Kamal Dasgupta (?- 1974)

Bengali composer born in Dhaka (now Bangladesh). Début with the Gramophone Company of India. Became widely known when his music was performed by the popular singer Juthika Roy and provided the definitive musical arrangements for some of Kazi Nazrul Islam?’s compositions. His use of orchestration typifies the Nazrul gharana, which he helped popularise in the early years of the gramophone industry. Along with Anupam Ghatak and Anil Bagchi, one of the most popular composers in the interwar years. Worked with Barua? (e.g. Shesh Uttar?/Jawab?, Pehchan) and extensively with Niren Lahiri? (Garmil?, Jayjatra). Also scored Modhu Bose’s Baraley Bandhu; 1961; Sathi Hara. Tagore-derived Giribala. Worked with Sagar directors Luhar? (Bindiya) and Badami? (Manmani) and later with Pranab Roy, also producing Roy’s Prarthana. Later years in Bangladesh where he married the singer Feroza Begum.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1936: Pandit Moshai; 1938: Sarbajanin Bibahotsab; 1939: Debjani; 1942: Shesh Uttar/Jawab?; Garmil; 1943: Sahadharmini; Jogajog/Hospital?; Chandar Kalanka/Rani?; Dampati; 1944: Bideshini; 1945: Nandita; Meghdoot; Bhabhi-Kaal; 1946: Bindiya; Krishna Leela; Pehchan; Zameen Aasmaan; 1947: Faisla; Giribala; Manmani; Chandrasekhar; 1948: Jayjatra/Vijay? Yatra; 1949: Iran Ki Ek Raat; Rangamati; Anuradha; 1951: Phulwari; 1952: Prarthana; 1953: Malancha; 1954: Nababidhan; Bhagwan Shri Krishna Chaitanya; 1955: Bratacharini; 1956: Manraksha; Govindadas; 1957: Madhu Malati; Sandhan; 1967: Bodhu Baran.

Music