It was a gala celebration as celebrities from the film and music fraternity brought in Rupam Islam’s 50th birthday at Hard Rock Cafe on Park Street. A t2 chat with Rupam...
How do you look back on the journey?
It has been rather well spent! My team who look after my social network has gifted me a video, which mentions some milestones and some firsts of these 50 years. I thank them for this video which is rather well made but has missed a few worthy mentions. However seeing that I felt, a lot is yet to be done. I am still a student who is learning new things every day. I am looking forward to many new ventures in the near future.
What is that one new thing you want to do in the 50th year?
In the 50th year, I want to release Fossils’s next album, publish two of my new novels and the second volume of GaanSomogro, the ultimate collection of my lyrics.
With age comes wisdom. Do you agree?
I don’t feel old. Age is how old you feel and not by the years you have lived. However, wisdom definitely comes from experiences. An old man without much experience in life may not gain as much wisdom as a young kid with a lot of experience. I am fortunate to have experienced a lot in life, both good and bad at a rather young age. I am sure they have made me wiser.
(L-R) Rupsha, Sourav Ganguly, Rupam and Dona Ganguly
You’re loved across generations from millennials to Gen X. What according to you is the reason behind this?
Let my audience pinpoint a quality or two. My job is to continue creating art in various forms and to believe in two mantras — satyameva jayate and karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana. This means that truth alone triumphs and you have control or right over your work only, not over the outcome
A cake which featured a miniature model of the singer
What’s your favourite birthday memory?
My mother’s luchi and chholar dal that she would make for me on my birthday. Also in 2011, Rupsha (wife) gifted me a record player and the record I used to listen to every day as a kid — Heerak Raja-r Deshe. In 2011 record players were not as easily available as they are now and hence it was a very special gift and a very sweet gesture.
How was your birthday party at Hard Rock Cafe?
I feel humbled that so many important people, many of whom I am an ardent admirer of, took time off from their busy schedules to come and wish me.
You chose a particular song which had an underlying message. Can you talk about it?
My training in music is through songs which may not be apt for a party but they are the foundations of my musical journey. The song I sang — Aapon kaje ochol hole cholbe na by Atul Prasad Sen — is the motto I have always followed in life and expect others close to me to do as well.