National Award winning composer and music director Alauddin Ali passed away at the capital's Universal Medical College Hospital at 5:50 pm today. He was 68 years old at the time of passing, and was kept on life support as his condition deteriorated. A legendary name in Bangladesh's music industry, he had battled several life-threatening complications including cancer, for a long time.

With over 300 film songs to his name, Alauddin Ali was unparalleled when it came to conjuring melody and musical direction. Having made his debut in the film Shondhikkhon in 1975, he won the National Award for Best Music Director for the films Golapi Ekhon Train-e (1978), Sundori (1979), Koshai (1980), Jogajog (1988) and Lakhe Ekta (1990).

Born to Ustad Jadob Ali and Zohora Khatun on December 24, 1952, Ali's first musical lessons were from his uncle, Sadeq Ali. In 1968, he joined as an instrumentalist and assistant to Shaheed Altaf Mahmud.

Alauddin Ali's breakthrough as a composer came when his friend, Abul Umrah Mohammad Fakhruddin, showed him a poem describing the seasons of Bangladesh in 1972. At the time, Ali was working as an assistant to music director Anwar Parvez. After Ali made a song out of the poem, the masterpiece O Amar Bangla Ma Tor was born, sung to perfection by noted singer Sabina Yasmin.

When he signed Shondhikkhon, he was only 23 years of age. Over the years, he became a pillar of the Bangladeshi film industry, especially with his partnership with renowned director and lyricist Amjad Hossain. Ami Achhi Thakbo, Ekta Kotha Bolar, Keu Jodi Konodin Amare, Tumi Jodi Shukhi Hou and Ronger Manush are only a few of the hits that the trio of Alauddin Ali, Sabina Yasmin and Amjad Hossain concocted together.  

"He was assisting music director Anwar Parvez when we first met. It was during the '80s when we first recorded our album under the banner of HMV in Kolkata, in his composition," says renowned singer Runa Laila, who fondly remembers Alauddin Ali as a master of his craft. "In later years, we did many albums and film songs together; among them, Amay Genthe Daona Mago Ekta Polash Phuler Mala created history. I will miss him dearly."  

"The contribution Alauddin Ali made to Bangla music is phenomenal. The music genre he introduced, fusing modern music with folk, earned him unparalleled success," shares renowned musician and composer Naquib Khan.

"Yet another bright star has left us," says Aly Sumon, lead vocalist of the band Pentagon. "Looking back to my numerous childhood memories with him, I am incredibly grateful to be nurtured and adored by him."  

Renowned singer Rafiqul Alam, who first worked with Ali in the 1973 film Otithi, attributes his success to the composer.

"His loss can never be compensated," shares Abida Sultana, who was deeply saddened by the news of his demise. "Recording sessions with him were joyful, and were more like picnics, which everyone looked forward to."

Music Composers Society of Bangladesh (MCSB) mourned the departure of Alauddin Ali. "It is a huge and an irrecoverable loss to the music industry. Each and every member of MCSB is praying for the departed soul," says their statement on social media.

Amar Moto Eto Shukhi sung by Khalid Hassan Milu; E Jibon Tomake Dilam sung by Kumar Sanu; Tomake Chai Aro Kache sung by Runa Laila; Nil Nil Nilanjona sung by Asif Akbar; Pathorer Prithibite Kancher Hridoy sung by Shakila Zafar and Tapan Chowdhury; Bhengeche Pinjor voiced by the late Andrew Kishore are only a few among his musical triumphs.

Alauddin Ali, having composed around 5,000 songs, will be remembered as one of the finest music directors of not only Bangladesh, but also the entire sub-continent.            

Alauddin Ali's family sources said his body will be taken to his Banasree residence from Birdem at 11:00am tomorrow where it will be kept till 11:30am-12:00pm for his colleagues at BTV and the local residents to pay their homage. Then his body will be taken to his house in Khilgaon.

His namaz-e-janaza will take place tomorrow at 1:30pm at Nur-e-Bagh Jame Mosque in Khilgaon Taltola. Then his body will be taken to FDC where the Muktijoddha Command Council will give him a guard of honour in presence of the minister for cultural affairs between 2:00pm and 2:30pm, and other artistes, well-wishers and near ones will pay their homage.

Alauddin Ali will be laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur. He will be laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur.

He is survived by his children -- Afrin Ali, Ajmeri Ali Minu, Showkat Ali Rana, Adrita Alauddin Rajkonnya and Alif Alauddin (a popular singer and media personality).