Dutta Naik (12 December 1927 – 30 December 1987), popularly known as N Dutta is a forgotten composer. It's true that he worked in less no of films but he gave quality music. Starting his career as devotional songs singer in Goa. later moved to Mumbai and assisted a Marathi Singer and composer. Later also joined Bollywood composer Ghulam Haider for some time.
He actively participated in Prabhat Pheris and other local festivals and it was during one of these festivals Bollywood composer SD Burman happened to hear Naik sing. When it turned out that the young man had also composed the tune, S D Burman asked Naik to come and meet him. He was one of the music assistants in Bahar(1951), Sazaa(1951), Bazi(1951) and Ek Nazar (1951), Jaal (1952), Jeevan Jyoti (1953) and Angarey (1954).
It was during the making of Guru Dutt’s Baazi (1951), Naik met Raj Khosla who was then assisting Dutt. When Khosla made his debut as a director, N Dutta was taken as an independent composer for Milaap brought on board as the music director. Naik’s break had actually come in 1951 with the Punjabi film Baalo (1951) but it was only with the release of Raj Khosla’s Milap (1955) starring Dev Anand.
The same year his other film Marine Drive as an independent composer got released. The music of both films was very well accepted by people especially Ab Who Karam Karen Ki Sitam (Marine Drive); Yeh Baharaon Ka Sama (Milap) , and 'Jaate Ho To Jao' (Milap).
The next released film was Chandrakanta, its song Maine Chand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamanna Ki Thi (Chandrakanta, 1956) stand out. In 1957, three of his films were released, the songs of Hum Panchhi Ek Dal Ke (1957) and Mr X were hit especially' ''laal laal gaal,jaan ke hain laagu' from Mr X.
. His close association with lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi who was also his close friend ensured that his songs were always blessed by meaningful poetic lyrics. N. Datta also worked very closely with noted lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri, Jan Nisar Akhtar and others.
B R Chopra, a big name took him for his film 'Sadhana'(1958) after the grand success of Naya Daur, whose music was given by O P Nayyar, instead of keeping him, he took N Dutta for this film. The songs of this film are still popular, Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko by Lata and the duet of Asha and Rafi ' Sambhal Ae Dil Tadapne Aur Tadpane Se Kya Hoga'.Songs of Dhool Ka Phool were very popular especially 'Tere Pyar Ka Asra Chahta Hoon'.
In B R Chopra's next Film Dhool Ka Phool's two songs—Daman mein daag laga baithe & Tu Hindu banega na musalman banega were the best songs penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and are far better composed than other songs of the film. Dharamputra(1961) was another B R Chopra film in which he composed music. Recall the Quwalli of this film.
He gave music for many films but most of his films were unsuccessful in the Box Office. some of his popular songs from later movies like 'Ponch kar ashk apni aankon se', 'Maine pee sharaab, tune kya piya', 'Jaan gayi mein toh jaan gayi' from the Movie Naya Raasta (1970) and 'Tere Is Pyar Ka Shukriya' from the Movie "Aag Aur Daag" are popular too. N. Datta also composed music for a number of Marathi movies. The song "Nimbonichya jhaadaamaage chandra jhopala ga baai" sung by Suman Kalyanpur from the Movie "Bala Gau Kashi Angai (1977)" is still very popular.
N. Datta’s later years were spent fighting ill health and commercial failure. The 1980 film Chehre Pe Chehra was his last Hindi film and on December 30, 1987 he breathed his last.
