'''Hemanta Kumar Mukherjee (1920-89)'''


Aka Hemant Kumar. Bengali-Hindi composer
and singer. Born in Varanasi. Left school to
become a professional singer. Studied under
Phani Bannerjee and Shailendraprasad Gupta.
Early songs for radio. Released his first record
in 1937, with the still-popular numbers Janite
jadi go and Balogo more. One of the most
popular Rabindra Sangeet singers of his time,
starting under the tutelage of Anadi Dastidar,
initially singing mainly in the tradition of
Pankaj Mullick. Changed his style in context
of a brief but fruitful collaboration with
composer Salil Choudhury (1949-52)
associated with the IPTA. Début as singer in
Bengali film with Phani Burma’s Nimai
Sanyasi (1940) and in Hindi with Iraada
(1944). Early compositions for Hemen Gupta
(Bhuli Naai, ’42, Anandmath, Kashti).
Established himself as a Bengali composer with
Ajoy Kar’s Jighansa. Although he went on to
become one of the most popular Bengali film
composers, his main fame derives from
playback singing for Uttam Kumar, his
baritone becoming a key ingredient of the star’s
romantic dramas: e.g. classic hits Jhor utteche
in Sudhir Mukherjee’s Shap Mochan; Nir
chhoto khati nei in Niren Lahiri’s Indrani
(1958); Ei path jadi na shesh hoi in Ajoy Kar’s
Saptapadi, etc. Often partnered Sandhya
Mukherjee, female playback usually for
Suchitra Sen. From the 50s onwards his voice
incarnated Bengali middle-class romanticism,
having an enduring influence on all male
playback singers in the language ever since.
Became a star singer in Hindi with the classic
Yeh raat yeh chandni in Guru Dutt’s Jaal
(1952), picturised on Dev Anand on the beach
among the fishing nets. Collaborated
extensively with Dutt, e.g. Jaane woh kaise log
the in Pyaasa (1957) and scored the
hauntingly beautiful numbers of Sahib Bibi
Aur Ghulam. First Hindi hit as composer is
Nagin, adapting a tune from Bijon
Bhattacharya’s play Jiyankanya for the
sinuous snake dance number Man dole, a
landmark in the introduction of electronics into
Hindi film music. Composed regularly for
Tarun Majumdar and for the early Mrinal
Sen, producing Sen’s Neel Akasher Neechey.
As producer he often worked with set designer
turned director Biren Nag, showing a penchant
for thrillers like Bees Saal Baad (adapting The
Hound of the Baskervilles), and Kohraa,
borrowed from Daphne du Maurier’s (and
Hitchcock’s) Rebecca. Also produced Pinaki
Mukherjee’s Faraar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s
Biwi Aur Makaan, Tarun Majumdar’s Rahgir
and Asit Sen’s Rajesh Khanna psychodrama
Khamoshi. Autobiography Amar Ganer
Swaralipi (1988).


'''FILMOGRAPHY''' (* also d): 1947: Purbaraag;
Abhiyatri; 1948: Bhuli Naai; Padma
Paramatti Nadi; Priyatama; 1949: Diner Par
Din; ’42; Sandipan Pathshala; Swami; 1951:
Jighansa; 1952: Anandmath; 1954: Daku Ki
Ladki; Kashti; Jagriti; Nagin; Samrat; Shart;
1955: Bahu; Bandish; Bhagwat Mahima;
Lagan; Shap Mochan; 1956: Suryamukhi;
Anjaan; Arab Ka Saudagar; Bandhan;
Durgesh Nandini; Ek Hi Raasta; Hamara
Watan; Inspector; Lalten; Taj; 1957: Bandi;
Champakali; Ek Jhalak; Fashion; Hill Station;
Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan; Miss Mary; Payal;
Yahudi Ki Ladki; Shesh Parichaya; Taser Ghar;
Harano Sur; Naikinichi Sajja; 1958:
Lookochuri; Shikar; Joutuk; Surya Toran; Do
Mastane; Police; Sahara; Neel Akasher
Neechey; 1959: Chand; Hum Bhi Insaan
Hain; Marutirtha Hinglaj; Deep Jweley Jai;
Khelaghar; Sonar Harin; Kshaniker Atithi;
1960: Kuhak; Khokha Babur Pratyabartan;
Baishey Shravan; Gariber Meye; Shesh
Paryanta; Duniya Jhukti Hai; Girl Friend;
1961: Sathi Hara; Agni Sanskar; Swaralipi;
Madhya Rater Tara; Saptapadi; Dui Bhai;
1962: Hansuli Banker Upakatha; Atal Jaler
Ahwan; Agun; Dada Thakur; Nabadiganta;
Bees Saal Baad; Maa Beta; Sahib Bibi Aur
Ghulam; 1963: Bin Badal Barsaat; Ek Tukro
Agun; Barnachora; Saat Pake Bandha; High
Heel; Palatak; Shesh Prahar; Tridhara;
Badshah; 1964: Kohraa; Pratinidhi; Bibhas;
Swarga Hotey Biday; Sindoore Megh;
Prabhater Rang; Natun Tirtha; Arohi; 1965:
Alor Pipasa; Ek Tuku Basa; Surya Tapa; Ek
Tuku Chhoya Lage; Do Dil; Faraar; 1966:
Anupama; Biwi Aur Makaan; Sannata;
Kanch Kata Hirey; Manihar; 1967: Balika
Bodhu; Dustu Prajapati; Nayika Sangbad;
Manjhli Didi; Ajana Shapath; 1968: Do Dooni
Char; Adwitiya; Baghini; Hansamithun; Jiban
Sangeet; Panchasar; Parishodh; 1969: Chena
Achena; Mon-Niye; Parineeta; Shuk Sari;
Khamoshi; Rahgir; 1970: Deshbandhu
Chittaranjan; Us Raat Ke Baad; Duti Mon;
1971: Kuheli; Malyadaan; Nabaraag;
Nimantran; Sansar; 1972: Bees Saal Pehle;
Anindita*; Shriman Prithviraj; 1974: Bikele
Bhorer Phool; Thagini; Phuleshwari; 1975:
Agniswar; Nishi Mrigaya; Raag Anuraag;
Sansar Simantey; Mohan Baganer Meye;
1976: Banhi Sikha; Datta; Sankhabish;
Pratisruti; 1977: Rajani; Din Amader; Hatey
Roilo Tin; Mantramugdha; Pratima; Sanai;
Shesh Raksha; Swati; Proxy; 1978: Nadi Theke
Sagare; Ganadevata; Pronoy Pasha; Do Ladke
Dono Kadke; 1979: Love in Canada; Shahar
Theke Dooray; Nauka Dubi; 1980: Bandhan;
Dadar Kirti; Paka Dekha; Pankhiraj; Shesh
Bichar; 1981: Subarna Golak; Kapal Kundala;
Meghmukti; Khelar Putul; 1982: Chhoto Maa;
Chut; Pratiksha; Uttar Meleni; 1983: Amar
Geeti; Rajeshwari; 1984: Agni Shuddhi;
Ajantay; Bishabriksha; Didi; Madhuban; Surya
Trishna; 1985: Bhalobasha Bhalobasha;
Tagori; 1986: Pathbhola; Ashirwad; 1987:
Pratibha; Tunibou; 1988: Boba Sanai;
Parasmoni; Surer Sathi; Agaman.

[[Music]]