Coke Studio Bangla’s black and white depiction of love across distance

Coke Studio Bangla has released the fifth track of its third season, Long Distance Love—a duet that explores the emotional strain of relationships separated by distance. 
Sung by Ankan Kumar and Sheikh Mumtahina Mehzabin Afrin, better known as "Modernotaku," the song carries the weight of absence and the persistence of love that survives it.
The composition comes from musician Shuvendu Das Shuvo, while lyrics were jointly written by Ankan and expatriate singer-songwriter Pragata Naoha, who currently lives in Canada. Naoha's verses bring a diasporic sensibility, capturing both the intimacy and the isolation of love carried across borders.
At its heart, the track dwells on the contradictions of the digital age: constant online connection paired with the ache of real-life distance. Through images of unanswered calls, sleepless nights, and memories that linger, the song builds a quiet portrait of longing.
"For me, this composition was about fusing silence into sound," Shuvo explained. "Long-distance love is full of unspoken words, and I wanted the music to carry that weight while still leaving space for hope."
Ankan's delicate vocals and Afrin's emotive depth bring the lyrics to life with an intimacy that feels like a private letter. 
"Long Distance Love is more than just a duet, it's where voices and emotions meet," Ankan said. 
"I believe this song will resonate with anyone who has ever held onto love despite the miles in between." Afrin echoed the sentiment: "Singing it was like living through the very emotions the song portrays. It's about love that doesn't break even when distance tries to bend it."
The release also marks a visual milestone for Coke Studio Bangla. Directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, the accompanying music video is the first in the series to be shot entirely in black and white. Set in an abandoned gallery, dancers embody the struggles of separation and resilience, their movements heightened by stark lighting and contrasts. The absence of color mirrors the dualities of closeness and distance, love and loss.
Afrin described the experience as one of vulnerability: "We wanted listeners to feel both the strength and fragility of love when tested by distance."
With its combination of sound and imagery, Long Distance Love attempts to make absence audible, offering listeners a reminder of how love can endure through silence, memory, and the spaces between.