Lyricists no longer get the recognition they deserve: Maqsud Jamil Mintu

Maqsud Jamil Mintu has been a prominent figure in Bangladesh's music industry since 1979. Over his impressive career spanning more than four decades, the National Film Award-winning music director has composed not only hundreds of songs but also over 500 background scores for Bangla dramas. 

Despite his long-standing contributions, it was only recently that he was appointed as a jury member for the National Film Awards. In a conversation with The Business Standard (TBS), Mintu shared his thoughts on Bangladeshi music and the changes and reforms he hopes to witness in the industry.

Following the formation of the interim government, discussions about cultural reforms in the country have gained momentum. This has also sparked conversations among professionals in the music industry about achieving greater development in the sector.

When asked about the types of reforms or changes needed in the music industry, Mintu pointed out the critical issues regarding copyright. With firm conviction, he stated, "Copyright remains a significant issue in the music industry. The question of who holds the copyright for film songs is still unresolved. The remuneration system for actors, singers, composers, and music directors at Bangladesh Betar and television is outdated and in dire need of revision."

The production of timeless songs in Bangladeshi films and dramas has significantly dwindled, with only a few memorable tracks emerging over the past decade. Most recent releases seem to prioritise creating viral hits or chasing quick fame. Addressing this trend, Mintu pointed out the absence of collaborative synergy among today's lyricists, composers and singers.

"Creating a timeless song involves several essential factors. For a song to deeply resonate with people and remain memorable for decades—thirty, forty or even fifty years—it requires a collective effort. Unfortunately, I feel that kind of collaboration is largely missing today," he said.

Mintu also believes that the lack of proper remuneration for talented lyricists and composers has dissuaded them from fully committing to their craft. This has led to a decline in the creation of songs that blend meaningful lyrics with quality compositions.

"True lyricists no longer get the recognition they deserve. These days, it's common for the person writing the song to also fund and release it through their own platform," Mintu observed.

Many songs in the country released across different platforms achieve fleeting popularity but quickly fade from public discourse. Meanwhile, songs from five decades ago continue to hold their charm and relevance. What explains this disparity today?

"The notion of 'popularity' can be deceptive. YouTube views don't equate to genuine popularity. A truly timeless song is one that people continue to hum and cherish over time," responded Mintu.

These days, while Mintu occasionally works on composing songs, his primary focus remains on creating background scores for dramas.

The popular songs "O Amar Ural Pongkhire" and "Ekta Chilo Shonar Konna," written by the renowned storyteller Humayun Ahmed and sung by Subir Nandi, were among the last major hits composed by Mintu. 

Prior to these, Mintu had cemented his place in the hearts of Bangla music lovers with songs such as Sabina Yasmin's "Amar Bhanga Ghore Bhanga Chala" and "Borshar Prothom Dine", Andrew Kishore's "Gorur Garir Dui Chaka" and Fazlur Rahman Babu and Shafi Mondol's duet "Baje Bashi Raajhashi Nache".