Shyamal Mitra
শ্যামল মিত্র
Born(1929-01-14)14 January 1929
Naihati, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, India)
Died15 November 1987(1987-11-15) (aged 58)
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Genres
  • Bengali classical music
  • Indian classical
  • Bengali ghazal
Occupations

Shyamal Mitra (14 January 1929 – 15 November 1987) was an Indian versatile playback singer and music director along with Hemanta Mukherjee and Manna Dey. Mitra had also worked in many Hindi and Bengali films as a music director and film producer. He was the most notable musician of the golden era of Bengali music industry. His baritone voice reflected a range of emotions. Besides recording a huge number of popular Bengali basic songs, he also worked as a playback singer in more than a hundred Bengali films and directed music in more than fifty Bengali films. He also sang in various other Indian languages, like Hindi, Assamese, and Oriya.[1]

Early life

Shyamal Mitra was born in a Bengali Kayastha family in Naihati, a city near Kolkata, India. Their native village was Patul, near Seakhala. His father, Sadhan Kumar Mitra, was a reputed doctor in Naihati. The father wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor, but the son was very keen on music and was always inspired by his mother and the local singer Mrinal Kanti Ghosh. People associated with the I.P.T.A. movement used to visit Sadhan-babu's house and this gave the chance to young Shyamal Mitra to come in contact with Salil Chowdhury. Young Shyamal Mitra and his youngest sister Reba used to sing "O Aalor Pathajatree" on the road for I.P.T.A.

Shyamal Mitra went to Hooghly Mohsin College, then affiliated with the University of Calcutta, for his graduate degree. There he met Satinath Mukhopadhyay, another prominent exponent of modern music. Satinath inspired him. Then Shyamal Mitra came to Kolkata and met Sudhirlal Chakraborty. That was the turning point of his life. He started struggling until he got a chance to playback in "Sunandar Biye" with Supriti Ghosh and Pratima Bandyopadhyay in 1949 and recorded his first basic songs from H.M.V. under the supervision of Sudhirlal Chakraborty. After the sad demise of Sudhirlal Chakraborty in 1952, he recorded "Smriti Tumi Bedonar". That was the turning point and he never looked back after that. He became one of the leading singers and composers of the country.

Journey as musician

Shyamal Mitra started working as a singer and music composer for the Bengali music industry. During the fifties and early sixties, he composed music for hit films like Joy Maa Kali Boarding, Jamalaye Jibonto Manush, and Bhranti Bilash. During this period he also worked as a playback singer in many Bengali films.

In 1963, he produced a film called Deya Neya, another milestone of his career. Then he produced more films like Rajkanya, Kheya, and Ami Se O Sakha. He was also the distributor and producer of "Garh Nasimpur".

Shyamal Mitra went to Mumbai in the early fifties with Salil Chowdhury. He worked in three films: Musafer, Biraj Bou, and Naukri. In 1973, he again went to Mumbai. He worked in Shakti Samanta's films, like Amanush, Anand Ashram, F.C.Mehra's film Bandi, Basu Chatterjee's films like Safed Jhoot, and Mamta. He came back to Kolkata again and created many hit tracks in both Bengali basic and film songs.

Shyamal Mitra had a long association with All India Radio. He also sang in the famous Mahisasura Mardini programme of All India Radio. That song was "Subhra sankha robe" with co-artists Arati Mukhopadhyay and Ashima Mukherjee.

Besides modern Bengali songs and film songs, Shyamal Mitra worked with many other different forms of Bengali music like Rabindrasangeet, Nazrul Geeti, "Chotoder Gaan", and Atul Prasadi. As a music composer, he also worked in a Yatra Pala called "Bibi Anondomoyee".

As a music composer, Shyamal Mitra worked with many major artists like Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Tarun Bandyopadhyay, Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Pratima Bandyopadhyay, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Satinath Mukhopadhyay, Ila Basu, Supriti Ghosh, Gayatri Basu, Utpala Sen, Alpana Banerjee, Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Talat Mahmood and Kishore Kumar.

As an actor, Shyamal Mitra worked in Bengali movies like Sharey Chuattar and Saapmochan.

Shyamal Mitra died on 15 November 1987, leaving behind his wife Protima Mitra, son Saibal Mitra and Saikat Mitra, daughter Monobina. His son Saikat has his singing legacy with him, he has become a star Bengali singer singing Shyamal Mitra's songs.

