Draft:Mou Sultana

Mou Sultana is a Bengali singer-songwriter, actress, author and counselling psychologist based in Ireland. She was active in the Bengali music and film scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and later worked in counselling psychology, psychotherapy, teaching and supervision.

Music and acting career

In 2020, The Times of India described Sultana as a “Sensational ’90s Bangla rocker” and reported that in the late 1990s and early 2000s she was one of the prominent multidisciplinary artists in Bengal and one of the first female Bengali rock musician.^[1]

Sultana appeared in the 2003 Bengali film Nil Nirjane, also known as Vacation Blues, directed by Subrata Sen.^[2]

In 2012, Sultana collaborated with Brooklyn Shanti and Nucleya for “Bangla Bass”, a track associated with the second season of The Dewarists.^[3]

Music releases

Sultana released the album Naughty Noughties in 2013. Apple Music lists the album as an alternative release by Mou Sultana, released on 2 July 2013, with ten tracks and a total running time of 35 minutes."Naughty Noughties by Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026. Tracks listed on the album include “Haathiyar (Ammunition)”, “Chorabali (Quicksand)”, “Jukti Torko (Logic)”, “Lagche (Hurts)”, “Bodobhyesh (Bad Habit)”, “Oedipus”, “Palabar”, “Shodoshya”, “Chokh Kholo (Open Your Eyes)” and “Letter to You”."Naughty Noughties by Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026.

In 2017, Sultana released the single “Ahoto”. Apple Music lists Ahoto - Single as a 2017 release by Mou Sultana."Ahoto - Single by Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026.

In 2018, Sultana released a set of singles under the title Memorandum of Understanding. The releases included “Memorandum Of Understanding - Colourfly”, “Memorandum Of Understanding - Esho Esho”, “Memorandum of Understanding: Kon Shurey” and “Memorandum of Understanding (Kobi Noy)”."Mou Sultana". Spotify. Retrieved 20 June 2026. Apple Music lists “Memorandum Of Understanding - Colourfly” as a 2018 pop single by Mou Sultana, released on 14 February 2018."Memorandum Of Understanding - Colourfly - Single by Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026. Apple Music also lists “Memorandum of Understanding (Kobi Noy)” as a 2018 rock single by Mou Sultana, released on 16 May 2018."Memorandum of Understanding (Kobi Noy) - Single by Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026.

In 2019, Sultana released “Onyo”, which is listed by Apple Music as Onyo - Single by Mou Sultana."Onyo - Single by Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026.

In 2021, Ritaprabha Ray and Mou Sultana released “Khoyeri Chokh”. Apple Music lists Khoyeri Chokh - Single as an electronic release by Ritaprabha Ray and Mou Sultana, released on 17 March 2021, with a duration of 3 minutes and 35 seconds."Khoyeri Chokh - Single by Ritaprabha Ray and Mou Sultana". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2026. A YouTube upload of “Khoyeri Chokh” credits Sultana with writing and composing the song, and credits Ritaprabha Ray with music arrangement, programming and production."Khoyeri Chokh - Mou Sultana and Ritaprabha Ray". YouTube. Retrieved 20 June 2026.

Psychology and academic work

Sultana later worked in Ireland as a counselling psychologist, psychotherapist, lecturer and supervisor. The Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences lists her as a lecturer and clinical and academic supervisor. It states that she completed degrees in integrative psychotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, sociology and applied psychology, and that she published a psychoanalytic textbook with Routledge in 2018.^[4]

The Technological University of the Shannon research portal lists Sultana as a lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Health, Department of Applied Social Sciences.^[5]

Sultana has also contributed expert commentary to Irish media on psychology, relationships, race, ethnicity and family life. In 2024, The Irish Times quoted her as chairwoman of the Special Interest Group in Ethnic Minority at the Psychological Society of Ireland in an article about mixed-heritage families and how parents can discuss identity, race and culture with children. Sultana has also contributed expert commentary to Irish media on psychology, relationships, race, ethnicity and family life. In 2024, The Irish Times quoted her as chairwoman of the Special Interest Group in Ethnic Minority at the Psychological Society of Ireland in an article about mixed-heritage families and how parents can discuss identity, race and culture with children.^[6] In 2023, the Irish Examiner quoted Sultana in an article on polyamory, open relationships and gender, sexuality and relationship diversity.^[7]

Publications

Selected works

• Nil Nirjane, 2003
• “Bangla Bass”, with Brooklyn Shanti and Nucleya, 2012
• Naughty Noughties, 2013
• “Lagche”, 2013
• “Ahoto”, 2017
• “Memorandum Of Understanding - Colourfly”, 2018
• “Memorandum Of Understanding - Esho Esho”, 2018
• “Memorandum of Understanding: Kon Shurey”, 2018
• “Memorandum of Understanding (Kobi Noy)”, 2018
• “Onyo”, 2019
• “Khoyeri Chokh”, with Ritaprabha Ray, 2021

References