Abhijit Banerjee (July 24, 1931 – February 21, 2022; Bengali: অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, romanized: Abhijit Bandyopadhyay)[a][1] was an Indian composer and lyricist, who primarily composed music for Bengali non-film songs (singles).[2] He worked with musicians such as Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Pratima Bandyopadhyay, Pulak Bandyopadhyay and others.[3] He was a close associate of Salil Chowdhury and a music teacher at Bani Chakra school.[4]
Abhijit Banerjee অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | July 24, 1931 Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Origin | Kolkata |
| Died | February 21, 2022 (aged 90) Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Occupation | Composer |
Some of his albums containing songs composed are Surer Ek Nam Vivekananda, Antar Mondire Jago, Megher Somuddure, Nirudessher Pothik, etc. He excessively worked on composing songs written by Prabir Mazumdar, Anal Chatterjee and Pulak Banerjee.[5][6]
Banerjee was born in Kolkata in 1931 and took interest in Rabindra Sangeet. He was brought into music by his friend Prabir Mazumdar and first played xylophone while in class eight. He played near a railway station where meetings were held, and from there got to know Salil Chowdhury. His first composition was when his brother asked him to compose two poems. His second poem was acknowledged by Salil Chowdhury, who took the song to Saregama. It was sung by Shyamal Mitra. He inspired songs by Salil Chowdhury like "Dhitang Dhitang Bole" and "Ranar." Later, he worked with Pulak Bandyopadhyay and composed film songs with him like "O Pakhi Ure Aay" by Asha Bhosle and "Ekhono Sarengita Bajche" by Haimanti Shukla. He died in 2022 from health issues of old age. Mamata Banerjee, Shukla and others responded to his death.
Musical career
editAbhijit Banerjee was born into a Brahmin family in Kolkata and was interested in music from childhood. He became aware of the writer Rabindranath Tagore and knew Rabindra Sangeet.[7] As a student, he used to sing "Premer Samadhitire" by S. D. Burman and "Kotha Koyonako" by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, and also Rabindra Sangeet.[8]
He and his elder brother Arindam did many things together. They played kirtan at home trying to imitate the Nagar kirtan performed by Brahmins, going to play or to listen to music. His friend Prabir Mazumdar helped him in his musical career. He once broke his neck when in class eight and started playing xylophone in a dance group. Two years later, he returned to playing normal music under the motivation of Prabir Mazumdar. Mazumdar took him to the Gananatya Sangha.[8]
Banerjee used to play around near the grounds of Dhakuria railway station. Discussions were sometimes held there. One day while a discussion was being held in occasion of a railway strike, he saw a dark, slim man wearing a biscuit-colored coat, shirt and pajamas. He took off his coat and sang while playing a harmonium. Banerjee was stunned with his beautiful singing voice. He later came to know that the man was Salil Chowdhury, an Indian lyricist and composer. He later met him in the Gananatya Sangha.[8]
One day, his brother Arindam Banerjee made Abhijit Banerjee compose the music for a song. He made a tune similar to Rabindra Sangeet.[7] Afterwards, his brother Arindam suggested him to compose the poem "Chhipkhan Tindar" written by Satyendranath Dutta.[7] Banerjee was surprised with his own tune. He used major and minor tunes without knowing them.[8] He left the composed song there. After a few days, his friend Prabir came and told him "Salilda[b] said to take you." Banerjee took the song and went to Chowdhury's house in Kasba, Kolkata. Hearing Banerjee's tune, Salil Chowdhury endorsed him and took him to Saregama, and gave the song to Shyamal Mitra to record.[9] From then, Banerjee became a close associate of Salil Chowdhury.[10] This tune composed by him was used by Salil Chowdhury in his songs "Palki Chole", "Gayer Bodhu" and "Ranar." Banerjee's song was recorded by Salil Chowdhury. He also got a role in Saregama (His Master's Voice or HMV). Chowdhury played the organ in Shyamal Mitra's song "Hongshopakha Diye,"[7] which was taken nine times. During rehearsal, Mitra left by telling Banerjee of a Mohun Bagan match.[8]