The Bengali audience will never forget his songs like "Tomar Samadhi Phule Phule Dhaka", "Gaane Bhubon Bhoriye Debe", "Amar Sopne Dekha Rajkonyya", "Ami Tomar Kachei Phire Ashbo", "Ke Jane Kobe Abar", "O Mon Kokhon Suru", "Tinti Montro Niye Jader Jibon", "O Shimul Bon", "Emono Din Ashte Pare", "Sediner Sona Jhora Sondha", "Naam Rakhechi Bonolata", "Ei Sundor Prithibi Chere", 'Jhiri jhiri baataas kaande' and many others.

As music composer

Film NameYear
Lakh Taka1953
Joy Maa Kali Boarding1955
Jamalaye Jibonto Manush1958
Deli Passenger1958
Bhranti1959
Sokher Chor1960
Hashi Sudhu Hashi Noi1963
Bhranti Bilash1963
Deya Neya1963
Saptarshi1964
Trishna1965
Rajkanya1965
Kheya1967
Hotath Dekha1967
Gor Nashimpur1968
Bibaha Bibhrat1969
Duranta Charai1969
Samantaral1970
Padmagolap1970
Pratibad1971
Janani1971
Jiban Jiggasha1971
Bhanu Goenda Jahar Assistant1971
Andha Atit1972
Banpalashir Padabali1973
Chithi1973
Amanush1974
Phulu Thakurma1975
Ami Se O Sokha1975
Rajbangsha1977
Ajashra Dhonnyobad1977
Jaal Sanyashi1977
Anand Ashram1977
Bandi1978
Nishan1978
Dhanraj Tamang1978
Priyatama1980
Khana Baraha1981
Bandi Balaka1981
Kalankini1981
Maayer Ashirbaad1982
Maatir Sorgo1982
Songsarer Itikotha1983
Kenaram Becharam1986
Mohamilan1987
Ekaki1990

As playback singer

Film NameYear
Sunandaar Biye1951
Antaraal1965
Aakashpradeep1963
Asamaptaa1956
Aabak Prithivi1959
Onno Maati Onno Rong1971
Angikaar1966
Abhaya O Shrikanto1965
Oshru Diye Lekha1966
Agnisikha1962
Andhar Surya1969
Alo Andhare1974
Bodhubaran1967
Baaluchori1968
Bhagya1971
Bhagabaan ShriShriRamakrishna1955
Bhanu Pelo Lottery1958
Chutir Ghonta1976
Deep Nebhe Nai1964
Dashhu Mohan1955
Dwiper Naam Tiarang1963
Dersho Khokaar Kando1959
Eaktaara1957
E Johor Se Johor Noy1959
Hangshamithun1968
Cheenamukh / Kaantataar1964
Kamallata1969
Kaajal1962
Kostipathar1964
Kothin Maaya1961
Keri Saheber Munshi1961
Kono Eakdin1960
Kichukhhon1959
Krishnarjun1982
Laalpathor1964
Maahut Bondhure1959
Maayar Songsaar1962
Muktisnaan1970
Mohalogno1965
Maamlar Phol1956
Noder Nimai1960
Nirdharito Silpir Onuposthitite1959
Nishipadma1970
Nokol Sona1973
Prostor Sakhhor1967
Pandober Bonobaas1966
Panna Hire Chuni1969
Roktorekha1968
Rajodrohi1966
Raat Bhore1955
Ruposhi1970
Saapmochon1955
Sagarika1956
SriKrishna Sudama1955
Sindur1957
Sashibabur Songsaar1959
Silalipi-
Sunobaranari1960
Sohorer Itikotha1960
Sona Boudi1970
Saraswatir Protigga-
Taa Hole1964
Upohaar1955
Utsorgo1983
Mondomodhur1981
Nishitrishna1978
Aami Ratan1979
Noya Michil1972
Daabi1974
Bonpalashir Podaboli1972
Ogo Suncho1957
Bonjotsna1969
Sachimaar Songsaar1971
Biraaj Bou1972
Ekadoshi-
Tir Bhanga Dheu1977
Roktojoba1985
Sare Chuattor1953
G T Road1979
Behula Lokhindor1977
Bhagyalipi1979
Dub De Mon Kali Bole1979
Haashitukui Thaak-
Sondhay Surya-
Bhorer Kuasha-
Baari Theke Paliye1959
Mriter Morte Agomon1959
Shakuntala1971
Archana1972
Chupi Chupi-
Aapanjan1968
Maatir Putul-
Maa O Meye1969
Raajpurush1987
Prithibi Amare Chai1957
Sei Chookh1976
Omor Prem-
Jibon Moron1983
Surer Poroshe1957
Punormilan1957
Aparadhi1988
Aamader Desh-
Dui Bondhu-

See also

References

  1. Shyamal Mitra, Aajkal, ISBN 978-81-7990-115-1
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