Hemanta Mukherjee

Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay or Hemanta Mukherjee (1920 - 1989) was an Indian singer, composer and producer. His output in Hindi is under the name Hemant Kumar.
Hemanta was born in Varanasi (Benares) on 16th June, 1920. His family hailed from a village named Baharu in West Bengal and migrated to Calcutta in the early 20th century. Hemanta too grew up in Calcutta and attended a school in South Calcutta(Bhawanipore) named Mitra Institution. There he met his longtime friend, a celebrated Bengali poet, Subhas Mukhopadhyay. After passing the intermediate examinations (12th grade) Hemanta was admitted to Jadavpur University to study engineering. However, despite parental objection, he quit academics to pursue a career in music. Hemanta briefly tried his hand at literature and also published a short story in a prestigious Bengali magazine called ‘Desh’, but by the late-1930s he was committed entirely to music.
Under the influence of his friend Subhash Mukhopadhyay, Hemanta recorded his first song for All India Radio in 1933. The first line of the song was ‘aamaar gaane te ele naba ruupe chirantanii’. Hemanta’s music career was mentored by the Bengali musician Sailesh Duttagupta. In an interview on television in the early 1980-s, Hemanta had mentioned that he had also received training in classical music from Ustad Faiyyaz Khan, but his tutelage was cut short by Ustad-ji’s untimely death. In 1937, he cut his first gramophone disc under the Columbia label. The songs (non-film) on this disc were ‘jaanite jadi go tumi’ and ‘balo go balo more’. Lyrics were by Naresh Bhattacharya, music by Hemanta’s mentor Sailesh Duttagupta. Thereafter, every year Hemanta continued to record non-film discs for the Gramophone Company of India(GCI) right till 1984. Hemanta’s first Hindi songs were ‘kitanaa dukh bhulaaya tumane’ and ‘o priit nibhaabewaalii’, released in 1940 under GCI’s Columbia label. Music for these songs were composed by Kamal Dasgupta, lyrics were by Faiyaz Hashmi. Hemanta’s first film song was in the Bengali film ‘Nimai Sanyas’ released in 1941. Music for this film was scored by Hariprasanna Das. Hemanta’s first compositions for himself were the Bengali non-film songs ‘katha koyonako shudhu shono’ and ‘amar biraha aakaashe priyaa’ in 1944. Lyrics were by Amiya Bagchi. His first Hindi film songs were in Iraadaa in 1944 under Pt. Amarnath’s music direction. Lyrics were by Aziz Kashmiri. Hemanta is considered a foremost exponent of Rabindrasangeet(Tagore song) - songs (and lyrics) composed by the India’s first Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. Hemanta recorded his first Rabindrasangeet disc in 1944 under the Columbia label. The songs were ‘prangane mor shiriishh shaakhaay’ and ‘he nirupamaa’. His first movie as a music director was the Bengali film ‘Abhiyatri’ in 1947. Although many of the songs Hemanta recorded in during this time received critical acclaim, major commercial success still eluded him, right until 1947. Some contemporary male singers of Hemanta in Bengali around that period were Jaganmoy Mitra(also called ‘Jagmohan’), Robin Majumdar, Satya Chowdhury, Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Sudhirlal Chakraborty and Talat Mahmood.
Bengali Superhit Songs by Hemanta Mukherjee

FOR ALTERNALTE LINKS VISIT: HEMANTA alternate link2

Successful Migration to BOMBAY:

