Masud Karim: The Immortal Lyricist and Saraswati of Bengali Songs

Masud Karim, the immortal lyricist of Bengali songs

Details: Written by: সালেক উদ্দিন শেখ; Category: Our tradition; Published: 11 November 2026; Hits: 5

Masud Karim (born 17 February 1936 - died 16 November 1996) was a renowned Bangladeshi lyricist. Many noted composers at home and abroad set his songs to music, and famous singers lent their voices to them. For his contribution to music he twice won the National Film Award in the Best Lyricist category.

The creator of such heart-touching songs as 'Sojoni Go Bhalobashe Eto Jala', 'Shotru Tumi Bondhu Tumi', 'Tomra Jara Aj Amader Bhabchho Manush Kina', 'Kichhu Bolo, Kichhu Bolo', 'Tondra Hara Noyon-o Amar', 'Jokhon Thambe Kolahol' and 'Shilpi Ami Tomader Gan Shonab' was the lyricist Masud Karim. The creator of many immortal songs, he is an extremely popular name in the world of Bangladeshi music.

Lyricist Masud Karim was born on 17 February 1936 in Durgapur Kazipara of Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia district. His father Rezaul Karim was a government employee, and his mother Nahar was a homemaker. Masud Karim's wife Dilara Alo is also a renowned music artiste. She too has been performing music on Bangladesh Radio and Television for decades. Masud Karim began his career as a programme officer at the Dhaka and Chittagong radio stations. He worked for some years as secretary to the Vice-Chancellor of Mymensingh Agricultural University.

From 1960 he began writing songs for radio and television. In the sixties, seventies and eighties he wrote a great many songs for films. He composed many geeti-noksha presentations, among them, notably, programmes of songs on the occasion of Independence Day and 21 February, Eid programmes and the like. In 1982, for the songs of 'Rojonigondha', and in 1994, for the songs of 'Hriday Theke Hriday', lyricist Masud Karim twice received the National Film Award as Best Lyricist. Lyricist Masud Karim also produced films. The films he produced are 'Ochena Othithi', 'Wada' and 'Bhalo Manush'.

He was deeply involved with various social organisations. He was a life member of the Bangladesh Lions Club. He was one of the founders and the president of the Bangladesh Gitikobi Songsad (Parliament of Lyricists). He helped many young and veteran lyricists and poets write songs and poems. He was also associated with the Bangladesh Music Council as its vice-president.

Masud Karim began writing songs from 1955. The number of his songs is very large; some of his favourite songs were sung by master artistes: in Bashir Ahmed's voice - 'Sojoni Go Bhalobashe Eto Jala'; in Abdul Jabbar's voice - 'Shotru Tumi Bondhu Tumi'; in Khurshid Alam's voice - 'Tomra Jara Aj Amader Bhabchho Manush Kina'; in Syed Abdul Hadi's voice - 'Kichhu Bolo, Kichhu Bolo'; in Mohammad Ali Siddiqui's voice - 'Bashi Baje Oi Dure'; in Hasina Momtaz's voice - 'Tondra Hara Noyon-o Amar'; in Ferdousi Rahman's voice - 'Duti Chokhe Chokh Rekhe'; in Runa Laila's voice - 'Jokhon Thambe Kolahol', 'Shilpi Ami Tomader Gan Shonab', 'Jokhon Ami Thakbo Nako' and 'Ami Sujon Dekhe Bhab Korechhi'; in Shahnaz Rahmatullah's voice - 'Oi Akash Ghire Sandha Name'; in Mahmudunnabi's voice - 'Songita Jodi Daki', 'Batase Tomar Songlap Shuni' and 'Tomra Jara Aj Amader'; in Sabina Yasmin's voice - 'Ami Rojoni Gondho Phuler Moto Gondho Biliye Jai' and 'Sondhar-o Chhaya Name'; in Samina Nabi's voice - 'Beiman Bashi'; in Dilara Alo's voice - 'Jonak Jonak Rat'; in Anwar Uddin's voice - 'Jodi Nil Sagorer Mukto Tumi Chao'; in Maqsood's voice - 'Ghor Chherechhi Dujone'; and 'Je Bashi Bhenge Gechhe' sung by Shubro Deb — Masud Karim is the lyricist of countless such timeless songs.

The celebrated ghazal emperor Mehdi Hassan, and India's Shyamal Mitra, Bhupen Hazarika, Usha Uthup, Kumar Sanu, Anuradha Paudwal and Udit Narayan also sang songs written by him. Steps have been taken to publish these songs in book form. In lyricist Masud Karim, hundreds of songs of enduring popularity reach out and touch the hearts of millions of devoted listeners.

Masud Karim is no more, but he lives on in his creations. Many of the younger generation do not know about his songs. For this reason Masud Karim's wife, the renowned singer Dilara Alo, is working tirelessly to collect the songs he wrote. Shahnaiz Rahmatullah, Farida Yasmin, Hasina Momtaz, Syed Abdul Hadi, Gazi Mazharul Anwar and Rubaiyat Thakur Robin are extending their full cooperation to her in this.

In memory of Masud Karim, his wife, the singer Dilara Alo, their son and three daughters together formed the 'Masud Karim Memorial Foundation'. As a sincere effort to keep the memory of this noble-minded lyricist alive, they have taken the initiative of honouring artistes, poets, writers and lyricists with the Masud Karim Award. The auspicious inauguration of the Masud Karim Award has already taken place. This renowned lyricist breathed his last on 16 November 1996 in Montreal, Canada. In the interest of culture and for the needs of music, the proper appreciation of this celebrated lyricist of the country and the preservation of his immortal songs have become absolutely essential for generation after generation, for all time to come.