His first composed songs included "Ei Shaon Gogone" by Hiralal Sarkhel, written by Anal Chattopadhyay, "Kothay Shonar Dhan" by Gananatya Sangha. He was active in Gananatya Sangha, and later practiced Rabindra Sangeet and heard the songs of Tagore. A few days later, he learned (Indian) classical music from Ushaprasanna Bandopadhyay and piano from V. Balsara. He worked with Salilda on melodies and tunes. Salilda occasionally held discussions between Anal Chattopadhyay, Abhijit Banerjee and Prabir Mazumdar. Salilda once asked them to play a West Indian tune while he himself sang "Dhitang Dhitang Bole," which was later recorded by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. He put music to "O Parul Parul" sung by Gayetri Basu and "Jiboner Balubelay" by Dwijen Mukhopadhyay.[8]
Abhijit Banerjee became successful by composing the song "Tomar Duchokhe Amar Swapna," written by Pulak Bandyopadhyay on the "Basic Record" music label. It was sung by Pratima Bandopadhyay in 1957.[7] "Oi Akashe Klanti Nei" by Pratima Banerjee was composed by Abhijit, where he took a new approach to compose the song musically, and to arrange the way in which it was sung.[8] In the pujas, Hemanta Mukherjee had agreed to sing Banerjee's composed song. But he later said to him that he would have to sing Mukul Dutt's song and would not be able to sing Abhijit Banerjee's song. He released "Amio Pother Moto" written by Mukul Dutt and composed by him;[7] and "Onek Aranya" with lyrics and music by Banerjee during the puja. He named Banerjee as the lyricist of both songs to give him more royalty. Also in the pujas, he wrote the songs "Sobai Chole Geche" and "Emon Ekta Jhor Uthuk"[7] in the album Basanta Bondona. A long time before, his song "Sonali Champa Aay" was sung by Hemanta.[7] Afterwards, he went to Hemanta who remarked him and his songs successful. They had been working for ten years at the time.[8]
Dwijen Mukhopadhyay and Tarun Bandyopadhyay were close friends. Abhijit Banerjee composed many puja songs for them. "Hajar Mone Bheere" was composed by Banerjee and sung by Dwijen Mukherjee. Mukherjee's song "Kopale Sidur Sidur Tip Porecho" was composed by Banerjee.[7] The song "Saatnari Har Debo" was written by Shyamal Mitra as a "modern song" and Banerjee composed it. The song was sung by Dwijen Mukhopadhyay.[8] Miltoo Ghosh wrote and Abhijit Banerjee composed the two songs "Dol Dol Choturdolay"[7] and "Tolpar Tolpar," which Tarun Banerjee sang while shaking his head in concerts.[8]
Banerjee worked many times with playback singer Subir Sen. They were both fans of foreign songs and talked about their song views. As a result of the conversations, Banerjee was inspired by foreign songs. He composed "Saradin Tomay Bhebe" from Jim Reeves' "I hear the sound of distant drums", "E Jeno Sei Chokh" from "Snow Flakes", "Monalisa" from Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa."[8][11]
He worked on composing the songs "Meghla Dine Neel Akashe Swopno Choray" written by Ananda Mukhopadhyay, "Tumi Meghla Diner" sung by Satinath Mukhopadhya, "Jodi Amake Dekho" by Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, "Ki Jeno Aaj" by Ilya Basu, "Dur Bonopothe" by Gayetri Basu and written by Pulak Bandyopadhyay, "Chondroduti Ratri" by Arundhati Holme Chowdhury, etc.[8] Abhijit Bandyopadhyay's composition work was less on film songs than on standalone singles. Jiban Rohoshyo film's recording was being done in the Bombay Laboratory studio in 1972.[9] The song "Prithibi Takiye Dekho" was sung by Manna Dey. Manna Dey commented after he recorded, "This song was composed by Abhijit Banerjee thinking of Hemanta, how could it be done by me?"[8] He reached Bombay on time for the recording of songs of Jiban Rohoshyo, his first film. Asha Bhosle was scheduled to record two songs for the film. But Bhosle later informed him that she would not be able to sing on the 3rd day, but on the 13th day. And again after a few days, she informed that she would only be able to sing one song by Abhijit Banerjee. On the same day, she sung for seven music directors, including S. D. Burman. On the 12th day, Banerjee went to Bhosle to explain the songs, but she agreed to sing the second song after the she listened to the first.[10] During this time, he had stubbed his toe on a door while in the studio and was bleeding, but he continued without changing the schedule.[9] On the 13th day, she gave Banerjee the first recording appointment of that day and sang the two songs. Asha Bhosle sung the songs "O Pakhi Ure Aay Ure Aay" and "Jodi Kane Kane Kichu Bodhua" composed by him.[7]
