Bhubaneswar, July 28: Popular Odia singer Namrata Mohanty is set to launch a music album featuring 12 popular songs of Bengali poet-lyricist Kazi Nazrul Islam.

This is the first time that the songs, known as Nazrulgeeti in Bengal and Bangladesh, has been translated and recorded into any other language in the form of a music album.

Veteran lyricist and composer Swarup Naik translated the songs and also supervised the dubbing sessions.

Nazrul wrote and composed nearly 4,000 songs that are widely popular in India and Bangladesh. He is fondly remembered for his patriotic songs and poems written before Independence.

Namrata said that she hadbegun listening to Nazrulgeeti three years ago.

"I came across his songs very late in my life, but once you have heard it you cannot stop appreciating the depth in his compositions," she said.

She admits being apprehensive about rendering her voice to his compositions.

"His style of music is not so easy to sing. But, Nazrul carries a legacy and through the album, I wanted to pay tribute to his music," the singer said.

She feels that the state hardly produces quality music these days.

"It is important that we give them a taste of quality songs to boost their interest in music. We translated the songs into Odia to let people understand the inner meaning of the lyrics and the compositions."

The album will be released on Nazrul's 40th death anniversary on August 29, at Nazrul Mancha in Calcutta. This will be followed by another ceremony in Cuttack.

Namrata's first solo album of Odia modern songs Janhare Tolide Ghara was released in 2009. The following year, she released Dipa Jale Dipa Libhe with songs written by Akshaya Mohanty.