Diganto Samad Pursues Music Career to Honor Late Father Tele Samad

When Bangladesh’s beloved comic actor Tele Samad passed away in April 2019, his son Diganto Samad faced a crossroads that would shape the country’s cultural landscape. Rather than stepping into the film sets his father once frequented, Diganto chose to honor his legacy by turning his voice toward the music scene.

Tele Samad was a prolific figure in Dhallywood, appearing in more than 600 films over a career that blended sharp comic timing with an unmistakable screen presence. Yet he was also a painter and a musician, a fact that left an indelible mark on his son’s upbringing. From the tender age of six, Diganto received formal training in classical repertoire and Nazrul Sangeet—songs penned by national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam—under his mother’s guidance. That disciplined foundation set the stage for a career that would later defy genre conventions.

When the time came to choose a profession, the Dhallywood film industry was in a downturn. Diganto recalls the atmosphere at the Film Development Corporation (FDC) as discouraging, a sentiment that echoed his father’s own assessment. "Because of the overall situation of the film industry at that time, my father preferred that I pursue music," he said. The advice did not deter him from the arts; it simply redirected his focus.

Diganto’s musical journey evolved from the structured world of classical and Nazrul to the electric realms of pop, rock, and underground sounds. He describes his taste as broad, favoring rock and pop‑rock while refusing to be confined to a single style. "Music has no boundaries," he said. "Personally, my favourites are rock and pop‑rock. I used to listen to a lot of pop, and Michael Jackson was a huge favourite of mine. I actually started listening to English tracks through his songs." For him, melody remains the core of any composition, whether it is pop, rock, metal, or film music.

His first foray into playback singing emerged from informal networking. Diganto began messaging music directors and producers he knew, describing his voice and seeking opportunities. A message caught the eye of Jahid Nirob, a prominent Bangladeshi singer‑composer. After reviewing Diganto’s covers and reels on Nirob’s new profile, the music director invited him to the studio. Diganto contributed backing vocals to three tracks for the film Rockstar: "Amake Uriye Dao," "Bhalobasha Dish, Bhalobasha Nish," and "Amake Niye Jao."

A second break came when Diganto visited Adit Rahman’s Fatman Headquarters. He was asked to record a few lines for the title track of Malik, though he did not understand the context at first. He later learned that his vocals were used in the film’s main theme.

These experiences illustrate how career shifts can happen outside formal channels. "You never know how opportunities come," he said. "I spent many years in the underground music scene, and now I want to work in the mainstream. This was a big opportunity for me."

Being Tele Samad’s son brings both affection and comparison. Diganto says he does not want his father’s name to fade. He also believes his father’s contribution to Bangladeshi entertainment deserves greater national recognition, even after his death. He is building a career that respects his father’s shadow without living entirely inside it.

If he wins an award in the future, Diganto plans to dedicate it to his father. "If I ever win an award," he explained, "I will always dedicate it to him." The singer’s journey—from early classical training to underground gigs and now mainstream playback—highlights a new generation of Bangladeshi musicians who blend tradition with contemporary sounds while honoring the legacy of their predecessors.