Anil Biswas - One of the Pioneers of Hindi Film Music

 

Anil Biswas, Pankaj Mallick, Saraswati Devi, and Master Ghulam Haider were the first generation composers of Hindi Films. They started giving music in the mid-1930s and continued till the independence of the country.

Anil Biswas made his debut as a music director with "Dharam ki Devi" (1935). It was the popularity of the Mehboob Khan film "Jagirdar" (1937), which proved that he could turn out hit songs. Soon many more independent assignments came his way, most notably, 300 Days and After, Gramophone Singer, Hum Tum Aur Woh, Ek Hi Raasta, and Mehboob Khan's Watan (1938), Alibaba (1940), the classic, Aurat(1940), Bahen (1941), before working with him again, in Roti (1942).He was a mentor to many singers like Zohrabai Ambalewali, Begum Akhtar, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood,  Lata Mangeshkar, Meena Kapoor.

From 1942 to 1947 he worked for Bombay Talkies.During this period he gave many hit fils few of them were Kismet(1943),Jwar Bhatta" (1944) and "Milan" (1946).During the 1950's, he served as the music director for a number of films.  Some notable films of his were "Abhimaan" (1957) and "Pardesi" (1957).The last film he did was "Chhoti Chhoti Baatein" (1965)

First Song of Begum Akhtar

Song of Roti 1942

Song of Kismet  1943

Song of Jwar Bhatta" (1944) 

First Song of Mukesh

Song of Pehli Nazar 1945

Lata Mangeshkar: Tumhare Bulane Ko Jee Chahta Hai (Ladli, 1949)

Song of Ladli 1949

Talat Mahmood: Ae Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal (Arzoo, 1950)

Song of Arzoo, 1950

Shukriya Shukriya Ae Pyar Tera Shukriya

Song of Aaram 1951

Seene Mein Sulagte Hain Armaan

Song of Tarana 1951

Song of Chaar Dil Chaar Rahen 1959

Meena Kapoor: Kuchh Aur Zamana Kehta Hai (Chhoti Chhoti Baten, 1965)

Song of Chhoti Chhoti Baten, 1965

Seene Mein Sulagte Hain Armaan - An Immortal Song

The writer of this immortal song was Prem Dhawan. It was composed by Anil Biswas and sung by Talat Mehmood and Lata Mangeshkar. Anil Biswas composed the tune of this song in just 15 minutes while riding in a car.
There was a rumor that the lyrics had been bought from Sahir Ludhianvi for Rs 5/-, as Sahir was in need of money, and Prem Dhawan had helped him. It is very sad that Prem Dhawan was always underrated. He was multitalented, he was a composer beside lyricist and as well as a Choreographer.and also acted in a few films.
He wrote songs like Mera Rag De Basanti Chola, Ae Watan Ai Watan from Shaheed, and many more songs. He won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 1971 for the film, Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar

This song was picturized on Dilip Kumar and Madhubala for the film Tarana released in 1951. This was the first film of Dilip Kumar and Madhubala together. Regarding this song, Shikha Biswas Vohra, daughter of music director Anil Biswas said in an interview that how her father composed this song. Prem Dhawan and her father were good friends, they were booked for two films Tarana and Arman in 1950. One day Prem Dhawan gave him few lines of this song and asked him to make the tune while going to meet the famous Punjabi singer Surinder Kaur On reaching.the destination Anil Biswas asked Prem Dhawan to go to meet the singer and he sat on the parapet and started humming the tune. By the time Prem Dhawan returned, the tune was ready.
Interestingly the song was a sad song but Anil Biswas used the major scale and another point to highlight that he used three different tunes for the three Antaras. A very rare occurrence and only a genius like Anil Biswas could do that. Madan Mohan also did the same in many songs later.in the 60s.If we look technically the use of Teevra 'Ma'gives it the feeling of Raga Yaman Kalyan.
This is probably one of the greatest duets of Bollywood. Everything is perfect, lyrics, music, singing, and picturization on two of the greatest actors Dilip Kumar and Madhubala.

Song of Tarana 1951

The First Generation Composers of Bollywood

The first few songs to hit the nation as a whole may well have been from ACHHUT KANYAA and some contemporary Sagar Movietone productions. The time was 1935-36, and if this is where it started, we might have a candidate here for bringing in the Golden Age.
Hindi Film Music in the 40s was changing, new experiments and modern techniques were tried. In this decade playback singing started. The 1940s were the years of flux. A new order came into existence. More robust Punjabi style of music pushed back the soft Bangla style. Playback singers replaced the genre of singing stars.
The technique of recording song was rudimentary, The studios at that time only had two microphones. It would usually take around four to eight hours to make a song, but the preparations for a few difficult compositions would go on for a month. in spite of that many immortal songs were created by our first generation Composers. In this blog, I take four composers who gave the film songs, still in its infancy, a distinct identity.