At some time, he worked with Haimanti Shukla. As expressed by Shukla, his composed song "Ekhono Sarengita Bajche" gave her popularity, and her audience wanted another song by Banerjee to be sung by her.[11] In the film "Balak Saratchandra," Shukla sang the song "Shiv Thakurer Golay Dole Boichi Foler Malika." The film along with the song was released after seven days (in theaters). Haimanti Shukla was first brought to Banerjee by Pulak Bandyopadhyay. At the time she had released only one song: "E To Kanna Noy Amar." This song introduced Shukla to Banerjee. Later she sang songs from classical to rap under the initiative of Banerjee.[12] Abhijit Banerjee worked extensively with Pulak Bandyopadhyay. While he himself sometimes worked as a lyricist and wrote for film songs, most of the film songs he composed were written by Pulak Bandyopadhyay. His film songs "Tungtang Pianote Sarati Dupur" and "Jhonnon Tonnon" in the film Haraye Khuji were sung by Aarti Mukherjee, with lyrics by Bandyopadhyay and "Phule Phule Bodhu" by Anup Ghoshal. In the hit film Tilottama directed by Dinesh Gupta, he composed "Rong Sudhu Diyei Gele" and "Amay Tomar Moto Pashan Kore Goro", which were some of his superhit songs. Pulak Bandyopadhyay wrote the song "Lomba Daari Chowkidar Bolche Heke Khobbodar" in Dushtu Misti film, with music by Banerjee, and the artist as Haimanti Shukla. Pulak Bandyopadhyay's last film he worked on was Rinmukhi, in which he composed songs with Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, and was released after Pulak Banerjee's death. Aarti Mukherjee won the BFJA award for best female singer for singing the song "Tungtang Pianote Sarati Dupur."[10]
Death
editBanerjee suffered from old-age-related health issues. He was admitted to a hospital and discharged a few days later before he died. Abhijit Banerjee died on February 21, 2022 (Monday), at the age of 90 in Kolkata at 11 p.m.[6] He had two sons and a daughter at the time.[5] Lata Mangeshkar, who Banerjee worked with, also died in February 2022, a few days before him.[4][13] Mamata Banerjee wrote:
I express my deep sorrow at the passing away of eminent composer and lyricist Abhijit Banerjee. He breathed his last today in Kolkata. He was 90 years old.
He has composed songs for legendary artists like Hemant Mukherjee, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle. Notable albums under his musical direction include: Antar Mandir Jaago, Megher Samuddure, Niruddesh Pathik, Teesta Amar, Surya Ek Naam Vivekananda. Notable songs composed include: O Pakhi Ude Aay, Jad Kanne Kanne etc.
Abhijit Babu was a member of the West Bengal State Music Academy. His death is a loss to the music world.
I express my deepest condolences to the family and fans of Abhijit Banerjee.[14]
Rupankar Bagchi posted on social media announcing about his death. He remarked that Banerjee had been suffering from health issues of old age for some time. He was admitted to a hospital sometimes. He stated that Banerjee had returned home after being in the hospital for a few days. He expressed getting the news of his death on Monday morning.[15][16][17]
Arundhati Holme Chowdhury commented that "Our time seems to be running out quickly." She described that lyricists, artists and composers were passing away one by one. She remarked that Abhijit Banerjee was the music composer of many of her film songs. Banerjee's body was kept in Bani Chakra to pay last respects.[15][17] His death occurred on Language Day, Saikat Mitra expressed.[16]
Legacy
