KAMAL
DASGUPTA
28/07/1912 to
20/07/1974
BENGALI
LYRICIST, AND COMPOSER
UNFORGETTABLE
CREATIONS
SARASIJ
MAJUMDER
An average of 45 songs composed, and recorded
per month, in 1946 income tax of 37 thousand taka(Rs.37,000/-) paid by him.
He never
set foot without a car on the streets of Calcutta.
THE GOLDEN ERA OF BENGALI MOERN SONG( LIGHT) , MILDLY CLASSICAL, AND MELODIOUS, STARTED WITH HIS COMPOSITIONS.
The
composer was a man of taste. He owned a Buick, a rare thing in Calcutta in the
1950s. He was a great human being. He fed hundreds of people during the Bengal
famine. He was also extremely fond of cricket.
In the
last life, he had to open a grocery store in Dhaka, for survival. Love had made him a BEGGER. And he died a
PAUFFER.
EARLY LIFE AND
CALCUTTA :
Kamal Dasgupta was born on July 28,
1912 in Benda village of Kalia police station, Jessore, in EAST BENGAL (Now Bangladesh). He has never faced
financial hardship since childhood. Everyone in the family was involved in
music. He was groomed by his Father. Later he met Nazrul Islam. Apart from the
poet himself, Kamal Dasgupta probably composed most of his songs. He composed
at least 400 songs of NAZRUL, and many
modern and movie songs in his early life. He owns the record of composing 45
songs per month on an average. He composed more than 7000 songs for HMV alone. The lotus floating
in the lake of songs sunk in the cesspool of Love. But the song composed by him
remains forever. And also remains the immortal sacrificial story of a strange love.
He became a disciple of the legendary Dilip Kumar Roy and
Ustad Zamiruddin Khan. He did his matriculation from Calcutta Academy. Later,
he completed his B Com from Komilla Victoria Collage. He joined Banaras Hindu
University (BHU) for his masters.
Kamal Dasgupta had incredible talent. In 1930 the first
record of his COMPOSITION came out. At the age of 23, he was commissioned to
conduct and compose music at the HMV –the Gramophone Company. He composed a
total of 8500 songs. These include- Khayal, Raga- Pradhan songs, Bhajans,
Kirtans, Qawwalis, Islamic Music, Nazrul Geeti, Modern Bengali Songs, Urdu And
Hindi Songs, Ghazals, Folk Songs, March Music And Movie Songs. Kamal Dasgupta was a versatile musical genius.
He used to COMPOSE AND SING modern songs
in Bangla, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil Language. He was an outstanding Lyricist in
Bengali Language. Most of them are immortal.
Those are his unforgettable contributions in the world of
Music. In 1943, he received his doctorate degree in music from the Banaras
Hindu University on a thesis submitted on
Bhajans of MEERA.
His first composition was recorded in 1932 in the voice of
Satyaboti. His composition was classical based, but a Folk music. Later he tended to lean
towards Thumri style and also Na’ats.
In 1935, Kamal Dasgupta joined the Gramophone Company of
India in Calcutta as a Music
Director. During this stint, he developed a close and lasting
association with the poet Nazrul Islam. They became fond of each other and the
relationship lasted for eleven years (1934-45). The culmination of their
friendship produced 400 songs – inspired by the works of the poet. Music of all
composed by him.
Calcutta was the major hub of Indian films produced in the
1930s. New Theatres and Madan Pictures were the main studios along with the
other companies. After earning a name with his compositions, Kamal tried his
luck in films. His first picture was Pandit Moshai (1936) in Bangla which was
followed by Sarbjanin, Vivahotsab and Devyani between 1936-1942.
The legendary actor, director Prathmesh Chandra Barua was
impressed by his music and gave him a break in Jawaab in 1942. PC Barua
directed both the version in Hindi and Bangla. The film was an instant hit. It
had cult numbers like Toofan mail ye duniya toofan mail, Ae chand chhup na
jana and Kuchh yaad na rahe.
Kamal Dasgupta’s next film was MP productions Hospital-It’s hit number was, Ghata Chhaya
ghanghor. The very same year he did another Barua Production, Ranee. Like
his earlier films, his music became popular.
