Romantic songs of Alpona Banerjee were more popular than nursery songs.

Alpona Banerjee could have continued with her music career in films instead of nursery songs. Alpona Banerjee, the romantic playback singer of Bengal during the 50s and 60s, had earned stardom through the songs she had sung for children. Prominent among them included “chottopakhi chandana”, “hattimatim tim”, “kana machi bho bho”, “charka kate buri”, “agdum bagdum ghoradum”, “dol dol duluni”, etc. But while her popularity before the children remained intact over 70 years, her stardom in the film industry declined. Born on 14th March, 1934, she got breaks in bollywood films due to her father’s intimacy with legendary composer Robin Chatterji and lyricist Gouri Prasanna Majumdar. Her song “matir ghare aaj nemeche chand re” entertained the Bengali film viewers in the early 50s. From providing playback in Bengali film Bidyasagar, she sang a number of romantic songs in leading films of the 50s. Her song “hriday amar sundoro taba paye” composed by Robin Chatterji in Uttam Kumar Suchitra Sen’s film Sagarika stormed the audience. Her song performance in the film Shubhada was specially acclaimed. While her film career blossomed in the 50s, her Bengali modern songs bewildered the Bengali audience. Her romantic song “ami sundar bole tai to bondhu besecho bhalo amay” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee can be considered to be the most romantic song she had ever sung in her life. The other composition of Manobendra Mukherjee for her titled “mon bolche aaj sondhay kichu bolte tumi aasbeki” which became super hit. Her other songs “Jodi tomar jibone” and “bolechile tumi gaan shonaabe” were equally romantic. She at the same time sung songs in prominent films like Chele Kar under composition of Kalipada Sen, Personal Assistant under composition of Nochiketa Ghosh, Pathe Holo Deri composed by Robin Chatterji. She was married to Sridhar Mukherjee and faded away from the film music arena in the 60s. She also sang songs in romyogeeti in All India Radio. The other films where she made valuable contribution included Bidhilipi, Kar Pape, Na, Chele Kar, Shilpi, Agni Parikkha, Bhangagara, etc. Her other basic discs which were prominent included “ami alpone eke jai”, “bokulgandhe Jodi akash”, “tomar moner rong legeche”, “samiran phire chao”, etc. Viewers wonder that if Alpona Banerjee had not sung nursery songs for children which in Bengali is termed “charar gaan”, she could have done great justice to her romantic voice and her place would have been besides Sandhya Mukherjee and Geeta Dutt who dominated Bengali film music and modern songs during 50s and 60s. The audience had an impression of Alpona Banerjee’s voice related to children’s fairy tales which got more predominance over other songs. She died on 24th July, 2009, at the age of 75 years. Her songs and films should be preserved.

The romantic songs were as brilliant as the nursery songs

Alpona Banerjee could have continued with her music career in films instead of nursery songs. Alpona Banerjee, the romantic playback singer of Bengal during the 50s and 60s, had earned stardom through the songs she had sung for children. Prominent among them included “chottopakhi chandana”, “hattimatim tim”, “kana machi bho bho”, “charka kate buri”, “agdum bagdum ghoradum”, “dol dol duluni”, etc. But while her popularity before the children remained intact over 70 years, her stardom in the film industry declined. Born on 14th March, 1934, she got breaks in bollywood films due to her father’s intimacy with legendary composer Robin Chatterji and lyricist Gouri Prasanna Majumdar. Her song “matir ghare aaj nemeche chand re” entertained the Bengali film viewers in the early 50s. From providing playback in Bengali film Bidyasagar, she sang a number of romantic songs in leading films of the 50s. Her song “hriday amar sundoro taba paye” composed by Robin Chatterji in Uttam Kumar Suchitra Sen’s film Sagarika stormed the audience. Her song performance in the film Shubhada was specially acclaimed. While her film career blossomed in the 50s, her Bengali modern songs bewildered the Bengali audience. Her romantic song “ami sundar bole tai to bondhu besecho bhalo amay” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee can be considered to be the most romantic song she had ever sung in her life. The other composition of Manobendra Mukherjee for her titled “mon bolche aaj sondhay kichu bolte tumi aasbeki” which became super hit. Her other songs “Jodi tomar jibone” and “bolechile tumi gaan shonaabe” were equally romantic. She at the same time sung songs in prominent films like Chele Kar under composition of Kalipada Sen, Personal Assistant under composition of Nochiketa Ghosh, Pathe Holo Deri composed by Robin Chatterji. She was married to Sridhar Mukherjee and faded away from the film music arena in the 60s. She also sang songs in romyogeeti in All India Radio. The other films where she made valuable contribution included Bidhilipi, Kar Pape, Na, Chele Kar, Shilpi, Agni Parikkha, Bhangagara, etc. Her other basic discs which were prominent included “ami alpone eke jai”, “bokulgandhe Jodi akash”, “tomar moner rong legeche”, “samiran phire chao”, etc. Viewers wonder that if Alpona Banerjee had not sung nursery songs for children which in Bengali is termed “charar gaan”, she could have done great justice to her romantic voice and her place would have been besides Sandhya Mukherjee and Geeta Dutt who dominated Bengali film music and modern songs during 50s and 60s. The audience had an impression of Alpona Banerjee’s voice related to children’s fairy tales which got more predominance over other songs. She died on 24th July, 2009, at the age of 75 years. Her songs and films should be preserved.