Saraswati Devi,(1912 – 1980), was an Indian director of music and score composer who worked in Hindi cinema in the 1930s and 1940s. She was the first female composer, working with Bombay Talkies, and is most noted for her score, Mein Ban ki Chiriyra Banke Bun Bun Bolun Re (Achut Kanya 1936). 
Also in 1936, she gave the music for the film, Janmabhoomi, it was released during the Indian independence movement, and featured one of the first explicit nationalistic songs of Hindi cinema, "Jai Jai Janani Janmabhoomi" written by J. S. Kashyap.  Subsequently, a tune from the chorus of this song was used by the BBC as a signature tune for its Indian News Service.

Song of Jeevan Naiya (1936)

She composed the song Koi Humdum Na Raha originally sung by Ashok Kumar in the film Jeevan Naiya (1936) and later sung by Kishore Kumar in Jhumroo (1961). She was also the original composer of the famous song "Ek Chatur Naar" originally sung by Ashok Kumar in film Jhoola (1941) later sung by Manna Dey and Kishor Kumar in film Padosan.

Pankaj Mullick (10 May 1905 – 19 February 1978), he introduced Rabindra Sangeet to Hindi film industry. He contributed in various capacities to Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil language films for 38 years, starting in 1931. He worked as music director to artists like K.L. Saigal, S.D. Burman, Hemanta Mukherjee, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle. He acted with famous film actors like K L Saigal, P.C. Barua and Kanan Devi. Along with Nitin Bose and his renowned sound engineer brother Mukul Bose, Mullick introduced playback singing in Indian cinema.
In 1933, he made his debut as an independent music director for a Hindi/Urdu film Yahudi Ka Ladki, a New Theatres costume drama directed by Premankur Atorthi. Pankajbabu was one of the first music-arrangers and orchestra conductors to extensively use western musical forms and instruments like the piano and the accordion in composing music for Indian films. The imaginative use of background music to emphasise the mood, action and tempo of the film scenes is one of Pankaj Mullick’s great contributions to music in Indian cinema.
Pankaj Mullick along with RC Boral  composed music for some of the most memorable films – many of these had Bengali and Hindi/Urdu versions – such as Hem Chandra’s Krorepati/The Millionaire (1936), Nitin Bose’s Didi/President (1937), PC Barua’s Grihadaha/Manzil (1936), Maya (1936), both Hindi & Bengali, 1936 and the classic Devdas (1935) in Hindi which had KL Saigal singing the immortal Balam Aaye Baso Mere Man Mein and Dukh Ke Din Ab Beete Nahin 

Song of Zindagi (1940).

Pankaj Mullick was successful in persuading  Saigal to bring down his high pitch in order to control his nasal twang and the result was evergreen songs like the lullaby So Ja Rajkumari So Ja in PC Barua’s Hindi film, Zindagi (1940).

Anil Biswas (7 July 1914 – 31 May 2003), an Indian film playback singer and music composer from 1935 to 1965, who apart from being one of the pioneers of playback singing, is also credited for the first Indian orchestra of twelve pieces and introducing orchestral music and full-blooded choral effects, into Indian cinema. 
He also worked as a singer, lyricist and composer, with the 'Hindustan Recording Company', where Kundan Lal Saigal and Sachin Dev Burman, before migrating to Bombay themselves.
Mehboob Khan's Jagirdar (1937), a commercially hit, established him as a musical force in the film industry. Soon many more independent assignments came his way, most notably, 300 Days and After, Gramophone Singer, Hum Tum Aur Woh, Ek Hi Raasta, and Mehboob Khan's Watan (1938), Alibaba (1940), the classic, Aurat(1940), Bahen (1941), before working with him again, in Roti (1942), for which he also credited with the story and concept,and which featured many songs by film's actress, Akhtaribai Faizabadi(Begum Akhtar)

Song of Kismet(1943).

A master in western symphonic music was known for the Indian classical or folk elements, especially Baul and Bhatiyali in his music. Out of his over 90 films, most memorable were, Roti (1942), Kismet (1943), Anokha Pyaar (1948), Taraana(1951), Waaris (1954), Pardesi (1957) and Char Dil Char Rahen (1959).

