# Prince Mahmud

Prince Mahmud (born 17 July) is a Bangladeshi lyricist, composer and music director, who has been writing and composing songs for solo and joint albums of band artists in Bangladesh since the 90's. Many of his songs gained wide popularity. His first mixed album Shakti (1995) propelled his journey as a composer of mixed albums, which immediately garnered him a massive success. In a career spanning more than three decades, Mahmud has released 50 albums including solo, duets and mixed. He is widely regarded as the greatest lyricist and composer of his time.
He began his career as a lead vocalist, although he later established himself as a composer and lyricist. He used to do mixed albums with all the popular band stars of the country, which touched the highest peak of success. Mahmud is remembered mostly for his remarkable collaborations with prominent Bangladeshi singers including James, Ayub Bachchu, Hasan, Khalid, Shafin Ahmed, Fahmida Nabi, Nazmun Munira Nancy, Tahsan Rahman Khan and many more. His most popular songs include "আজ জন্মদিন তোমার (Today is Your Birthday)" with Shafin Ahmed, "হিমালয় (Himaloy)" and "হয়নি যাবার বেলা (Not Time to Go)" with Khalid; "বাংলাদেশ (Bangladesh)", "মা (Mother)", "গুরু (Master)" and "বাবা (Father)" with James and "এতো কষ্ট কেন ভালোবাসায় (Why So Much Trouble in Love)" with Hasan and more.

## Early life

Prince Mahmud was born on 17 July in Khulna district.

## Career
### Early career: The Blues and From West

Mahmud started band music when he was a school student. He was the vocalist and guitarist of a band called The Blues in the 80s. He began song composition and writing spontaneously. In the beginning of 90's, Prince Mahmud himself formed a band called From West, where he was the lead vocalist. He released Se Kemon Meye? from the band From West. The song released by this band "Razakar Albadar Kichui Raibo Nare" received positive critical acclamations. He then released their second and final album Abeg with the band Obscure and Different Touch. Although beginning his career as a lead vocalist, he later established himself as a composer and lyricist. He said with The Business Standard about why he quit singing, "I didn't think my voice was suitable for singing at that time, so I stopped being a lead singer. I prefer not being a singer anymore."

### Solo career: mixed album success

Later, he started working on a band mixed album. In 1992, he released his first solo album Jontrona in collaboration with Ayub Bachchu and James under the banner of Sangeeta. The album cover was designed and painted by his childhood friend, famous illustrator Kiriti Ranjan Biswas. He then released his second solo album Rockstars, in which all 10 songs were composed and penned by himself.
Later, in 1995 he released his first mixed album Shakti, which propelled his journey as a composer of mixed albums, which immediately garnered him massive success along with positive critical acclamations. He established his place in Bengali band music with the album. After the success of Shakti he released Ora Egaro Jon. He then released Joy Porajoy.
After Joy Porajoy, Mahmud came up with the Khoma under the label of Soundtek in 1996. On the album, Maqsoodul Haque sang for the first time with the lyrics and composition of Mahmud. The album got a huge response from the audience. It has been called one of the best band mixed albums of the 90s.
Soon after he released his fourth mixed album Hatred. Then he released Bebodhan.
In 1999, he released a mixed album titled Ekhono Du'Chokhe Bonna, which included a song titled "Mother". The song was popular, one of the most popular songs on the topic of mother. He composed the song Aaj Apan Kal Por from the album Shrut in 2000, which was Mizan's first song. After the previous song titled Mon Niye Jontrona with Maksud from the album Khoma became a superhit, they worked together again in 2001 with another song titled Joto Paro Tumi.
In October 2020, he released a single titled "Alo", featuring Tanzir Tuhin for the first time. It was then released in audio under the G-Series label in March 2021, which was later used in the 2023 drama Love You Baba starring Niloy Alamgir. He again collaborated with Tanzir Tuhin in late December 2021 with a single titled "Anagoto", which is penned by Samuel Haque, which was also released under the G-Series banner as a music video. In 2022, he released another song about mother on the occasion of Mother's Day, which sung by Imran Mahmudul. He reunited with Maksud after 21 years in a single titled "Shate Pache" in 2022. In 2023, he composed a single titled "Emon Hoyni Age" where he collaborated with Mizan after almost 22 years.

### Comeback: re-establishing stardom

In 2023, he made his comeback as composer in films after almost eight years with a song titled "Eshwar" in Himel Ashraf's Priyotoma starring Shakib Khan, with lyrics by Shomeshwar Oli for the first time, which earned him Babisas Award for Best Music Director.

## Impact and recognition

Prominent lyricist and journalist Zulfiqer Russell referred to him as Prince of Bengali song. He said with Prothom Alo, "He is indeed the prince of modern Bangla songs. His fan-base includes not only the young generation but people of all ages."

## Discography
### Notable songs

* Aj Jonmodin Tomar (Shafin Ahmed)
* Aj Kobita Onno Karou (Ayub Bachchu)
* Aj Theke Ar Bolbona (Ayub Bachchu)
* Baba (James)
* Bangladesh (James)
* Baro Mash (Ayub Bachchu)
* Bela Shesh Fire Eshe Paini Tomay (Ayub Bachchu)
* Bhalobashena (Rumi)
* Bondhu Bhenge Fel Ei Karagar (James)
* Bondhu Toke Miss Korchi (Partha Barua)
* Duniya Tor Shongete Nai (Rumi)
* Ek Nodi Jomuna (James)
* Eka Eka Ki Thaka Jay (Ayub Bachchu)
* Eto Koshto Keno Bhalobashay (Syed Hasanur Rahman)
* Jodi Himaloy Hoye (Khalid)
* Kichu Bhul Kichu Tomar Kichu Amar (James)
* Ma (James)
* Mati Hobe Mati (Rumi)
* Mrithukabbo (Ayub Bachchu)
* Palate Chai (Ayub Bachchu)
* Shunil Boruna (Mahadi)

### Albums

* Sesh Dekha - (Band Mix)
* Ekhono Du Chokhe Bonna - (Band Mix) (1999)
* Deyal Dui Hridoyer Majhe - (Band Mix)
* Khoma - (Band Mix) (1996)
* Chuti - (Band Mix)
* Harjit - (Band Mix) (2000)
* Dohon Shudhu Tomar Jonno - (Band Mix)
* Baro Mash - (Band Mix)
* Devi - (Band Mix)
* Shakti - (Band Mix) (1995)
* Shrut - (Band Mix) (2000)
* Taal - (Solo For Hasan)
* Bondona - (Solo For Mahadi)
* Boka - (Mix Of Close Up-1 Artist)
* Ghumao - (Solo For Khalid)
* Jontrona
* Piano (Duet of James & Aiyub Bacchu)
* Brihospoti
* Ghrina
* Mehedi Ranga Haat - (Band Mix) (2001–02)
* Daag Theke Jai - (Band Mix)
* Nirbachita - (Mix)
* Oporajeeta
* Dese Valobasa Nai
* Nimontron - (Mix)
* Valobasa Mane Dukkho (For Hasan)
* Hello Kosto (For Hasan)
* Kheyalpoka (2016)
* Ora Egaro jon

## Awards

* Citycell-Channel i Music Awards
* BMJA Music Awards-2019