Salil Choudhury (1925-95)

Self-trained composer and music director. Activist among peasantry in 24 Parganas Dist., Bengal. Did music for IPTA plays and musical squads performing in Bengali countryside, calling for cultural internationalism as opposed to an emphasis on regional folk traditions (cf. Bhupen Hazarika; also Choudhury’s Modern Bengali Music in Crisis, 1951). His influences in songs that have remained enduring favourites with Left cultural groups all over India include Mozart, Hanns Eisler and contemporary Latin American forms, such as Abak prithibi (written by Sukanta Choudhury and sung by Hemanta Mukherjee) and Kono ek gayer bodhu (written by Choudhury himself). Ghatak, in Komal Gandhar (1961), and Mrinal Sen, in Akaler Sandhaney (e.g. Hai samhalo dhan ho! on the 1943 famine) used his music to typify the spirit of 40s Bengali agitational theatre movements, which he also extended to cover other genres, like Zia Sarhadi’s Awaaz and Tarafdar’s Ganga. Entered films with Satyen Bose. First major hit was Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zameen, based on his own story, with full-blooded choral compositions celebrating peasant vitality (monsoon song Hariyala sawan), a form still most associated with him. Went on to score the pathbreaking soundtrack of Roy’s Madhumati. Also did notable work for Hrishikesh Mukherjee films, e.g. his début Musafir and the 70’s hit Anand. The only front-line Hindi composer to work in several languages: Assamese (the experimental Aparajeya by the Chaturanga collective), Kannada (A.M. Samiulla’s films, including Samshayaphala, Onderupe Eradu Guna etc., and Balu Mahendra’s début Kokila), Tamil (Doorathu Idhi Muzhakkam) and Telugu (Chairman Chalamayya). Most spectacular work outside Bengali and Hindi is, however, for Ramu Kariat, scoring the several hits in his breakthrough Chemmeen, followed by Ezhu Rathrikal, Abhayam, Nellu etc.

FILMOGRAPHY (* also d/ also lyr): 1949: Paribartan; 1951; Barjatri; 1953; Do Bigha Zameen; Banser Kella; Banser Kella; Bhor Hoye Elo; 1954: Aaj Sandhya; Mahila Mahal; Biraj Bahu; Naukri; 1955: Amanat; Tangewali; Rickshawala; 1956: Raat Bhore; Awaaz; Parivar; Jagte Raho/Ek? Din Raatre; 1957: Aparadhi Kaun; Gautama The Buddha (Doc); Ek Gaon Ki Kahani; Lal Batti; Musafir; Zamana; 1958: Madhumati; 1959: Bari Theke Paliye; 1960: Ganga; Sunehri Raatein; Jawahar; Kanoon; Parakh; Usne Kaha Tha; 1961: Char Diwari; Chhaya; Kabuliwala; Maya; Memdidi; Sapan Suhane; Raibahadur; 1962: Half Ticket; Jhoola; Prem Patra; Sunbai; 1964: Kinu Goyalar Gali; Ayananta; Lal Patthar; 1965: Chand Aur Suraj; Poonam Ki Raat; Chemmeen; 1966: Pinjre Ke Panchhi*; Netaji Subhashchandra Bose; Pari; 1968: Ezhu Rathrikal; Jawab Ayega; 1969: Ittefaq; Sara Akash; 1970: Anand; Abhayam; Aparajeya; 1971: Gehra Raaz; Mere Apne; Samshayaphala; 1972: Annadata; Anokha Daan; Anokha Milan; Mere Bhaiya; Subse Bada Sukh; Marjina Abdallah; 1973: Swapnam; 1974: Rajanigandha; Nellu; Chairman Chalamayya; 1975: Chhotisi Baat; Sangat; Onderupa Eradu Guna; Neela Ponman; Ragam; Rasaleela; Thomasleeha; 1976: Aparadhi; Thulavarsham; Jeevan Jyoti; Mrigaya; Uranchoo; 1977: Kabita; Sister; Minoo; Chinna Ninna Muddaduve; Kokila; Madanolsavam; Vishukkanni; 1978: Paruvamazhai; Ee Ganam Marakkumo; Etho Oru Swapnam; Samayamayilla Polum; Naukri; 1979: Jiban Je Rakam; Srikanter Will; Kala Patthar; Jeena Yahan; Chuvanna Chirakukal; Pratiksha; Puthiya Velicham; Azhiyada Kolangal; 1980: Chehre Pe Chehra; Byapika Biday; Kuhasa; Room No. 203; Air Hostess; Paribesh; Akaler Sandhaney; Doorathu Idhi Muzhakkam; Chirutha; Nani Maa; 1981: Plot No. 5; Agni Pareeksha; Batasi Jhada; Monchor; 1982: Andhiveyilille Ponnu; Dil Ka Saathi Dil; Darpok Ki Dosti (Sh); 1984: Kanoon Kya Karega; 1985: Pratigya; Devika; Manas Kanya; 1986: Jiban; 1988: Trishagni; 1989: Swarna Trishna; Jawahar; Kamala Ki Maut; 1990: Triyartri; Vasthuhara; 1991: Netraheen

Music