Romantic songs of legendary singer Alpona Banerjee were more popular than her nursery songs

Alpona Banerjee could have continued with her music career in films instead of nursery songs. Alpona Banerjee, the romantic playback singer of Bengal during the 50s and 60s, had earned stardom through the songs she had sung for children. Prominent among them included “chottopakhi chandana”, “hattimatim tim”, “kana machi bho bho”, “charka kate buri”, “agdum bagdum ghoradum”, “dol dol duluni”, etc. But while her popularity before the children remained intact over 70 years, her stardom in the film industry declined. Born on 14th March, 1934, she got breaks in bollywood films due to her father’s intimacy with legendary composer Robin Chatterji and lyricist Gouri Prasanna Majumdar. Her song “matir ghare aaj nemeche chand re” entertained the Bengali film viewers in the early 50s. From providing playback in Bengali film Bidyasagar, she sang a number of romantic songs in leading films of the 50s. Her song “hriday amar sundoro taba paye” composed by Robin Chatterji in Uttam Kumar Suchitra Sen’s film Sagarika stormed the audience. Her song performance in the film Shubhada was specially acclaimed. While her film career blossomed in the 50s, her Bengali modern songs bewildered the Bengali audience. Her romantic song “ami sundar bole tai to bondhu besecho bhalo amay” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee can be considered to be the most romantic song she had ever sung in her life. The other composition of Manobendra Mukherjee for her titled “mon bolche aaj sondhay kichu bolte tumi aasbeki” which became super hit. Her other songs “Jodi tomar jibone” and “bolechile tumi gaan shonaabe” were equally romantic. She at the same time sung songs in prominent films like Chele Kar under composition of Kalipada Sen, Personal Assistant under composition of Nochiketa Ghosh, Pathe Holo Deri composed by Robin Chatterji. She was married to Sridhar Mukherjee and faded away from the film music arena in the 60s. She also sang songs in romyogeeti in All India Radio. The other films where she made valuable contribution included Bidhilipi, Kar Pape, Na, Chele Kar, Shilpi, Agni Parikkha, Bhangagara, etc. Her other basic discs which were prominent included “ami alpone eke jai”, “bokulgandhe Jodi akash”, “tomar moner rong legeche”, “samiran phire chao”, etc. Viewers wonder that if Alpona Banerjee had not sung nursery songs for children which in Bengali is termed “charar gaan”, she could have done great justice to her romantic voice and her place would have been besides Sandhya Mukherjee and Geeta Dutt who dominated Bengali film music and modern songs during 50s and 60s. The audience had an impression of Alpona Banerjee’s voice related to children’s fairy tales which got more predominance over other songs. She died on 24th July, 2009, at the age of 75 years. Her songs and films should be preserved.

Alpona Banerjee was equally romantic a film singer similar to her nursery songs.

