Dr Md Shairul Mashreque :
Hemonto Mukhopadhyay was a versatile singer as well as composer of music in Bengali and Hindi films. He was not only a play back singer. He was above head and shoulder so far as music composition was concerned. He produced thousands of songs ever lived in our memory.
“In the late 1950s, Hemonto ventured into movie production under his own banner: Hemonto-Bela productions. The first movie under this banner was a Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen, titled Neel Akasher Neechey (1959). The story was based on the travails of a Chinese street hawker in Kolkata in the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle. The movie went onto win the President’s Gold Medal – the highest honour for a movie from Government of India. In the next decade, Hemonto’s production company was renamed Geetanjali productions and it produced several Hindi movies such as Bees Saal Baad, Kohraa, Biwi Aur Makaan, Faraar, Rahgir and Khamoshi – all of which had music by Hemonto.
Only Bees Saal Baad and Khamoshi were major commercial successes.Back in Bengal, Hemonto scored music for a movie titled Palatak in 1963 where he experimented with merging Bengal folk music and light music. This proved to be a major success and Hemanta’s composition style changed noticeably for many of his future films in Bengal such as Baghini, and Balika Bodhu. In Bengali films, Manihar and Adwitiya, both of which were major musical as well as commercial successes, his compositions had a light classical tinge. In 1961, for commemorating Rabindranath Tagore’s birth centenary, Gramophone company of India featured Rabindrasangeet by Hemonto in a large portion of its commemorative output. This too proved to be a major commercial success. Hemonto went on several overseas concert tours including his trip to the West Indies. Overall, in the 1960s decade he retained his position as the major male singer in Bengal and as a composer and singer to be reckoned with in Hindi films.”
Total number of films: 138
· 1947: Abhiyatri, Purbaraag
· 1948: Bhuli Naai, Padma Pramatta Nadi, Priyatama
· 1949: Diner Par Din, ’42, Sandipan Pathshala, Swami
· 1951: Jighansa, Paritran
· 1952: Swapno O Samadhi-(Jointly with Khagen Dasgupta)
· 1955: Shapmochan
· 1956: Suryamukhi
· 1957: Shesh Parichay, Taser Ghar, Harano Sur
· 1958: Lukochuri, Shikar, Surjatoran, Joutuk, Neel Akasher Neechey
· 1959: Deep Jwele Jaai, Khelaghar, Marutirtha Hinglaj, Sonar Harin, Kshaniker Atithi
· 1960: Baishey Shravan, Gariber Meye, Kuhak, Khoka Babur Prayabartan, Shesh Paryanta
· 1961: Dui Bhai, Agni Sanskar, Madhya Rater Tara, Punashcha, Saptapadi, Sathi Hara, Swaralipi
· 1962: Atal Jaler Ahwan, Agun, Dada Thakur, Hansuli Banker Upakatha, Nabadiganta
· 1963: Badshah, Barnachora, Ek Tukro Agun, High Heel, Palatak, Saat Pake Bandha, Shesh Prahar, Tridhara
· 1964: Arohi, Bibhas, Natun Tirtha, Pratinidhi, Prabhater Rang, Swarga Hotey Biday, Sindure Megh
· 1965: Alor Pipasa, Ek Tuku Basa, Ek Tuku Chhonya Lage, Suryatapa
· 1966: Kanch Kata Hirey, Manihar
· 1967: Balika Badhu, Dushtu Prajapati, Nayika Sangbad, Ajana Shapath
· 1968: Adwitya, Baghini, Hansamithun, Jiban Sangeet, Panchasar, Parisodh
· 1969: Chena Achena, Man Niye, Parineeta, Shuk Sari
· 1970: Deshbandhu Chittaranjan, Duti Mon
· 1971: Kuheli, Malayadan, Nabarag, Nimantran, Sansar, Mahabiplabi Arabindo
· 1972: Anindita, Shriman Prithviraj
· 1974: Bikele Bhorer Phool, Thagini, Phuleshwari
· 1975: Agniswar, Mohan Baganer Meye, Nishi Mrigaya, Raag Anuraag, Sansar Simantey
· 1976: Banhi Sikha, Datta, Sankhabish, Pratisruti
· 1977: Din Amader, Hatey Roilo Tin, Mantramugdha, Pratima, Proxy, Rajani, Sanai, Shesh Raksha, Swati
· 1978: Ganadevata, Nadi Theke Sagare, Pranay Pasha
· 1979: Shahar Theke Dooray, Nauka Dubi
· 1980: Bandhan, Dadar Kirti, Paka Dekha, Pankhiraj, Shesh Bichar
· 1981: Kapal Kundala, Khelar Putul, Meghmukti, Subarna Golak
· 1982: Chhoto Maa, Chhut, Uttar Meleni, Pratiksha
· 1983: Amar Geeti, Rajeshwari
· 1984: Agni Shuddhi, Ajantay, Bishabriksha, Didi, Madhuban, Suryatrishna
· 1985: Bhalobasa Bhalobasa, Tagari
· 1986: Pathbhola, Ashirwad
· 1987: Pratibha, Tunibou, Agaman, Boba sanai, Parasmani, Surer Sathi
Hindi filmography as a composer (edit)
· 1952: Anand Math
Hemonto Mukhopadhyay was a versatile singer as well as composer of music in Bengali and Hindi films. He was not only a play back singer. He was above head and shoulder so far as music composition was concerned. He produced thousands of songs ever lived in our memory.
