Salil Chowdhury's Centenary: A Musical Legacy

“The choir had its practice sessions in our home since we lived in a sprawling bungalow, with a huge lawn in front, and my mother (Manobina Roy) was a hospitable hostess, providing endless cups of tea and Samosas. We would sit on the steps, listening to them singing. Salilkaku taught us some of the songs, many of which, like Tu Zinda Hai, had a nationalistic ring. I still remember the song. (Humming) Tu Zinda Hai Toh Zindagi Ki Jeet Mein Yakeen Kar, Agar Kahin Hai Swarg Toh Utaar La Zameen Par...”

“Salilkaku was a wonderful raconteur and one afternoon, he sat on our sunny portico, with us perched on the stairs, and narrated Tiger by the Tale without a single pause. For an hour-and-a-half, he had us entranced, his narration so vivid that it was like watching a film play out.”

“Gana sangeet evolved into jibon mukhi gaan with songs like Palki Chole and Runner eulogising the common man who tirelessly toils for a living. Even Do Bigha Zamin's Ajab Tori Duniya underlines the woes of the migrant worker, who leaves behind his home in the village to build mansions for the rich in beautiful cities, but never gets to embrace this world. You see the impact of these songs which had a social conscience on the music of Anjan Dutta, Nachiketa, Kabir Suman and Bhupen Hazarika. Even the recent Benche Thakar Gaan can be traced back to Salilkaku.”

“At a time when there was little awareness of world music, playing western tunes on eastern instruments like the flute and the dholak, blending vocal polyphony with Indian folk and contemporary styles, Salilkaku created a new musical genre in Bengal called Gana Sangeet.”

“One of my favourite songs from Parakh, composed by Salilkaku, who also wrote the story and screenplay, also didn't make it to the album because the record label HMV was shut at the time. But it's there in the 1960 film, beautifully sung by Lataji, and filmed on Sadhana. Her character, Seema, is upset because her parents are fixing her match with another man when she is secretly in love with the village schoolmaster and opens her heart, crooning, Mere Man Ke Diye, Yuhi Ghut Ghut Ke Jal Tu Mere Ladle.”

“Yes, I remember the delicate lori Aaja Ri Aa Nindiya Tu Aa sung by Lataji (Lata Mangeshkar). It was filmed on Meena Kumari, the thakurain, who helps Nirupa Roy's Parvati write letters to her husband when he moves to the city, in what was perhaps her only special appearance. She did not charge even a rupee.”

“Unfortunately, for some reason, it never took off. Salilkaku, who was the music director too, had even recorded a song which never released.”