editThe planning of the song "Cholche Tori" was made by Abhijit Banerjee's son Amit Bandyopadhyay (Banerjee), serving as a tribute to Abhijit Banerjee. The song was the musical version of "Durer Palla," written by Satyendranath Dutta. It was Banerjee's first song composition written under the initiative of his brother Arindam Banerjee which was later sung by Shyamal Mitra. Amit Banerjee presented the song in a new way and version. The song featured Amit Banerjee and Soumya Dasgupta, the son of Sudhin Dasgupta; and Sanjoy Chowdhury, the son of Salil Chowdhury. A video was planned, which included Amit Banerjee's music group, Calcutta Choir and others. The song was sung by artists such as Nachiketa Chakraborty, Lopamudra Mitra, Saikat Mitra, Nandita, Debashis Basu, Rupankar (Bagchi), Raghab Chatterjee, Anweshaa, Srikanta Acharya, Antara Chowdhury, Jayati Chakraborty, Gaurav Sarkar, Kazi Kamal Nasser and Parthasarathi Ekalavya. The video was directed and edited by Surojeet Chakraborty and Tanushree Chakraborty. Soumya Banerjee did the graphics designing.[18][19]
Selected albums discography
edit| Release year | Song name | Singer | Lyricist | Album name | No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | O Pakhi Ure Aay | Asha Bhosle | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Jiban Rahasya | 1 |
| Prithibi Takiye Dekho | Manna Dey | 2 | |||
| Jadi Kane Kane Kichhu Bale | Asha Bhosle | 3 | |||
| Ke Tumi Ke Tumi | Manna Dey | 4 | |||
| 1974 | Bishnupriya Go Bahu Jug Pare | Geeta Mukherjee | Abhijit Banerjee | Songs By Geeta Mukherjee | 5 |
| Katha Dao Katha Dao Tumi Chole Jabe Na | 6 | ||||
| 1974 | Tung Tang Piyanoy | Aarti Mukherjee | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Haraye Khunji | 7 |
| Jhananana Tananana Baje | 8 | ||||
| Se Bhabe Sabuj Pathar | Hemanta Mukherjee | 9 | |||
| Phule Phule Badhu | Anup Ghoshal | 10 | |||
| Chhaila Chhabila | Banasree Sengupta and Sabita Chowdhury | 11 | |||
| 1975 | Lekhapara Kare Je | Aarti Mukherjee | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Dustu - Misti | 12 |
| Hurre Hure Sheora Gachhe | 13 | ||||
| Lambadaari Chowkidar | Haimanti Shukla | 14 | |||
| Tomari Udyane Tomari Jatane | Gayatri Chowdhury | Nabanita Chakraborty | 15 | ||
| Dhum Dharakka De Na Dhakka | Haimanti Shukla | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | 16 | ||
| 1975 | O Binodini Radhare | Hemanta Mukherjee | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Balak Saratchandra | 17 |
| Shib Thakurer Galay Dole | Haimanti Shukla | 18 | |||
| 1978 | Golaper Oli Achhe | Manna Dey | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Tilottama | 19 |
| Rang Shudhu Diyei Gele | Manna Dey and Arundhati Holme Chowdhury | 20 | |||
| Amay Tomar Motoi | Aarti Mukherjee | 21 | |||
| Khub Ki Mondo Hoto | Arundhati Holme Chowdhury | 22 | |||
| 1982 | Oi Neel Neel | Manna Dey and Aarti Mukherjee | Parthapratim Chowdhury | Rajbadhu | 23 |
| Aaju Rang Khelatu | Sandhya Mukherjee | 24 | |||
| Hartan Na Ruitan | Manna Dey | 25 | |||
| Bhebechhilam Phuler Mato | Arundhati Holme Chowdhury | 26 | |||
| Baro Asha Kore Esechhi Go | Arundhati Holme Chowdhury and Hemanta Mukherjee | Rabindranath Tagore | 27 | ||
| 1983 | Shono Shono | Hemanta Mukherjee and Manna Dey | Parthapratim Chowdhury | Chena Achena[c] | 28 |
| Dekho Esechhi | Manna Dey | 29 | |||
| Amay Rakhte Jodi | Hemanta Mukherjee | Atulprasad Sen | 30 | ||
| Pran Amar Pran | Manna Dey | Parthapratim Chowdhury | 31 | ||
| 1983 | Tumi Je Amar | Lata Mangeshkar | Gauriprasanna Mazumdar | Raktoraag | 32 |
| Aasmane Jato Roshni | Aarti Mukherjee | 33 | |||
| Ami Gharer Ashay | Usha Mangeshkar | 34 | |||
| Raso Raso | Shailendra Singh | Mohini Chowdhury | 35 | ||
| Hai Hai Hai | Manna Dey | 36 | |||
| Welcome | Usha Uthup | Santaram Nandgaonkar | 37 | ||
| 1984 | Jekhanei Thako Na | Arundhati Holme Chowdhury | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Pujarini | 38 |
| Dadubhai Taratari Baro Hao | Manna Dey | 39 | |||
| Baundule Chandicharan | Haimanti Shukla | 40 | |||
| Mala Ditei Badle Geli | Manna Dey | 41 | |||
| 1996 | Bolechhile Tumi Gaan Shonabe | Alpana Banerjee | Abhijit Banerjee | Chayanika, Vol. 4 | 42 |
| 2000 | Shanta Nadita Aaj | Sandhya Mukherjee and Saikat Mitra | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Reenmukhi[d] | 43 |
| Pete Parle Maal | Manna Dey | 44 | |||
| Jakhan Bristi Ase | Sandhya Mukherjee | 45 | |||
| Bhabte Parini Purnima Chand | Haimanti Shukla and Santanu Roy Chowdhury | 46 | |||
| Ami Chanchal Ami Jharna | Lopamudra Mitra | Abhijit Banerjee | 47 | ||
| 2001 | Amay Jodi Hathat Kono Chhale | Tarun Banerjee | Premendra Mitra | Nirbachito Kabyageeti Kabita Theke Gaan Cd-2[c] | 48 |
