Mahmud Manjur’s Cultural Journey

Lyricist and journalist Mahmud Manjur (Al Mahmud Manjur) stands at a rare intersection—where lyrical poetry meets global storytelling. With over 150 songs, including work in nearly ten Bangla films, and three full-length solo albums—Dhulor Gaan, Prithibir Canvas, and Shotek Bhul—he has become one of Bangladesh’s most admired voices in music.

He is also a respected arts and entertainment journalist, having covered prestigious global festivals including the Cannes Film Festival (France) and the Sundance Film Festival (USA). His cultural reporting combines insight, access, and sensitivity.

In the music world, Mahmud has earned growing recognition for his lyricism—winning six major awards over five years, including two CJFB Best Lyricist titles:

CJFB Best Lyricist (Popular) – 2020

CJFB Best Lyricist (Critics’ Choice) – 2023

And in 2025, he made history by winning four Best Lyricist awards in just two months:

May 23 – Labannya Award 2025, for overall contribution to Bengali songwriting, presented by veteran producer Alimullah Khokon at Kochi-Kachar Mela Auditorium, Dhaka.

May 26 – Excellence in Success Award 2025, for the song Alo Alo Korcho (from the drama Bidisha, directed by Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz, composed by Shahriar Marcel, sung by Reshmi Mirza).

May 31 – TRAB Iconic Award 2025, awarded by the Television Reporters Association of Bangladesh, for Kemon Acho Tumi (sung by Indian vocalist Rupankar Bagchi, composed by Joy Shahriar).

June 29 – AJFB Star Award 2025, presented by the Artist Journalist Foundation of Bangladesh during their 18th anniversary celebration at the KIB Auditorium, Dhaka.

On the journalism front, Mahmud was also awarded the BCRA Best Cultural Reporter (2010) and Bangla Tribune Best Reporter three years in a row (2017–2019).

: Mahmud Manjur, you’ve built a remarkable dual career—both as a lyricist and a journalist. How do you manage both paths?

Mahmud Manjur: Honestly, I never saw them as separate. Both are about expressing life—either through an article or a song. Journalism offers perspective, while songwriting offers intimacy. The two forms complement each other beautifully.

: Tell us more about your work as a lyricist.

Mahmud Manjur: It all began with love—for melody, for emotion, and for language. Over the years, I’ve written for cinema, television, and albums. Dhulor Gaan was deeply poetic. Prithibir Canvas captured my reflections on the world. And my latest, Shotek Bhul, is a lyrical mix album that explores memory, guilt, and emotional mistakes. It’s raw and very close to my heart.

: You’ve won multiple lyricist awards, including four this year alone. What do those recognitions mean to you?

Mahmud Manjur: Each award feels like a conversation with the audience. The CJFB awards in 2020 and 2023 were big moments—the Popular win told me people were listening, and the Critics' Choice said the craft was being recognized. And this year’s four—from Labannya to AJFB—were overwhelming. Each came from a different song and context. It reassures me that emotional truth in lyrics still matters.

: You’ve reported from both Cannes and Sundance. Let’s talk about those experiences.

Mahmud Manjur: Cannes was like stepping into a dream. I interviewed A.R. Rahman—someone I’ve admired for years. I attended press conferences with DiCaprio, Scorsese, Johnny Depp, and Lily Gladstone. Cannes blends art, glamor, and cinematic history. I’ve also reported on Indian stars like Deepika Padukone and Urvashi Rautela—their presence reflects South Asia’s growing influence.

Sundance, in contrast, is quiet and personal. It's about stories in their rawest form. Being there felt like rediscovering why I became a storyteller.

: Have these global experiences influenced your songwriting?

Mahmud Manjur: Absolutely. I now write more visually—like I’m composing for the screen. I imagine light, silence, and color around the lyric. It’s made me a better listener and observer. A lyric, to me, is now also a scene.

: And what’s next on your journey?

Mahmud Manjur: I plan to cover the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year. It’s one of the most prestigious global platforms for cinema. I want to represent Bangladeshi media there.

And someday—my dream is to cover the Oscars and grammy. To stand on that carpet, representing not just my country but the stories of our part of the world—that would be the ultimate privilege.

Parallel to that, I’m continuing to write new romantic Bengali songs, and working on a long-form article titled From Bangladesh to the World: The Evolution of Music Distribution. It’s a reflection on how our music is breaking borders in this digital age.

: That’s exciting. Any final words for your audience?

Mahmud Manjur: Never stop telling stories. Whether it’s a lyric whispered in a room or a global interview on a world stage—stories matter. I’m just honored to be able to live inside them.