Azad Rahman (1944–2020) was a renowned Bangladeshi composer and musician, widely celebrated as the father of Bangla Kheyal, a classical music genre in Bengali language. Born on January 1, 1944, in Bardhaman, West Bengal, he received rigorous training in classical music under the tutelage of Sangeetacharya Tarapada Chakraborty and later earned a gold medal in Kheyal from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. Rahman began his career as a music director for the 1967 Indian film “Miss Priyambada” before moving to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where he worked extensively in radio, television, and film music production.
He served as the executive director of the National Academy of Performing Arts, principal of the Government Music College, and director general of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Azad Rahman was instrumental in pioneering Bangla Kheyal and composed many notable patriotic songs, including “Jonmo Amar Dhonno Holo Maago.” Besides his classical and film music contributions, he composed and performed Bangla Qawwalis and experimented with expressing Hindustani ragas on the piano.
Azad Rahman was also founder chairman of Sanskriti Kendra—Centre for Education, Creative and Performing Arts, which promoted Bengali music through organizing international music festivals and training programs. He received numerous national awards for his work in music direction, composition, and singing. Rahman passed away on May 16, 2020, leaving behind a rich legacy as a visionary artist dedicated to the preservation and development of Bengali music and culture. His wife, Selina Azad, is a singer, and they have three daughters.