In the mid 1940-s, Hemanta became an active member of the Indian People’s Theatrical Association (IPTA) and started an association with another active IPTA member - songwriter and composer - Salil Chowdhury. One of the main driving forces behind the establishment of IPTA was the Bengal famine of 1943 and the inaction of the British administration and wealthy Indians to prevent it from happening. In 1948, Hemanta recorded a non-film song called ‘gaaNyer badhu’ (literally translates to ‘The rural bride’) that had music and lyrics by Salil Chowdhury. The six minute song recorded on two sides of a 78 rpm disc was sung at a varying pace and lacked the conventional structure and romantic theme of a Bengali song. It depicted an idyllic, prosperous and caring rural woman’s life and family, and how it gets ravaged by the demons of famine and ensuing poverty. This song generated an unforeseen popularity for Hemanta and Salil in eastern India, and, in a way, established Hemanta ahead of his male contemporaries. Hemanta and Salil paired again in several songs over the next four years and almost all these songs proved to be very popular. Around the same period, Hemanta started receiving more assignments for music composition for Bengali films. Some of these films were for a director named Hemen Gupta. When Hemen moved to Bombay a few years later, he called upon Hemanta to compose music for his first directorial venture in Hindi titled ‘Anandmath’ under the Filmistan banner. Responding to this call, Hemanta migrated to Bombay in 1951 and joined the Filmistan Studios. The music of Anandmath(1952) was a moderate success. Perhaps, the most notable among ‘Anandmath’ songs is ‘vande mataram’ sung by Lata Mangeshkar, which Hemanta set to a marching tune. Following Anandmath, Hemant scored music for a few Filmistan movies like ‘Shart’ in subsequent years, the songs of which received moderate popularity. Simultaneously, Hemant also gained popularity in Bombay as a playback singer. Hemant’s songs playbacked for actor Dev Anand under music director Sachin Dev Burman in movies like ‘Jaal’, ‘House No. 44′, and ‘Solva Saal’ became quite popular.

CAREER RISE
By the mid-fifties Hemant had consolidated his position as a prominent singer and composer. In Bengal, he was one of the foremost exponents of Rabindrasangeet and perhaps the most sought after male singer. In Bombay, alongwith playback singing, Hemant also carved a niche as a composer. A Hindi film called Nagin(1954) with music by Hemant became a major success owing largely to its music. Songs of Nagin remained chart-toppers continuously for two years and culminated in Hemant receiving the prestigious Filmfare Award for best music director in 1955. The very same year, Hemant scored music for a Bengali movie called ‘Shapmochan’ in which he also playbacked four songs for the Bengali actor Uttam Kumar. This started a long partnership between Hemant and Uttam as a playback singer-actor pair that contributed to their becoming the most popular singer and actor respectively, in Bengal, over the next decade.

In the latter part of the fifties decade Hemanta composed music and playbacked for several Bengali and Hindi films; recorded several Rabindrasangeets and Bengali non-film songs. Almost all of these, especially his Bengali output became very popular. This period can be termed as the zenith of his career and lasted for almost a decade. He sang songs composed by the major music directors in Bengal such as Nachiketa Ghosh, Robin Chatterjee and Salil Chowdhury. Some of the notable films Hemanta himself composed music for during this period include ‘Harano sur’, ‘Marutirtha Hinglaj’, ‘Neel Akasher Nichey’, ‘Lukochuri’, ‘Swaralipi’, ‘Deep jwele jaai’, ‘Shesh Parjanta’, ‘Kuhak’, ‘Dui bhai’, and ‘Saptapadi’ in Bengali, and, ‘Jagriti’ and ‘Ek hi raasta’ in Hindi.