Alpona Banerjee could have continued with her music career in films instead of nursery songs. Alpona Banerjee, the romantic playback singer of Bengal during the 50s and 60s, had earned stardom through the songs she had sung for children. Prominent among them included “chottopakhi chandana”, “hattimatim tim”, “kana machi bho bho”, “charka kate buri”, “agdum bagdum ghoradum”, “dol dol duluni”, etc. But while her popularity before the children remained intact over 70 years, her stardom in the film industry declined. Born on 14th March, 1934, she got breaks in bollywood films due to her father’s intimacy with legendary composer Robin Chatterji and lyricist Gouri Prasanna Majumdar. Her song “matir ghare aaj nemeche chand re” entertained the Bengali film viewers in the early 50s. From providing playback in Bengali film Bidyasagar, she sang a number of romantic songs in leading films of the 50s. Her song “hriday amar sundoro taba paye” composed by Robin Chatterji in Uttam Kumar Suchitra Sen’s film Sagarika stormed the audience. Her song performance in the film Shubhada was specially acclaimed. While her film career blossomed in the 50s, her Bengali modern songs bewildered the Bengali audience. Her romantic song “ami sundar bole tai to bondhu besecho bhalo amay” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee can be considered to be the most romantic song she had ever sung in her life. The other composition of Manobendra Mukherjee for her titled “mon bolche aaj sondhay kichu bolte tumi aasbeki” which became super hit. Her other songs “Jodi tomar jibone” and “bolechile tumi gaan shonaabe” were equally romantic. She at the same time sung songs in prominent films like Chele Kar under composition of Kalipada Sen, Personal Assistant under composition of Nochiketa Ghosh, Pathe Holo Deri composed by Robin Chatterji. She was married to Sridhar Mukherjee and faded away from the film music arena in the 60s. She also sang songs in romyogeeti in All India Radio. The other films where she made valuable contribution included Bidhilipi, Kar Pape, Na, Chele Kar, Shilpi, Agni Parikkha, Bhangagara, etc. Her other basic discs which were prominent included “ami alpone eke jai”, “bokulgandhe Jodi akash”, “tomar moner rong legeche”, “samiran phire chao”, etc. Viewers wonder that if Alpona Banerjee had not sung nursery songs for children which in Bengali is termed “charar gaan”, she could have done great justice to her romantic voice and her place would have been besides Sandhya Mukherjee and Geeta Dutt who dominated Bengali film music and modern songs during 50s and 60s. The audience had an impression of Alpona Banerjee’s voice related to children’s fairy tales which got more predominance over other songs. She died on 24th July, 2009, at the age of 75 years. Her songs and films should be preserved.

Alpona Banerjee could have continued with her music career in films instead of nursery songs.

Alpona Banerjee could have continued with her music career in films instead of nursery songs.

Alpona Banerjee, the romantic playback singer of Bengal during the 50s and 60s, had earned stardom through the songs she had sung for children. Prominent among them included “chottopakhi chandana”, “hattimatim tim”, “kana machi bho bho”, “charka kate buri”, “agdum bagdum ghoradum”, “dol dol duluni”, etc. But while her popularity before the children remained intact over 70 years, her stardom in the film industry declined.

Born on 14th March, 1934, she got breaks in bollywood films due to her father’s intimacy with legendary composer Robin Chatterji and lyricist Gouri Prasanna Majumdar. Her song “matir ghare aaj nemeche chand re” entertained the Bengali film viewers in the early 50s. From providing playback in Bengali film Bidyasagar, she sang a number of romantic songs in leading films of the 50s.

Her song “hriday amar sundoro taba paye” composed by Robin Chatterji in Uttam Kumar Suchitra Sen’s film Sagarika stormed the audience. Her song performance in the film Shubhada was specially acclaimed.

While her film career blossomed in the 50s, her Bengali modern songs bewildered the Bengali audience. Her romantic song “ami sundar bole tai to bondhu besecho bhalo amay” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee can be considered to be the most romantic song she had ever sung in her life. The other composition of Manobendra Mukherjee for her titled “mon bolche aaj sondhay kichu bolte tumi aasbeki” which became super hit.

Her other songs “Jodi tomar jibone” and “bolechile tumi gaan shonaabe” were equally romantic. She at the same time sung songs in prominent films like Chele Kar under composition of Kalipada Sen, Personal Assistant under composition of Nochiketa Ghosh, Pathe Holo Deri composed by Robin Chatterji. She was married to Sridhar Mukherjee and faded away from the film music arena in the 60s.

She also sang songs in romyogeeti in All India Radio. The other films where she made valuable contribution included Bidhilipi, Kar Pape, Na, Chele Kar, Shilpi, Agni Parikkha, Bhangagara, etc. Her other basic discs which were prominent included “ami alpone eke jai”, “bokulgandhe Jodi akash”, “tomar moner rong legeche”, “samiran phire chao”, etc.

Viewers wonder that if Alpona Banerjee had not sung nursery songs for children which in Bengali is termed “charar gaan”, she could have done great justice to her romantic voice and her place would have been besides Sandhya Mukherjee and Geeta Dutt who dominated Bengali film music and modern songs during 50s and 60s. The audience had an impression of Alpona Banerjee’s voice related to children’s fairy tales which got more predominance over other songs. She died on 24th July, 2009, at the age of 75 years. Her songs and films should be preserved.