Khemchand Prakash ( 12 December 1907 - 10 August 1949), was assistant to composer Timir Baran in Devdas (1935 film), and he sang a comedy song 'lo kha lo madam khaana'  in Street Singer (1938). He then moved to Mumbai and made his debut as music director in 1939 with Supreme Pictures' films Meri Aankhein and Gazi Salauddin, and was soon signed up by Ranjit Movietone Film Studio.
 His biggest hit with Ranjit Studio was the film Tansen in 1943. Songs like "Diya jalaao jagmag jagmag", "Rumjhum rumjhum chal tihari", "More balpan ke saathi", "Sapt suran teen gram", "Hath sine pe jo rakh do to karara aa jaaye" were big hits.

1948 marked yet another significant film of his career, Bombay Talkies’s Ziddi. He gave the first major break to Kishore Kumar as a singer for the song “Marne ki duaaen kyun maangu”.Ziddi featured a beautiful song of Lata Mangeshkar "Chanda re ja re ja re".

But what followed Ziddi was another hit film Mahal (1949 film). the song “Aayega aane wala”Mahal made Lata Mangeshkar a popular name. 

Song of Mahal 1949

Master Ghulam Haider (1908 – 9 November 1953) was a well-known music composer who worked both in India and later in Pakistan after independence. He changed the face of film songs by combining the popular Raags with the verve and rhythm of Punjabi music, He is also known for giving a break to the well-known playback singer, Lata Mangeshkar.he got his first big breakthrough with D.M. Pancholi's Punjabi film, Gul-E-Bakavali (1939) starring Noor Jehan. This was followed by film Yamla Jat (1940). His first big hit song came with Khazanchi in 1941, which helped cause a revolution in the music industry. The music of the film Khazanchi (1941), in particular, the song Sawan Ke Nazare Hain sung by Shamshad Begum and Ghulam Haider himself caused a revolution in music composing. Other significant films were Khandan in 1942, Humayun (1945) and Majboor (1948 film), Shaheed (1948) and Kaneez (1949 film)are his other big hits.

Song of Khazanchi 1941

The Sangeet-Maartand ANIL BISWAS

On 103rd Birth Anniversary,here is my tribute to this great Composer of Bollywood.Anil Biswas is said to have influenced a number of singers of the day.  He had the biggest influence of Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, and Lata Mangeshkar.In fact he gave break to Talat and Mukesh.He made his debute as a music director with "Dharam ki Devi" (1935).  From 1934 until 1936, he was involved in 11 films. He reached the height of his career with the success of "Kismet" (1943).  This film broke all records and ran in the theatres longer than any film in history.  
In 1936 he moved to Sagar Movietone.  During this period he worked in several capacities.  Sometimes he was a composer, an assistant music director, a singer and occasionally music director.  During this period he worked on a number of films.  However it was the popularity of the Mehboob Khan film "Jagirdar" (1937), which proved that he could turn out hit songs.  He stayed with Sagar Movietone until 1939
From 1942 to 1947 he worked for Bombay Talkies.During this period he gave many hit fils few of them were Kismet(1943),Jwar Bhatta" (1944) and "Milan" (1946).During the 1950's, he served as the music director for a number of films.  Some notable films of his were "Abhimaan" (1957) and "Pardesi" (1957).The last film he did was "Chhoti Chhoti Baatein" (1965)
He was associated with All India Radio, and to a lesser extent Doordarshan (government run TV).  From 1963 to 1965 he was the director of AIR's National Orchestra.  In 1965 he became the Chief Producer of Sugam Sangeet.  With a two year break when he was the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, he served with AIR (Delhi) from 1963 to 1975.  He did the music for Door Darshan's "Hum Log" (1984), "Baisakhi" and "Phir Wohi Talaash".He has also worked on numerous documentaries with the Films Division.  He won the "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award" in 1986.
He died in Delhi on May 31, 2003.
Here is my Tribute to this Great Music Director
Seene Mein Sulagte Hai Armaan 

Song from Taraana 1951

Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal Jahan Koi Na Ho 

Song from Arzoo (1950)

Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De Aansoo Na Baha 

Song from Pehli Nazar (1945)

Shukriyaa, Shukriya Ai Pyaar Tera, Shukriya 

Song from Aaram (1951)

Jhil Mil Sitaaron Ke Tale Aa Meraa Daaman Thaam Le 

Song from Naaz (1954)

Zindagi Kaa Ajab Fasaanaa Hai

Song from Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965)

ANIL BISWAS-A Composer With A Difference

Remembering today on his Birth Anniversary

Born on 7th July 1914 at Barisal( Bangladesh).He was an Indian film music composer from 1935 to 1965, who apart from being one of pioneers of playback singing, is also credited for the first Indian orchestra of twelve pieces and introducing orchestral music and full-blooded choral effects, into Indian cinema.Anil Biswas first made name in Kolkata in the early 1930s, composing music for plays, later he joined 'Rangmahal Theatre', Kolkata, as an actor, singer, and assistant music director, 1932–34, during this period he sang and acted in several commercial stage productions.