Bengali Filmography as composer

Total number of films: 138

1947: Abhiyatri, Purbaraag
1948: Bhuli Naai, Padma Pramatta Nadi, Priyatama
1949: Diner Par Din, ‘42, Sandipan Pathshala, Swami
1951: Jighansa
1955: Shapmochan
1956: Suryamukhi
1957: Shesh Parichay, Taser Ghar, Harano Sur
1958: Lookochuri, Shikar, Surjotoron, Joutuk, Neel Akasher Neechey
1959: Deep Jweley Jai, Khelaghar, Marutirtha Hinglaj, Sonar Harin, Kshaniker Atithi
1960: Baishey Shravan, Gariber Meye, Kuhak, Khoka Babur Prayabartan, Shesh Paryanta
1961: Dui Bhai, Agni Sanskar, Madhya Rater Tara, Punashcha, Saptapadi, Sathi Hara, Swaralipi
1962: Atal Jaler Ahwan, Agun, Dada Thakur, Hansuli Banker Upakatha, Nabadiganta
1963: Badshah, Barnachora, Ek Tukro Agun, High Heel, Palatak, Saat Pake Bandha, Shesh Prahar, Tridhara
1964: Arohi, Bibhas, Natun Tirtha, Pratinidhi, Prabhater Rang, Swarga Hotey Biday, Sindoore Megh
1965: Alor Pipasa, Ek Tuku Basa, Ek Tuku Chhonya Lage, Suryatapa
1966: Kanch Kata Hirey, Monihar
1967: Balika Bodhu, Dushtu Prajapati, Nayika Sangbad, Ajana Shapath
1968: Adwitya, Baghini, Hansamithun, Jiban Sangeet, Panchasar, Parisodh
1969: Chena Achena, Mon Niye, Parineeta, Shuk Sari
1970: Deshbandhu Chittaranjan, Duti Mon
1971: Kuheli, Malayadaan, Nabaraag, Nimantran, Sansaar
1972: Anindita, Shriman Prithviraj
1974: Bikele Bhorer Phool, Thagini, Phuleshwari
1975: Agniswar, Mohan Baganer Meye, Nishi Mrigaya, Raag Anuraag, Sansar Simantey
1976: Banhi Sikha, Datta, Sankhabish, Pratisruti
1977: Din Amader, Hatey Roilo Tin, Mantramugdha, Pratima, Proxy, Rajani, Sanai, Shesh Raksha, Swati
1978: Ganadevta, Nadi Theke Sagare, Pronoy Pasha
1979: Shahar Theke Dooray, Nauka Dubi
1980: Bandhan, Dadar Kirti, Paka Dekha, Pankhiraj, Shesh Bichar
1981: Kapal Kundala, Khelar Putul, Meghmukti, Subarna Golak
1982: Chhoto Maa
1983: Amar Geeti, Rajeshwari
1984: Agni Shuddhi, Ajantay, Bishabriksha, Didi, Madhuban
1985: Bhalobasha Bhalobasha, Tagori
1986: Pathbhola
1987: Pratibha, Tunibou, Agaman, Boba sanai, Parasmoni, Surer Sathi

Hindi filmography as Composer(Alphabetical)

A: Anand Math, Anjaan, Anupama, Arab Ka Saudagar
B: Bahu, Bandhan, Bandi, Bandish, Bees Saal Baad, Bees Saal Pehle, Bhagwat Mahima, Bin Badal Barsaat, Biwi Aur Makaan
C: Chand, Champakali
D: Daku Ki Ladki, Do Dil, Do Dooni Char, Do Ladke Dono Kadke, Do Mastane, Durgesh Nandini
E: Ek hi Raasta, Ek Jhalak
F: Ferry, Faraar, Fashion
G: Girl Friend
H: Hamara Watan, Hill Station, Hum Bhi Insaan Hai
I: Inspector, Insaaf Kahan Hai
J: Jagriti
K: Khamoshi, Kohraa, Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan
L: Lagan, Laalten, Love in Canada
M: Maa Beta, Majhli Didi
N: Nagin, Nayakeenicha Sajja
P: Payal, Police
R: Rahgeer
S: Sahara, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Samrat, Sannata, Shart
T: Taj
U: Us Raat Ke Baad
Y: Yahudi Ki Ladki

Text Has been borrowed from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemanta_Kumar_Mukhopadhyay

7 Responses to “Hemanta Mukherjee”

hasib rahman Says:
March 23rd, 2007 at 9:41 pm
You people have put down quite an amezing effort to create these web pages. Thank you all so very much for bringing bangla cultural heritage into the internett-age.
James Says:
July 24th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Hello

The following 3 beautiful songs from Hemanta r missing here:

Jhor Uteche Baul Batas
Sedin Tumi
Tumi Chole gele
adnan Says:
October 18th, 2007 at 5:53 am
plz add songs of movie ” Do Dil ” 1965
and songs of film ” Dheun ki lakeer” i m searching these plz add it
shyamaprasad Says:
October 25th, 2007 at 11:02 am
I found no other sites like this. It is a all round site for all music lovers.
dizzyd Says:
November 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Hi this is a great collection.. thanks a bunch for it..
i was wondering if anyone could tell me where i can download this one song ” O nadi re ekti katha shudhai…” i’ve been dying to get my hands on it.. if you know any website please do let me know..
thanks a lot..
Arup Chaudhuri Says:
January 13th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Just found this site and what a find! Many many thanks for all the hard work.An e-world with all bangla contents is a revealation.Taking back to my youth ( a long time ago ) in Kolkata. Keep it up. I am starting to spread the news.
mukesh Says:
June 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
i am looking for a hemant da song - “ar dur nei digantere beshi dur nei. tob klantir logane ebar” . been quite an inspiration.any help????????

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