Kamal Dasgupta was as successful in films as he was in his
private recording career. In 1944, he moved to Bombay and did the film Meghdoot
(1945), script written on the Sanskrit
poet Kalidas. Leela Desai and Sahu Modak were in the lead. The film was
directed by the legendary Debki Kumar Bose.
With a career of about fourteen years, Dasgupta have
approximately 8500 songs under his belt including 80 Bengali movies – his
unique contribution was the invention of a shorthand method for swaralipi.
LOVE, AND MIGRATION
Lyricist
Mohini Chowdhury wrote a Lyric: 'Love
has made me a beggar'... Jaganmoy Mitra rendered the song, and it’s music was composed by no other than Kamal Dasgupta. But that one line that would
become the last chapter of the composer's life could not have been predicted
then. I furnished the URL of the song below ( YOU TUBE 2). At that time Kamal Dasgupta was shaking Calcutta.
Not only in Calcutta,
there were only one or two more composers like him in the whole of undivided India. In
Bengal, he ranked after Tagore, and
Najrul. But a lonely Kamal Dasgupta was
getting lost somewhere in all this. The burden of the FAMILY was on him. Having
lost his father and grandfather, he had the responsibility of his mother,
brother and three sisters. However, mother and brother also did not live long.
These consecutive deaths upset Kamal. And just then that love came and held
hands. And ultimately the king of music
Kamal Dasgupta became a beggar down the way.
“”Music played on the home
record player. The whole neighbourhoods listened. Dada used to say that the
composer of the songs was Kamal Dasgupta. That's when I first heard Kamal
Dasgupta's name. When Feroza Begum sang Nazrul Geeti, everyone thought that the
tune was by Kazi Nazrul Islam. Kamal Dasgupta composed 400 songs of Nazrul.””—Laments TASLEEMA in her FB POST..
The year is
1955. The two met after many years. Kamal Dasgupta and Feroza Begum. Feroza
then was spending her days under extremely uncomfortable condition at her aunt's house in Calcutta. On the other hand,
Kamal Dasgupta also needed a sure anchor in his life. And this is how love blossomed. They were from different religions, though. Moreover, Kamal was
exactly 18 years older than Firoza. But none of these could stand on their way. The two got married. Kamal
was 43 at that time-- Firoza 25 years.
After
marriage, the two settled in Muslim
majority area of Park Circus, Calcutta .
Kamal changed his religion exactly after 4 years of marriage. Then his identity
became Kamaluddin Ahmed. And by that
time the upward graph of the career was coming down towards the bottom. Calcutta didn't want him anymore.
Many new faces have entered in the world of music. However, most of the SONGS were still composed by Kamal Dasgupta himself.
But gratitude was mingled with a little
forgiveness, which he cannot bear. And bad time don’t come alone. He has lost
all his savings as the bank, where he put MONEY has collapsed. On the other
hand, Feroza's fame was skyrocketing. Kamal is slowly disappearing behind the
fame, and name of Firoza.
KAMALUDDIN AHMED alias Kamal Dasgupta crossed the border with
his family in 1967, to East Pakistan.
But he did not get any welcome in Dhaka city. The living legend of Calcutta
settled in Dhaka in 1967 with his wife and son. Why did he had to migrate to Dhaka in an uncertain life? He was well
established in Calcutta! Wealth, fame, reputation, popularity all he left behind. But Dhaka did neither welcome, nor respected this amazing talent. Dhaka ignored
a free-thinking Lyricist, Composer, and Musician who was indifferent about his
religion and embraced Islam. Long back, he was forced to give up his name Kamal Dasgupta and
accepted the name Kamaluddin.
Later life was spent struggling with scarcity and poverty. UTRA RICH KAMAL OF CALCUTTA FINALLY OPENED A GROCERY STORE IN DHAKA. OF
COURSE, HE WAS RUNNING THE SHOP AS KAMALUDDIN.