| Tomra Sabai Anko Kasho | 49 | ||||
| 2001 | O Phul Phutli Keno | Sumitra Sen | Abhijit Banerjee | Anyo Gan Sagar Sen[c] | 50 |
| Saradin Tomake Khunjechhi | 51 | ||||
| 2002 | Aasa Jaoyar Pathe Pathe | Subhodeep Mukherjee | Pulak Bandyopadhyay | Moner Akash - Suvodeep Mukherjee[c] | 52 |
| 2005 | O Parul Parul Shimul Shimul | Gayatri Basu | Abhijit Banerjee | Gaan Bala - Lopamudra And Srikanto Achariya Vol 1[c] | 53 |
| Surje Roudre Puriye | Arun Dutta | 54 | |||
| Jodi Bhul Kichhu Kore Thaki | Subir Sen | Miltoo Ghosh | 55 | ||
| E Shudhu Tomar Amare Loye | Basabi Nandi | Sree Shankar | 56 |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ↑ "satyajit ray: গুপী-বাঘার নতুন ভুবন". Anandabazar Patrika. July 24, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Music composer Abhijit Banerjee passes away". The Financial Express. FE Online Desk. February 22, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Abhijit Banerjee dies : বিশিষ্ট সুরকার অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের প্রয়াণে শোকপ্রকাশ মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের". Editorji (in Bengali). February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 "Noted composer Abhijit Bandyopadhyay passes away at 90". www.millenniumpost.in. February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 "Bengali music composer Abhijit Banerjee dies". observerbd.com (in Bengali). February 22, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 "সুরকার অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের চিরবিদায়". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ghoshal, Sanjay (February 21, 2022). "আরও এক নক্ষত্র পতন বাংলার সুরের জগত থেকে, জীবনাবসান অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের". bengali.oneindia.com (in Bengali). Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 সোম, স্বপন (February 27, 2022). "গণনাট্য থেকে রোম্যান্টিক, সব সুরেই তাঁর অবাধ বিচরণ". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, শুভজিৎ (February 21, 2022). "একটি অধ্যায়ের অবসান, প্রয়াত কিংবদন্তি সুরকার অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় - Prohor". Prohor.in. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, শুভদীপ (February 22, 2022). "'সলিলের চ্যালা' অভিজিৎ, পুলকের সঙ্গে তাঁর জুটি ভরিয়েছিল সুপারহিট বাংলা গানের ডালি". TheWall (in Bengali). Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Dasgupta, Priyanka (February 22, 2022). "Music director, song writer Abhijit Bandyopadhyay passes away in Kolkata". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Abhijit Banerjee: 'ছেড়ে যেতে হবে সব'... স্মৃতিপথে হেঁটে অভিজিৎ-বিদায়ে হৈমন্তী, সৈকত, রূপঙ্কর". Anandabazar Patrika. February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "'এখনও সারেঙ্গিটা বাজছে' গানের সুরকার অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় প্রয়াত". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Pandit Abhijit Banerjee Passed Away: ফের সঙ্গীত জগতে ইন্দ্রপতন, চলে গেলেন অভিজিৎ". Aaj Tak Bangla. February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 দাশ, রক্তিম (February 21, 2022). "চলে গেলেন বিশিষ্ট সুরকার অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- 1 2 "Pandit Abhijit Banerjee: 'এখনও সারেঙ্গিটা বাজছে'.... শুধু নেই সুরকার অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়". February 21, 2022.
- 1 2 Huda, Shammi (February 21, 2022). "Pandit Abhijit Bandyopadhyay Passes Away: না ফেরার দেশে পণ্ডিত অভিজিৎ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, শিল্পী মহলে শোকের ছায়া". LatestLY বাংলা (in Bengali). Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "A host of eminent singers collaborate for Abhijit Bandyopadhyay tribute song 'cholche Tori'". The Times of India. February 9, 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "New Music Video: সত্যেন্দ্রনাথের 'দূরের পাল্লা'র পুরনো গান এবার নতুন আঙ্গিকে". ETV Bharat News (in Bengali). February 9, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Abhijit Banerjee - Audiomack". Audiomack. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Abhijit Banerjee - Top Songs - JioSaavn". JioSaavn. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Abhijeet Banerjee Songs - Gaana". Gaana.com. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Abhijit Banerjee albums - Saregama". Saregama. Retrieved June 4, 2026.