Contribution of Manobendra Mukherjee as composer.

Contribution of Manobendra Mukherjee as composer.

Manobendra Mukherjee had glorified the world of Bengali classical music for more than 35 years. The entire 50s, 60s and 70s was designated as the golden age of Bengali modern songs and Manobendra Mukherjee’s individual performance as vocal classical singer require no special introduction.

But his contribution as composer requires to be highlighted. Manobendra’s composition for himself in the 50s was unique. The romantic songs composed by him included “emni kore porbe mone baki jibon dhore”, “ami eto je tomay bhalobesechi”, “koto asha niye tumi esechile”, etc. Most of these songs stand out as the most romantic songs in the entire history of Bengali modern songs. The lyrics of Shyamal Gupta took the listeners to a different world of plutonic love.

In the 60s, Manobendra Mukherjee continued with his majestic tunes most of which did great business in Bengal. Some of them had classical appeal including “na jeona modhu jamini”, “ei moshumi mon”, “sangi bihongi tumi je amar”, etc. His composition in films like Chapadangar Bou in 1954, Sanjher Pradeep in 1955, Mayamrigo in 1960, Bodhu in 1962, Godhuli Belai in 1966, Joy Jayanti in 1970, created by that period of time.

But Manobendra Mukherjee’s composition for other leading singers of Bengal, both male and female, created sensation in the 50s, 60s and 70s. His landmark composition for Supriti Ghosh titled “gane gane ami je khuji tomay”, composition for Bani Ghoshal titled “kuasha ghera nil pahare” created sensation in the 50s.

Manobendra Mukherjee’s composition for Alpona Banerjee titled “mon bolche sandhay kichu bolte tumi aasbe ki” and “tumi sundor bole tai to bondhu”, created sensation in the 60s. Manobendra gave melodious tune to Shefali Chakravarty titled “kemone janabo bolo e pranero bedona” having both classical and romantic tune.

Manobendra Mukherjee gave folk tune to Tarun Banerjee in the song “champakoli go koto name dekechi tomay”. The list can go on.

Manobendra’s creation requires to be unearthed. There are many melodious compositions of Manobendra made in the 50s, which had not been reprinted by HMV. If displayed, they can attract the new generation and entertain them.

Music lovers lament Alpona Banerjee's death.

Music lovers lament Alpona Banerjee’s death.

The music lovers all across India lament Alpona Banerjee’s death on 24th July 2009. Children and elders had huge affection towards the romantic singer. She had sung many romantic songs both in Bengali films and also had basic discs during the golden age of Bengali music.

Her notable Bengali modern songs included “mon bolche aaj sondhay kichu bolte tumi ashbe ki” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee, “tumi shundar bole taito bondhu besecho halo amay” composed by Manobendra Mukherjee, “bolechhile tumi gaan shonabe” composed by Abhijit Banerjee, etc. She sang very significant songs in hit films in the 50s. Her song “hridoy amar shundaro tobo pay” in Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen’s film Sagarika became landmark hit. Robin Chatterji, the composer of the song used Alpona’s silky voice for expressing the affection of the actress Jamuna Singha in the film.

Alpona Banerjee sang many significant songs in other films like Bikash Roy’s Chele Kar, Pahari Sanyal’s Bidhyasagar, etc. In the mid-50s Alpona became matchless in her children’s songs which were termed as “charar gaan”.

Children all across the country are obsessed towards the songs of Alpona Banerjee. Her notable songs included “chotto pakhi chondona”, “hattimatim tim”, etc. Those songs did great business in the regional market of West Bengal.

Alpona Banerjee discontinued music after marriage and faded away from the Bengali music arena in the late 60s. The listeners felt sad about it as Alpona Banerjee’s romantic voice had appeal along with Sandhya Mukherjee, Geeta Dutt, Nirmala Mishra, Pratima Banerjee, Bani Ghoshal and many other leading singers og Bengali modern songs.

Alpona Banerjee appeared in TV channels like Doordarshan a number of times in the 80s and 90s and sang her popular songs. Her songs and films should be preserved and restored.

Manobendra Mukherjee in the 70s.

Manobendra Mukherjee in the 70s.