And in Dhaka he lived in extreme poverty. Forced him to sale
Lodz Biscuits at Hatir Pool Grocery store. Dhaka ignore this outstanding artist
and genius, and as a result, he spent
his life in neglect and despair.
Bangladesh was
in the midst of another freedom struggle. Kamal Dasgupta once composed the song
'Kadam Kadam Barae Ja' during one such independence war. The song gradually
spread among the members of AZAD HIND FOUZ led by Netaji. However, this time, an extreme indifference about the independence
war of Bangladesh has engulfed Kamal. And its reflection is found in a report
published in weekly ‘Bichitra’ newspaper
in 1972. The report was titled, 'He did not want to be interviewed'.
The writer
of the report was surprised to come across a grocery store when he came to look for the composer Kamal
Dasgupta. The composer's voice became emotional when he questioned on this
state . Kamal replied 'I have to run the
family. I have to eat and live.'
An
expression of deep contempt came out of the words. He said clearly, 'I have been
in this country for five years, but no one has ever come for an interview.
Never wanted to know , never asked-- how are you? What does I need after so
long?' But in the end, Kamal Dasgupta
returned to work. Then lyricist and radio artist Shahidul Islam persuaded
Sheikh Mujib to build his own studio and special musical group. Kamal Dasgupta
himself took responsibility for all this. The Transcription Service was born.
He recorded various Qawwali songs there. And he also directed the music in the
movie 'Keno Eman Hai'. Besides, he published 'Nazrul Geeti Mala' from Bangla
Academy in the name of his wife Feroza. Each notational sign and technique were
his own invention.
But in the
end, he could not return to the stream. The health has broken down due to
long-term irregularities. He fell ill within a few days. Then he did not get
up.
THE END:
End came in July 20, 1974. After being taken to the PG
Hospital of Dhaka, the doctors REFUSED to admit the great artist of Bengal to
special care ward, because he was not a "first class gazetted
officer" of Bangladesh! He died almost without any treatment. Did Kamal Dasgupta say in his last days, 'The world does not want me'?
CALCUTTA,
ALIAS KOLKATA HAS FORGOTTEN HIM LONG
BACK. EAST PAKISTAN ALIAS BANGLADESH NEVER
OWNED HIM!
Have people in the music world of Bangladesh ever apologized
to Kamal Dasgupta? KAMAL--- who has composed music of 400 lyrics of their
NATIONAL POET—NAJRUL ISLAM?? Anybody go to Banani Cemetery, where he is buried, to put CHIRAG on his grave and offer flowers?
Do Bengalees regret? Feel ashamed? Ever remember,
and play his music? Respect him? Will somebody answer me from Kolkata, or Bangladesh?
The man was
born in EAST BENGAL, as KAMAL DASGUPTA, Calcutta
made him famous, and he spent his glorious days here, but went to Dhaka , East
Pakistan to accompany his love, and died in Bangladesh in utter negligence as KAMALUDDIN AHMED.
All the
houses where he lived at various stages of his life in Calcutta, still exist. I request Government of West
Bengal, at least to acquire one of them—and convert the building into a MUSEUM CUM MEMORIAL in name of the
MUSIC LEGEND KAMAL DASGUPTA.
And, if
possible, get his remains back, from
Bangladesh, and re-bury in that museum.
WITH THIS,
I PAY MY HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THE BENGALI LYRICIST, AND COMPOSER IMMORTAL—KAMAL
DASGUPTA.! WE FAILED YOU, KAMAL BABU!
NOTE:-- Please
listen Ref. 4 & 5—YOU TUBE. Also, read the BLOG. I scrambled the digital world,
and old newspapers for information, and
compiled this BLOG for posterity.
2.0 https://wiki.indiancine.ma/wiki/Kamal%20Dasgupta
3.0 https://dailyasianage.com/news/188578/kamal-dasgupta
4.0 https://members.tripod.com/oldies_club/kamaldas.htm
5.0 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201952/bio/
YOU TUBE:_
1.0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyGamfQgwDY
2.0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa8b83FTgsk
BLOG:
1.0 https://cinemacorridor.blogspot.com/2009/10/music-of-kamal-dasgupta.html
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