RLB-Tube

72,232 pages read across the site in the last 24 hours · 51 pages a minute on average · 36 countries in the last 30 days

Salil Chowdhury

Composer, poet and writer who blended Bengali folk and Western harmony

Salil Chowdhury came to music through the left-wing Indian People's Theatre Association, where he wrote songs of protest, and became one of India's most inventive film composers, blending Bengali folk, Western classical harmony and choral writing across Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam and other languages. Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Madhumati (1958) and Anand (1971) are among his Hindi landmarks.

The one thing nobody can settle is the year he was born. He was born on 19 November, in West Bengal, but Cinemaazi, The Daily Star and an India Post cover say 1922, The Statesman's centenary piece and Wikipedia say 1925, and The Quint reports that those who knew him gave 1923 or 1925. His centenary was celebrated over three years.

In Parakh (1960) the music department wrote the film. Bimal Roy had planned a songless film, but Salil Chowdhury, who wrote the story as well as the music, and Shailendra, who wrote its dialogue, talked him into adding songs. 'O Sajna Barkha Bahaar Aayi' came, reportedly, from a drive in the rain, with the windscreen wipers and the raindrops giving him the rhythm; the tune had first been recorded as a Bengali non-film song, which Lata Mangeshkar recorded while unwell, and Bimal Roy chose it for Parakh. Lata herself counts it among her best songs.

His wife Sabita Chowdhury and his daughter Antara Chowdhury are both singers. He died in Calcutta on 5 September 1995.

What we found here Sources disagree on the year Salil Chowdhury was born. The day, 19 November, is the same in all of them.
How we knowCinemaazi, The Daily Star and an India Post commemorative cover give 1922. Wikipedia, Wikidata, The Statesman's centenary article and American Kahani give 1925. The Quint's centenary tribute says that even those who knew him gave 1923 or 1925, and calls it an eternal question. His centenary was celebrated over three years, 2023 to 2025. Nothing consulted is better founded than the rest, so this record claims no year. His death on 5 September 1995 is not in dispute.

Films

2:28:34

Musafir (1957)

composer · 1957

2:03:50

Chhoti Si Baat (1975)

composer · 1975

2:20:24

Kabuliwala (1961)

composer · 1961

2:16:38

Poonam Ki Raat (1965)

composer · 1965

2:09:35

Amanat (1955)

composer · 1955

2:02:10

Anand (1971)

composer · 1971

2:14:48

Biraj Bahu (1954)

composer · 1954

2:34:35

Chhaya (1961)

composer · 1961

4:00:10

Do Bigha Zamin (1953)

composer, writer · 1953 · 2 parts

2:27:18

Jhoola (1962)

composer · 1962

2:19:11

Kanoon (1960)

composer · 1960

9:15:12

Parakh

Author, composer, story, writer · 1960 · 4 parts

1:43:27

Rajnigandha (1974)

composer · 1974

Songs

5 recordings in this catalogue.

Parakh (1960)

Other known for

  • Jagte Raho (1956) on RLB-Tube
  • Akaler Shandhaney (1981)
  • Anokhi Raat (1968)
  • Chemmeen (1965)
  • Chhoti Si Baat (1975)
  • Half Ticket (1962)
  • Ittefaq (1969)
  • Jeena Yahan (1979)
  • Kabita (1977)
  • Kamla Ki Maut (1989)
  • Madanolsavam (1978)
  • Madhumati (1958)
  • Mausam (1975)
  • Mrigayaa (1976)
  • Naukari (1954)
  • Sabse Bada Sukh (1972)
  • Swami Vivekananda (1994)
  • Usne Kaha Tha (1915)
  • Vasthuhara (1991)