Nochiketa Ghosh and music in Uttam Kumar’s films and other Bengali films.

Nochiketa Ghosh Nochiketa Ghosh had contributed widely both in Bengali film music and Bengali modern songs in the 50s, 60s and 70s. In the 50s he showed his metal in Uttam Kumar’s film Nabajanma. Manobendra Mukherjee’s song “ore mon majhi” and Dhananjoy Bhattacharya’s “kalama katiya” gave expression to Nochiketa Ghosh’s folk tunes. Nochiketa Ghosh’s music in Uttam Kumar’s film Trijama was equally sublime. Sandhya Mukherjee’s song “banmoyurir naach dekhte jabo” and “matite chandramallika” were equally brilliant. In the 50s, the other notable films where Nochiketa Ghosh’s music was impressive include Uttam Kumar’s film Indrani and Prithibi Amare Chaye. Geeta Dutt’s song “nishiraat bankha chand”, “ogo shundoro”, “kanak kanak madhur badhon” were some of the greatest hits of Geeta Dutt in her entire career. The lips of Mala Sinha and Suchitra Sen were impressive in these films. Hemanta Mukherjee’s song “surjo dobar pala” became super hit in the late 50s. In the 60s, Nochiketa Ghosh composed music in average films. Prominent among them included Bhanu Pelo Lottery where Shyamal Mitra’s song “putul nebe go” became very popular. For 4 to 5 years, Nochiketa Ghosh went to Mumbai, so he did not contribute in Bengali films for those few years. He again made a huge comeback in Uttam Kumar’s film Nishi Padda in the early 70s. Manna Dey’s songs “ja khushi ora bole boluk”, “na na na aaj rate aar” became super hit in the 70s. Manna Dey’s songs in Uttam Kumar’s film Chiradiner, like “phool pakhi bondhu amar chilo”, “manush khun hole pore”, “lal nil sabujeri mela boseche”, “tumi amar chirodiner” became super hit. In Uttam Kumar’s film Stree, Manna Dey’s songs “hajar takar jhar batita”, “o se jotoi kalo hok”, “jemon shapinike posh manay ojha” became smash hit. Nochiketa Ghosh’s music in the film Sanyasi Raja was considered to be his best creation by critics. Manna Dey’s songs “shashikanto tumi dekchi”, “bhalobashar agun jalao”, were probably the best songs sung for Uttam Kumar in royal andaz. His composition in Uttam Kumar’s films Dhanni Meye and Mouchak require special mention. Manna Dey’s songs in these films like “sab khela sera bangalir tumi football”, “tabole to prem debena”, “paglagarod”, etc., flabbergasted the Bengali audience in the mid-70s. Nochiketa Ghosh made many landmark tunes in Bengali modern songs. Some of them included Manobendra Mukherjee’s romantic songs “seto naam dhore kono din dakeni amay”, “bone noy mone mor”, “o amar chandramallika”, “aha na roy na”, etc. His composition “amar ganer sworolipi lekha robe” for Hemanta Mukherjee stormed Bengal in the early 50s. He died in the late 70s, otherwise he would have given many more notable tunes. His songs and films should be preserved.