A match made in music: Putul and Reza’s story
For Putul Sajia Sultana and Syed Reza Ali, love has always revolved around music. Their little world grew even more beautiful with the arrival of their daughter, Geetoleena. Despite their differences in taste, with Putul finding happiness in regional songs, while Reza leans towards metal. Even their football loyalties differ, as one supports Brazil and the other Argentina. Yet it is this very passion for music that drew Reza from Australia to Dhaka, where he not only found his calling, but also his soulmate.
The couple recently visited The Daily Star, complementing each other in coordinated outfits. Between interviews and photographs, they could not stop capturing moments of one another on their phones. Married for four years, they describe themselves as best friends who respect each other's personal space while nurturing their shared world. Although deeply in love, they affectionately address each other using tui, a term that might sound a bit strange to others, but feels natural to them.
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"I am used to calling her tui because we were friends first. Some might find it odd, but it does not bother us. Our friendship is what makes our relationship special," laughed Reza.
Their love story was never about formal confessions. Instead, it unfolded naturally. Their families, especially Putul's mother-in-law, could see that they were made for each other.
"We first met at a Valentine's Day programme organised by NTV in Australia. We had two shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Our first interaction was brief, only a one-hour practice session on February 16. I returned to Bangladesh soon after, but we stayed connected on Facebook. For a long time, we did not even exchange a simple hello," recalled Putul.
Reza, spontaneous by nature, once had everything. He had a stable banking career and an Australian passport. Yet in 2019, he came back to pursue music in Dhaka.
"I made the decision within hours," he shared. "After years in banking, I felt suffocated. I could not give time to my love for music. In 2011, I shared the stage with Ayub Bachchu in Australia and that was magical. Then in 2015, when Wind of Change came to Bangladesh, I thought that if our country could produce something so extraordinary, then I must pursue music. Within hours, I sent in my resignation, told my agent I would sell my house, left my car behind, and packed my bags. I had a huge collection of guitars, but brought only my red guitar with me. And with that, I came to Dhaka."
Their paths crossed again in 2020, in the most unexpected way. While commenting on a mutual friend's post on Facebook, Reza left a funny remark that caught Putul's attention. A lighthearted exchange of comments led them to finally move their conversations to inbox, and from there, a friendship began to blossom.
"At that time, I was looking for a composer. It was just after Covid had ended, and I wanted a studio close to my house. While talking to him, I found out he lived in Dhanmondi and his studio was there as well. That is how we started working together. Our friendship grew so close that we did not even realise when it shifted from tumi to tui," said Putul with a smile.
For a long time, they lived in their own little bubble, caring deeply for each other without ever putting a label on their relationship. "Putul's elder sister and my mother saw that our chemistry was strong. They decided between themselves and told us that we were ideal for each other," said Reza.
Their marriage, too, came about in a spontaneous way. Putul recalled the story with joy. "The day we got married, my mother-in-law told us in the afternoon that the government was going to impose lockdown again. She said, 'I have decided you will get married in the evening.' It is true—we got married with only three hours' notice. But somehow, my mother-in-law managed everything, from my bridal makeover to arranging a lovely dinner for our guests. We even took photos. And guess what, we got married at his house with the local Kazi. So, in the end, I never had to leave my own home," said Putul, her face lighting up.
The musical duo is now working on two albums. With eight tracks, the first will step away from their usual genres, featuring stage-ready songs, alongside jazz and blues. Reza himself is also working on his own solo album, in which he plans to use Putul's voice.
Putul continues to nurture her own channel, Putul Gaan, where she shares long-form compositions, often 16 to 18 minutes in duration. "These songs blend poetry and melody, usually harmonium-based. I try to create a fresh soundscape with every piece. I started Putul Gaan in 2012, and it is still going strong," she said. She is also working on two new projects: one album featuring lyrics and compositions by Saqi Banerjee, produced by Reza, with its first song 'Bolo Premik' already released, and another regional album featuring six songs in the Noakhali dialect. Three songs from this project are already out, with the remaining set to release soon.
When asked about their favourite songs from each other's songs, they both lit up. Reza answered first: "Maayer Chhotto Putul', without a doubt. We always perform this song. It has a beautiful story and arrangement. Putul doesn't play the harmonium in the usual style. She plays imagining how Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess might play his keyboard. I only truly learned how harmonium can be used to play metal songs through her."
For Putul, her favourite is Reza's song Soulmate Date from his first instrumental album. "I felt like this song was dedicated to me, as his soulmate. It's a deeply romantic track," she said.
Although both are singers, Putul has been active in the industry for two decades, much longer than Reza's career. His journey hasn't been without challenges. "Since I was abroad for so long, entering the music field here has been tough. Right now, the industry is struggling because listeners aren't always engaging with good music, or good songs aren't reaching audiences and getting views. It's a huge challenge to establish myself," said Reza.
As an artiste couple, they also face prejudice. "Because I have a longer career, people sometimes assume Reza is getting extra privileges because of me," said Putul. "Whatever Reza has achieved so far, he has earned on his own. He has worked on films, TV series, background scores for various projects—sometimes I don't even know the clients he is working with. The projects we've done together are actually quite small compared to what we've done separately. But people assume that we only work with each other. The truth is, we simply respect one another's work ethics. We make sure no outside pressures can affect our relationship," she concluded.
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