Sabina Yasmin: A timeless voice in Bangladeshi cinema
There are voices that sing for films, and then there are voices that become inseparable from them.
For generations of Bangladeshi audiences, Sabina Yasmin’s voice has been part of the emotional landscape of cinema — accompanying love stories, heartbreaks, celebrations and moments of quiet longing. Her playback songs did more than complement characters on screen; they often gave those characters a voice of their own.
Across a career spanning more than five decades, Sabina Yasmin has recorded more than 15,000 songs, including over 1,500 playback songs for films. She has also won the National Film Award 15 times, a record that reflects her enduring contribution to Bangladeshi music and cinema.
Her association with film began early. As a child artiste, she first sang for Ehtesham’s “Notun Sur”. Her first playback as an adult came in 1967, with “Madhur Jochhona Dipali” from “Agun Niye Khela”, directed by Amjad Hossain and Nurul Haque Bacchu.
But it was “Shudhu Gaan Geye Porichoy” from Kazi Zahir’s “Abujh Mon” that marked a significant turning point in her playback career. Composed by Altaf Mahmud with lyrics by Gazi Mazharul Anwar, the song established her as a major voice in film music.
In 1975, she won her first National Film Award for playback singing for “Shob Shokhire Par Korite Nebo Ana Ana” from “Sujon Sokhi”.
The decades that followed saw Sabina Yasmin become one of the most recognisable voices in Bangladeshi cinema. Her versatility allowed her to move effortlessly between romantic melodies, folk-inspired numbers and songs rooted in the emotional intensity of a film's narrative.
20 songs that defined her playback journey
A selection of Sabina Yasmin’s memorable film songs:
“Ei Prithibir Pore Koto Phool Fote Ar Jhore” — Alor Michil
Music: Satya Saha | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Eki Sonar Aloy Jibon Bhoriye Dile” — Moner Moto Bou
Music and lyrics: Khan Ataur Rahman
“Jodi Amake Jante Shadh Hoy” — Harjit
Music: Satya Saha | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Mon Jodi Bhenge Jay Jak” — Jowar Bhata
Music and lyrics: Khan Ataur Rahman
“Ashru Diye Lekha E Gaan” — Ashru Diye Lekha
Music: Ali Hossain | Lyrics: Mohammad Mamnur Rahman
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. “Shudhu Gaan Geye Porichoy” — Abujh Mon
Music: Altaf Mahmud | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Gitimoy, Shei Din Chirodin” — Chhondo Hariye Gelo
Music: Anwar Parvez | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Phuler Mala Poriye Dile” — Moynamoti
Music: Bashir Ahmed | Lyrics: Syed Shamsul Haq
“Chithi Dio Protidin” — Onurodh
Music: Satya Saha | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Isharay Shish Diye Amake Dekona” — Bondini
Music: Alauddin Ali | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Keu Konodin Amare To Kotha Dilo Na” — Shundori
Music: Alauddin Ali | Lyrics: Amjad Hossain
“Ami Achhi Thakbo Bhalobeshe Morbo” — Shundori
Music: Alauddin Ali | Lyrics: Amjad Hossain
“Dukkho Bhalobeshe Premer Khela” — Jonmo Theke Jolchhi
Music: Alauddin Ali | Lyrics: Amjad Hossain
14. “Shoto Jonomer Shopno Tumi Amar Jibone Ele” — Rojlokhi Srikanto
Music: Alauddin Ali | Lyrics: Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal
“Ami Rajonigondha Phooler Moto” — Rajonigondha
Music: Alam Khan | Lyrics: Masud Karim
“Chul Dhoirona Khopa Khule Jabe He Nagor” — Nayanmoni
Music: Satya Saha | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“She Je Keno Elo Na” — Rongbaaz
Music: Anwar Parvez | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“O Chokhe Chokh Porechhe Jokhoni” — Ananta Prem
Music: Azad Rahman | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“Ei Mon Tomake Dilam” — Manoshi
Music: Anwar Parvez | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
“O Pakhi Tor Jontrona” — Otithi
Music: Satya Saha | Lyrics: Gazi Mazharul Anwar
It is difficult to trace the history of playback singing in Bangladeshi cinema without returning to Sabina Yasmin. Her voice has travelled across generations, remaining familiar even as the industry, its music and its audiences have changed.
That may be the most remarkable part of her legacy. The songs belong to different films, different decades and different musical eras, but the voice remains unmistakably hers.
Born on September 4, 1954, Sabina Yasmin turns 72 today, entering her 73rd year.
For Bangladeshi cinema, she is not simply a playback singer. She is one of the voices through which its history can be heard.
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