Lucky Akhand's 63rd Birthday

Today’s Doodle celebrates one of Bangladesh’s most beloved musicians, Lucky Akhand, whose timeless songs helped launch the Bangla rock movement and forge the young nation’s cultural identity. Born Laki Akhanda in Dhaka, the capital city of what was then East Pakistan, on this day in 1956, he was exposed to music early, learning piano, accordion, harmonica, and Spanish guitar from his father starting at age five.

Laki began writing his own songs as a child, appearing on children's TV and radio shows before the age of 10. The Pakistan Art Council awarded him first prize for “Modern Bangla Songs” in 1969, the year of his 13th birthday. The following year, he was employed as a composer for HMV Pakistan, and later as a musician for HMV India.

In 1971, while Bangladesh fought for its independence from Pakistan, Laki aided the cause by singing patriotic songs on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. The free radio station boosted morale during the nine-month conflict, and teenage Laki was considered a “Freedom Fighter.” After the war he joined his brother Happy in the group Uchharon, an influential group whose music blended Eastern and Western sounds.

In 1984, he released his successful debut album Lucky Akhand and eventually adopted the optimistic name. He continued writing for other singers, including his brother Happy’s hit “Abar Elo Je Shondha,” which was featured in the Bangla film Ghuddi, and went on to become director of the national radio network Bangladesh Betar. His legacy lives on through his music, preserved in his own recordings as well as those of prominent Bengali singers, such as Fahmida Nabi.

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Early Concept Sketches by Artist Alyssa Winans
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