8 months ago
Salil Chowdhury's Musical Legacy and Anecdotes
Salil Chowdhury was a famous music composer who created many beloved songs for Indian movies.
He was known for his incredible talent and ability to find inspiration in unusual places, like writing a song during a turbulent flight.
He worked with many important filmmakers and won awards for his music.
His family and colleagues shared stories about his life, including his marriage, his artistic wife Jyoti, and his collaborations with Bimal Roy and others.
Even though he passed away in 1995, his music and stories continue to be remembered and cherished.
Salil Chowdhury composed iconic songs for films like Do Bigha Zamin, Devdas, and Madhumati.
He was known for his ability to find inspiration in unusual situations, such as writing a song during a turbulent flight.
Chowdhury married Jyoti, a talented artist, and they had three daughters together.
He collaborated with renowned filmmakers like Bimal Roy and S D Burman, contributing to some of Indian cinema's classic films.
Chowdhury's background scores and songs, such as Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha, remain unforgettable and continue to be celebrated.
- Who
- Salil Chowdhury, a renowned music composer, and his family and colleagues.
- What
- A reflection on Salil Chowdhury's life, career, and memorable anecdotes.
- Where
- Primarily in Mumbai, with references to Kolkata and other locations.
- When
- Various timelines from 1952 to 1995, with specific mentions of events and collaborations.
- Why
- To celebrate Salil Chowdhury's contributions to Indian cinema and his unique personality.
Key facts
- Full Name
- Salil Chowdhury
- Occupation
- Music Composer
- Notable Works
- Do Bigha Zamin, Devdas, Madhumati, Trishagni
- Spouse
- Jyoti Chowdhury
- Children
- Three daughters: Aloka, Tulika, and Lipika
- Awards
- Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Madhumati)
- Collaborators
- Bimal Roy, S D Burman, Hrishikesh Mukherjee
- Notable Song
- Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha
Quotes
Ratnottama Sengupta
Daughter of screenwriter Nabendu Ghosh
“It may have had only one song, but it had an evocative background score which would have been difficult to compose. The film is set around 2000 BC, in a Buddhist town near a Central Asian desert, so there were no references for Salil kaku to build on. The music literally grew out of him and remains unforgettable.”
rediff.com
“Growing up, I would wonder what Salil kaku's contributions were to a songless film like Kanoon or Ittefaq. It was much later that I understood how much the background score contributes to heightening the emotions of the characters and scenes.”
rediff.com
Rinki Roy Bhattacharya
Daughter of filmmaker Bimal Roy
“He was a simple, middle-class boy, born in a small village in Bengal, who learnt to play the piano from his elder brother at the age of six. Years later, I would see him sit down at the grand piano at his place and play Mozart from memory.”
rediff.com
“Madhumati had 11 songs, Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Haseen, which remains one of Mukesh's most popular tracks, opens with the chirping of birds.”
rediff.com
Joy Bimal Roy
Son of filmmaker Bimal Roy
“Even maa (Manobina Roy) and her twin sister (Debalina Mazumder), probably India's first women photographers, never exhibited during their lifetime. It was only a few years ago that we started exhibiting their brilliant pictures, taken without any training, and the response has been overwhelming.”
rediff.com
“Salilkaku had just got married to Jyoti kakima and it was their honeymoon period.”
rediff.com
Aparajita Sinha
Daughter of filmmaker Bimal Roy
“I believe the photographs themselves are their own ambassadors -- they have a life of their own. They are considered invaluable today, a portrait of the time and a look at the inner world of sheltered women.”
rediff.com
