Nirmalendu Chowdhury was a renowned folk singer from India, born on July 27, 1922, in the village of Beheli, Sunamganj, Sylhet. He learned singing by listening to folk songs sung by boatmen and was encouraged by his parents to pursue music. Chowdhury took lessons in folk songs from Abdul Majid and Abdur Rahim in Mymensingh and later studied Tagore songs at Santiniketan under Ashokbijay Raha. He gained international recognition for his performances, including winning a gold medal at an international folk song competition in Warsaw in 1955. Chowdhury was also involved in films as a playback singer and actor, and he composed music as well. He founded Lokabharati, a school for folk music in Kolkata, and was associated with the Progressive Writers Association and Bharatiya Gana Natya theatre group. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to folk music and passed away on April 18, 1981.
Chowdhury's legacy includes popularizing Bangla folk songs both domestically and internationally. He was a member of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and performed many compositions by Hemango Biswas, a prominent lyricist and composer. His performances abroad, including in Moscow and Warsaw, helped introduce Indian folk music to global audiences. Chowdhury's work in Bengali films, such as "Ganga," further cemented his reputation as a versatile artist. His collection of songs, "Epar Bangla Opar Banglar Gan," remains a testament to his dedication to preserving and promoting folk music.
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