Anil Biswas (b. 1914)

Bengali and Hindi composer born in Barisal (now Bangladesh). A talented tabla player since infancy, he worked in amateur theatre as child singer. Became a political activist as a student and was associated with terrorist insurgency movements in Bengal. Repeatedly jailed in early 30s. Received early assignments as musician from Kazi Nazrul Islam? at the Megaphone gramophone company; then scored and acted in several commercial Calcutta Theatres stage productions, notably in the Rangmahal theatre. Moved to Bombay (1934) where he was first employed by Ram Daryani’s Eastern Art Syndicate, then by Sagar and its successor National Studio (1940-2) and finally by Bombay Talkies (1942-6) before turning freelance.

Best-known compositions are among the most effective film adaptations of theatrical music, with 12-piece orchestras and full-blooded choral effects in e.g. the Amirbai Karnataki songs of Gyan Mukherjee’s Kismet? and even more so in Mehboob’s early  1965: Chhoti Chhoti Baatein. films. His recitative prose songs in Roti? helped give the film its parable dimension and came close to an indigenous Brechtian mode. His work is a rare effort in popular Hindi film to define a cultural-political avant-garde. Later composed music for K.A. Abbas’s films (e.g. the famous ‘songless’ Munna) and for [[Mahesh Kaul]]. Music co-d for Begunah, using the name Haribhai. Scored Doordarshan’s pioneering TV series Humlog (1984-5) and a number of Films Division documentaries (e.g. Controlling Aphids in Mustard Crop, 1979; Development of Inland Fisheries, 1988; Modern Seeding and Planting Equipment, 1991, etc.)

FILMOGRAPHY (* also act): 1935: Bal Hatya; Bharat Ki Beti; Dharam Ki Devi*; 1936: Fida- e-Watan; Piya Ki Jogan; Pratima; Prem Bandhan; Sangdil Samaj; Sher Ka Panja; Shokh Dilruba; 1937: Bulldog; Dukhiari; Gentleman Daku; Insaaf; Jagirdar; Kokila; Mahageet; 1938: Three Hundred Days and After; Dynamite; Gramophone Singer; Hum Tum Aur Woh; Nirala Hindustan; Abhilasha; Watan; 1939: Jeevan Saathi; Ek Hi Raasta; 1940: Alibaba; Aurat; Pooja; 1941: Aasra; Bahen; Nai Roshni; 1942: Apna Paraya; Garib; Jawani; Roti; Vijay; 1943: Hamari Baat; Kismet; 1944: Char Aankhen; Jwar Bhata; Lady Doctor; 1945: Pehli Nazar; 1946: Darban; Nauka Dubi/Milan?; 1947: Bhookh; Manjdhar; Naiya; 1948: Anokha Pyar; Gajre; Veena; 1949: Girls’ School (with C. Ramchandra); Jeet; Laadli; Begunah; 1950:Arzoo; Beqasoor; Lajawaab; 1951: Aaram; Badi Bahu; Do Sitare; Tarana; 1952: Do Raha; Rahi; 1953: Akash; Faraib; Humdard; Jallianwala Bagh Ki Jyot; Mehmaan; 1954: Maan; Mahatma Kabir; Munna; Naaz; Waris; Annapurnar Mandir; 1937: Haranidhi; 1938: 1955: Faraar; Du-janay; Jasoos; 1956: Heer; Paisa Hi Paisa; 1957: Abhimaan; Jalti Nishani; Pardesi; 1958: Sanskar; 1959: Char Dil Char Raahein; 1960: Angulimal; Return of Mr Superman; Meera Ka Chitra; 1961: Lucky Number; Savitri; 1962: Hame

Music