Manobendra Mukherjee was considered as the greatest classical singer that Bengal had ever produced during the golden age. He had the weighty bass like Dhanonjoy Bhattacharya, classical control like Satinath Mukherjee and Akhil Bondhu Ghosh, variation and modulation like Manna Dey. To a big section of Bengali listeners he used to be considered the Neil Harvey of Bengali modern songs. Just as Neil Harvey used his wristy stroke play to establish himself as the greatest stylish batsman of all times, Manobendra Mukherjee used his classical touch, (in musical terms called harkat) in such a stylish manner that he emerged as the most romantic singer of the golden age during an era when melodious singers like Shyamal Mitra, Hemanta Mukherjee, Subir Sen, Tarun Banerjee were big names. His emergence in Bengali musical arena created a dimension which may be called romantic saga which in turn swayed the innate emotions of middleclass Bengali listeners of the golden age in the world of melody.

His song “emni kore porbe mone baki jiban dhore”, sung in the mid-50s flabbergasted the Bengali audience and brought a new expression for plutonic romance. The lyrics in interlude including “sabai bole bhalobashar moron naaki nei, proti rate tara hoye dei je dekha sei” created everlasting impact in the world of romance which listeners cherished for the last 50 years. Chitta Ranjan Chatterji, Ex-Chief Public Prosecutor, Bankshall Court, a great admirer of Manobendra Mukherjee had echoed the emotions Manobendra himself, when he interviewed the legendary singer in a musical function organized in Beerpara (Paikpara) in 1986, where Manobendra admitted that if “nai chondon lekha” created his romantic debut in Bengali musical arena, “emni kore porbe mone” was the most romantic song he had sung in his illustrious career.

While the 60s showed Manobendra’s skillful compositions both in Bengali films and Bengali modern songs, the 70s showed his jugglery in classical creations. His notable creations in the 60s included Uttam Kumar’s Mayamrigo, 1960, Biswajeet’s Godhuli Belai, 1964, Bosonto Choudhury’s Bodhu, 1962, Bosonto Choudhury’s Koshtipathor, etc. His modern songs “Jodi amake dekho tumi udashi” composed by Abhijit Banerjee, “rimjhim baje monjiro kar” composed by himself, “koto je soyechi betha” composed by Chinmoy Lahiri, “bare bare ke jeno dake” composed by Sailen Mukherjee, “mayur kanthi ratero nile” composed by Sudhin Dasgupta, “ami parini bujhite parini” composed by Salil Choudhury, “amar pather panthe” composed by Satinath Mukherjee, to name a few.

The 70s was marked by the decline of Bengali modern songs. When Manobendra saw that composers like Robin Chatterji or Anil Bagchi were no more in the 70s, he composed most of the songs himself. Quality lyricists like Shyamal Gupta, Pulak Banerjee, Pabitra Mitra provided the romantic lyrics for him during that age. His landmark songs during that period included “ei ganga ei padda”, “borosha klanto o duti nayan mele”, mone pore jay koto shriti mayabhora”, “hajar jonom dhore”, “jaak na megher araale chand”, “jolke tora jaabi jare”, “halka megher palki chore chandrakola jay”, “ami je mondo tate”, “phiria dekona mahua bonero pakhi”, to name a few. He was such a dynamic singer that 700 to 800 songs sung by him were composed by himself.

Even in the film arena Manobendra contributed in films like Uttam Kumar’s Joy joyanti (for which he won different awards including Indira Gandhi award for excellence in music composition), Soumitra Chatterji’s Sudur Niharika, Joto Mot Tato Bath, Sadhok Bamakhepa, to name a few.

One of the biggest achievements of Manobendra was bringing junior artists from grass root level and reaching them to limelight with his tunes. His landmark tunes for other singers included “kemone janabo bolo e pranero bedona” sung by Shefali Chakrabarty”, “champakali go koto name dekechi tomay” sung by Tarun Banerjee, “ami sundar bole tai to bondhu besecho bhalo amay” sung by Alpona Banerjee, “gane gane ami je khuji tomay” sung by Supriti Ghosh, “kuasha ghera neel pahare” sung by Bani Ghoshal, to name a few.

Manobendra Mukherjee showed his excellence in so many diverse fields that separate articles can be written on his nazrulgeeti, bagbajarer gaan, puratoni, ragprodhan, kirtan, bhakti geeti, shyama sangeet, etc. His death in early 90s, had brought huge loss to Akashbani Kolkata, Kolkata Doordarshan, all the record companies of Bengal and music journals where he was an indispensable figure. His songs and compositions should be restored, preserved and revisited.