Influence of Bengali Music in Hindi Film Songs

The music of India includes multiple varieties of Indian classical music, folk music, filmi and Indian pop. India's classical music tradition, including Hindustani music and Carnatic,The biggest form of Indian popular music is filmi, or songs from Indian films.
In the early years of Indian cinema, the music was mainly classical and folk in inspiration, with some Western elements. The most fascinating part of Indian film music is its evolution with time. In the mid 30s the influence of Bengali music was started with the film  Dhoop Chhaon. Nitin Bose along with his brother Mukul Bose and music directors RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick introduced play back singing with the song  Man ki aankhein khol  sung by K C Dey, Parul Ghosh and Suprabha Sarkar.

Song from Dhoop Chhaon 1935

R C Boral and Pankaj Mallick not only introduced Bengali Bhakti Sangeet but also introduced Western orchestration in the interlude music. Another remarkable innovation of RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick was very long instrumental prelude to the main song, for example Ek bangla bane nyara. Its long instrumental prelude is as charming as the song.”
The music of Vidyapati, 1937. was a great hit,Kanan Devi with her typical Bengali lilt became the number one singer-star of New Theatres on par with K L Saigal with the popularity of Vidyapati’s songs. In Dhartimata (1939), Pankaj Mullick composed Duniya rang rangeeli baba, sung by KC Dey, Uma Shashi and K L Saigal. Another remarkable thing about ‘Duniya rang rangili baba’, which you can’t miss is that each antara is in a different tune – might be again the first of its kind. 

Song from Vidyapati, 1937

In Bengali Music the  Rabindra Sangeet is the main along with folk and bhakti.Tagore’s composition was first introduced to Hindi cinema in 1941 by Pankaj Kumar Mullick for the film titled Doctor.K L Saigal was the first non-Bengali singer to sing Rabindra Sangeet. Mullick later used the tune of Kharo vayu vayu meghe in the film Zalzala popular song Pawan Chale Zor.The far reaching influences of the Rabindra Sangeet is apparent on several music directors and not all of them were Bengali.

Song from Doctor 1941

In the 30s Anil Biswas came to Bombay established himself as a musical force in the film industry.with the success of Jagirdar (1937).He introduced Folk from North East, Boatman’s songs, farmers’ songs, palli geeti, Kirtan, Raag Pradhan compositions to Hindi films.
After Anil Biswas it was S D Burman who used Bengali sangeet in Hindi films. 

Song from Do Bhai, 1947

Inspired by this song of Rabindra Sangeet

Sachin Dev Burman, whose compositions tend to draw upon inspiration from Bengali folk traditions (e.g. bhatiaalii, saari, etc.), have composed several tunes derived from Rabindra Sangeet. Mera sundar sapna beet gaya (Do Bhai, 1947) draws a faint inspiration from O je maane na maana. In fact S D Burman gave us many hit songs from his Bengali Tunes such as Ghum bhulechhi made way for the leisurely Hum bekhdudi mein tumko; Mono dilo na bondhu was turned into Jaane kya tuney kahi(Pyaasa);  Dur Kon Parabase became Wahan kaun hai tera musafir jayega kahan (Guide) to name a few.

Mono dilo na bondhu 

inspired version in Hindi

Song from Pyaasa 1957

Hemant Kumar who was the greatest artist of Rabindra Sangeet.gained popularity in Mumbai as a playback singer.By the mid-1950s, Hemanta had consolidated his position as a prominent singer and composer.The poignant and heart rending Na jaao sainyya chhudake bainyya by Geeta Dutt is inspired from his own Bengali hit Oliro kotha shune bokul haashe although the two songs sound very different in mood.

Oliro kotha shune bokul haashe by Hemant Kumar

Inspired song in Hindi

Song from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam 1962

Salil Chowdhury  who  is known for his eclectic combination of Bengal folk with Western classical and banked on creating honey sweet melodies.Salil Chowdhury’s Tasveer tere dil mein (Maya by Lata and Rafi) was first recorded in Bengali as a Lata solo Ogo aar kichhu to noy, O Sajana (Parakh) was inspired from Na jeyo na (both Lata) and Mukesh’s Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye (Anand) was taken from the Hemant Kumar hit Amai proshno kore neel dhroobotara to name just a few. 

Ogo Ar Kichu To Nai by Lata Mangeshkar

Inspired version in hindi

Song from Maya 1961

 RD Burman – recreated his creations, often his own records – the best example perhaps is Jete jete pathe holo deri, which Gulzar Saab had booked for himself the moment he heard it first. It turned into Tere bina zindagi se koi (Aandhi, 1975)– both songs are peerless.RD Burman camouflaged his Bengali tunes with such varied orchestration to make it sound different .For instance, notice the use of the typically Bengali instrument the maadol in Tere bina jiya jaaye na(Ghar, 1978), or the distinctly Bhakti sangeet beginning to a rocking fun song Kal kya hoga kisko pata (Kasme Vaade, 1978), in which Bhagwan Dada made a guest appearance complete with an ektara!
Jete jete pathe holo deri, by R D Burman

Inspired version in Hindi

Song from Aandhi 1975

The influences of the Rabindra Sangeet too ran deep in RD Burman. Sample just one of those influences – the proverbial Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain jo makaam, woh phir nahin aate (Aap Ki Kasam, 1974) that draws an inspiration from Tagore’s Jaagorone jai bibhaabori. 
 1942 A Love Story (1994)  song "Kuchh Na Kaho"had heavy Bengali influence.

Bappi Lahiri – the softer compositions of Zakhmee (1975), Toote Khilone (1978) or Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979) are more in line with the Bengal genre of music.

The music of the Basu Chatterji film Apne Paraye (1980), based on a story by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee gave Bappi Lahiri an ideal opportunity to experiment with Bengal’s Bhaktigeeti and kirtan once more.
Rajesh Roshan was very much influenced by Rabindra Sangeet many of his songs were inspired by Bengali Music.One of his great songs Chhokar Mere Mann Ko from Yaarana was inspired by this song Tomar holo shuru, amar holo shara.

In the present Century of Indi Pop or Bhangra Music we can sometime hear  beautiful melody from Bengal."Piyu bole" from Pareenita 2005 is one such composition from Shantanu Moitra.And thus Bengal’s music continues to leave its lyrical and melodious stamp in Hindi film music…