The duality of Masud Hasan Ujjal

Masud Hasan Ujjal has a diverse catalogue of work but he has always been a musician at heart—and he knew this from the beginning. 

His passion for music pushed him to create the popular rock band 'Meghdol' after enrolling in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University for higher studies in 2003. He remained an active member of the band until 2010.

At the same time, Ujjal has been involved in theatre and films. In fact, in 2020, he made his directorial debut with the film 'Unoponchash Batash.' 

Fast forward to early 2024. Ujjal again stepped back into the music industry with his new psychedelic rock band, 'Omkar' – perhaps a telling sign of a dual artist.  

In July this year, Ujjal also became one of the artistes to show his support for the student movement, both on social media and on the streets. 

A rocky journey

His musical journey began as early as the second grade when he started formal training. His versatile musicality knows no bounds — a testament to which is his time as a Rabindra Sangeet singer and playing the guitar since childhood. And, if that wasn't enough, he also got some serious skills with a paintbrush.

However, things took a turn in 2010. Ujjal decided to move on from Meghdol – one which he did not take lightly but made in the interest of his artistic and personal growth.  

"After leaving Meghdol, I stepped away from the stage for a while. Since Meghdol was created during my student days, I had a lot of emotions tied to it. It took me quite some time to recover from that emotional setback," said Ujjal. 

Since 2010, Ujjal dived back into the world of films. 

After completing his higher education, Ujjal began his creative career as a director of dramas and commercials – this eventually led to his growing interest in filmmaking.

Though he kept busy with filmmaking, music still remained a part of his life. 

In March this year, Ujjal decided to oscillate back to music at full throttle with the new band 'Omkar.' He already performed in several concerts.

With Ujjal diving deeper into his music, some have speculated whether he's stepping away from his filmmaking career. But Ujjal isn't paying much heed to these swirling rumours. 

"I've always had a proper balance in life. I've been into music since childhood, and my passion for filmmaking started in my teenage years," said Ujjal, adding, "Just because I'm focusing more on music now doesn't mean I'm neglecting my directorial work."

In fact, right after the release of 'Unoponchash Batash' in 2020, Ujjal announced his next movie project which revolves around poet Jibanananda Das' poem Bonolota Sen. Word has it that he's already completed the film, though he hasn't made any official announcements yet.

"We initially planned to release the movie this November. However, as the plans have changed, so has the release window. I will reveal a new timeline soon," Ujjal told TBS. 

As a veteran artiste, Ujjal knows the struggles of those following the same path – be it in music or film. In the local entertainment industry, newcomers often face obstacles to establishing themselves. Many blame the 'syndicate system' for this problem – stemming from the fact that only a few influential individuals have power over the whole industry.

"Stopping this syndicate might be a long stretch. So, I think it's better for those who believe in their talent to become stronger in their solitary journey, to build themselves up further. That's the better path forward in my opinion," explained Ujjal. 

Activism

During the recent student protests, Ujjal loudly voiced his solidarity with the students. Not only on social media but Ujjal also lent a hand in distributing food to the protestors during the tumultuous time.

In those weeks, many artistes in the entertainment industry took opposing stances, sparking heated debates. "Firstly, I'm against the division and hostility that emerged. I've supported the student movement, but that doesn't mean I hate my colleagues who didn't. It's not like that. I can only advise them to reconsider their stance and be on the side of justice," explained Ujjal. 

But Ujjal remains sceptical as well. 

"This demand for reform [in the entertainment industry]—who is it being directed to? Is this desire for reform even reaching the proper authorities? I haven't seen anyone effectively communicating their expectations to the relevant powers," said Ujjal.

While the multi-talented artiste continuously showed solidarity with the students during the massacre this year, his scepticism now about the entertainment industry's 'reform demands' stems from his desire not to see all the students' efforts and sacrifices go in vain.