He was associated in composing music for 'Baal Hatya' and 'Bharat ki Beti', before making his debut as a film composer, with Dharam ki Devi (1935) for which he composed the background music, and also acted and sang the song, Kuch Bhi Nahin Bharosa.. In 1936 he joined 'Sagar Movietones' as a composer, first starting with assisting composers, Ashok Ghosh in films Manmohan andDeccan Queen and also Pransukh Nayak, and continued with Sagar Movietones, even after it merged with the Yusuf Fazalbhoy of RCA’s newly established National Studios in 1939.

 Mehboob Khan's Jagirdar (1937), a commercially hit, established him as a musical force in the film industry. He gave to the Hindi Film Industry Two Jewls.He gave break to famed playback singer, Mukesh in Pehli Nazar (1945), singing 'Dil Jalta Hai to Jalne De', and to Talat Mahmood in Arzoo (1949), singing 'Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Ley Chal' his first song in Bombay.

In 1942, he joined Bombay Talkies at an offer from Devika Rani, where he got his biggest hit, Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet (1943), starring Ashok Kumar and Mumtaz Shanti,most remembered for the song, 'Papihaare', sung by his sister Parul Ghosh (wife of the renowned flautist, Pannalal Ghosh), the patriotic hit, 'Door hato ai duniyaa waalo', and 'Dheere dheere aare badal, mera bulbul so raha hai, shorgul na macha' sung by the actor, Ashok Kumar.

He married Asha Lata, an actress with Sagar Movietones under her maiden name Mehrunnisa who continued to act under the name Ashalata Biswas, and had three sons and a daughter,He was associated with Bombay Talkies for a long time and gave many musical hits like Jwar Bhata (1944),Dilip Kumar's debute film and another film Milan (1946) again Dilip Kumar as hero.In 1948 his movie Anokha Pyar released it Was a Musical Hit in which Mukesh and Meena kapur gave some good songs.

Anil Da married the same Meena Kapur after the divorce of first wife Asha Lata.The decade of 1950s witness the great music of Anil Da,during this decade he gave the music in more than 30 movies,the music of Chaar Dil Chaar Rahen was very popular.In early 1960s,

 He retired from the cinema, while still at the peak of his game, he shifted base to New Delhi, though he did one or two films in between like Mahesh Kaul's, Sautela Bhai (1962), his final film as a composer was, actor Motilal's directorial venture, Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965), starring Nadira and with Mukesh's 'Zindagi Khwab Hai Tha Hamein Bhi' After that he moved to Delhi 

In Delhi he became director of the National Orchestra at the All India Radio (AIR) in March 1963,^[5] and remained Chief Producer -Sugam Sangeet (light Hindustani classical music) at AIR, Delhi till 1975.^[15] Though later, he composed music for Doordarshan's pioneering TV series Hum Log (1984) and a number of documentaries for the Films Division^[9] as late as 1991,^[10] and remained the vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University for 2 years. He won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986.Anil Biswas died in New Delhi on 31st May 2003.Upon his death, the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee called him, “a doyen of film music who struck the rare balance between classical purity of music and popular pulse”, and credited him for leaving, “an enduring legacy as he introduced many talented singers and innovations to the Indian film music.

Here I am Giving a rare sonf from Anil da;s first movie “Piya Ki Jogan”(1936) , also known as “Puchased Bride” was directed by Hiren Bose for Golden Eagle Movietone, Sindh. The movie had Sardar Akhtar, Pramod Chandra, Krishna Kumari, Merwan Irani, D Manik, Ashalat, Vasu H K, Sheila, Agha Jaan, Bannerji, Niranjan Singh, Meharbaan, Anil Biswas etc in it.This song is sung by Sardar Akhtar. It was picturised on Sardar Akhtar herself.Thismovie had two lyricists cum dialogue writers, viz Munshi Zahiruddin and Niranjan Singh, but the lyricist of the songs of the movie are not specifically identified.