“In the late 1950s, Hemonto ventured into movie production under his own banner: Hemonto-Bela productions. The first movie under this banner was a Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen, titled Neel Akasher Neechey (1959). The story was based on the travails of a Chinese street hawker in Kolkata in the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle. The movie went onto win the President’s Gold Medal – the highest honour for a movie from Government of India. In the next decade, Hemonto’s production company was renamed Geetanjali productions and it produced several Hindi movies such as Bees Saal Baad, Kohraa, Biwi Aur Makaan, Faraar, Rahgir and Khamoshi – all of which had music by Hemonto.
Only Bees Saal Baad and Khamoshi were major commercial successes.Back in Bengal, Hemonto scored music for a movie titled Palatak in 1963 where he experimented with merging Bengal folk music and light music. This proved to be a major success and Hemanta’s composition style changed noticeably for many of his future films in Bengal such as Baghini, and Balika Bodhu. In Bengali films, Manihar and Adwitiya, both of which were major musical as well as commercial successes, his compositions had a light classical tinge. In 1961, for commemorating Rabindranath Tagore’s birth centenary, Gramophone company of India featured Rabindrasangeet by Hemonto in a large portion of its commemorative output. This too proved to be a major commercial success. Hemonto went on several overseas concert tours including his trip to the West Indies. Overall, in the 1960s decade he retained his position as the major male singer in Bengal and as a composer and singer to be reckoned with in Hindi films.”
Total number of films: 138
· 1947: Abhiyatri, Purbaraag
· 1948: Bhuli Naai, Padma Pramatta Nadi, Priyatama
· 1949: Diner Par Din, ’42, Sandipan Pathshala, Swami
· 1951: Jighansa, Paritran
· 1952: Swapno O Samadhi-(Jointly with Khagen Dasgupta)
· 1955: Shapmochan
· 1956: Suryamukhi
· 1957: Shesh Parichay, Taser Ghar, Harano Sur
· 1958: Lukochuri, Shikar, Surjatoran, Joutuk, Neel Akasher Neechey
· 1959: Deep Jwele Jaai, Khelaghar, Marutirtha Hinglaj, Sonar Harin, Kshaniker Atithi
· 1960: Baishey Shravan, Gariber Meye, Kuhak, Khoka Babur Prayabartan, Shesh Paryanta
· 1961: Dui Bhai, Agni Sanskar, Madhya Rater Tara, Punashcha, Saptapadi, Sathi Hara, Swaralipi
· 1962: Atal Jaler Ahwan, Agun, Dada Thakur, Hansuli Banker Upakatha, Nabadiganta
· 1963: Badshah, Barnachora, Ek Tukro Agun, High Heel, Palatak, Saat Pake Bandha, Shesh Prahar, Tridhara
· 1964: Arohi, Bibhas, Natun Tirtha, Pratinidhi, Prabhater Rang, Swarga Hotey Biday, Sindure Megh
· 1965: Alor Pipasa, Ek Tuku Basa, Ek Tuku Chhonya Lage, Suryatapa
· 1966: Kanch Kata Hirey, Manihar
· 1967: Balika Badhu, Dushtu Prajapati, Nayika Sangbad, Ajana Shapath
· 1968: Adwitya, Baghini, Hansamithun, Jiban Sangeet, Panchasar, Parisodh
· 1969: Chena Achena, Man Niye, Parineeta, Shuk Sari
· 1970: Deshbandhu Chittaranjan, Duti Mon
· 1971: Kuheli, Malayadan, Nabarag, Nimantran, Sansar, Mahabiplabi Arabindo
· 1972: Anindita, Shriman Prithviraj
· 1974: Bikele Bhorer Phool, Thagini, Phuleshwari
· 1975: Agniswar, Mohan Baganer Meye, Nishi Mrigaya, Raag Anuraag, Sansar Simantey
· 1976: Banhi Sikha, Datta, Sankhabish, Pratisruti
· 1977: Din Amader, Hatey Roilo Tin, Mantramugdha, Pratima, Proxy, Rajani, Sanai, Shesh Raksha, Swati
· 1978: Ganadevata, Nadi Theke Sagare, Pranay Pasha
· 1979: Shahar Theke Dooray, Nauka Dubi
· 1980: Bandhan, Dadar Kirti, Paka Dekha, Pankhiraj, Shesh Bichar
· 1981: Kapal Kundala, Khelar Putul, Meghmukti, Subarna Golak
· 1982: Chhoto Maa, Chhut, Uttar Meleni, Pratiksha
· 1983: Amar Geeti, Rajeshwari
· 1984: Agni Shuddhi, Ajantay, Bishabriksha, Didi, Madhuban, Suryatrishna
· 1985: Bhalobasa Bhalobasa, Tagari
· 1986: Pathbhola, Ashirwad
· 1987: Pratibha, Tunibou, Agaman, Boba sanai, Parasmani, Surer Sathi
Hindi filmography as a composer (edit)
· 1952: Anand Math
(Dr Md Shairul Mashreque is Professor of Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University, Bangladesh)
