed and arranged by Adit Rahman. The chief sound engineer of the song is Faizan R Ahmad (Buno). It was mixed and mastered by Yash Divecha. Jannatul Firdous Akbar, Warda Ashraf and Rubayat Rehman provided backing vocals. READ: Smritydahan: Tanvir Tareq's book on rock legend Ayub Bachchu published The track was performed by Adit (piano and backing vocal), Rahin Haider (saxophone), Sayonton Mangsang (saxophone), Mazruq Islam Nafi (drums), Faizan Rashid Ahmad Buno (bass), Imran Ahmed (guitar), Shuvendu Das Shuvo (mandolin and guitar), Saadul Islam (guitar), Pradyut Chatterjea (synths), Mithun Chakra (percussions) and Mubarak (mandira). Directed by Krishnendu Chattopaddhyay, the video production of the song was done by Dope Productions Private. With its fusion theme song "Ekla Cholo" released on February 7, the debut season of Coke Studio Bangla is showcasing an ensemble of popular singers and musicians including Tahsan, Momtaz Begum, Bappa Majumdar, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Samina Chowdhury, and Mizan. READ: Runa Laila remembers friend, collaborator Bappi Lahiri Music enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the fusion performances on Coca-Cola Bangladesh's official Facebook page, YouTube channel and Spotify. Coke Studio Bangla is produced by Grey Advertising Bangladesh, with Syed Gousul Alam Shaon being the creative producer of the show.

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.