Shyamal Mitra

Shyamal Mitra শ্যামল মিত্র
Birth name	Shyamal Mitra
Born	14 January, 1929 Naihati, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present day Kolkata, India)
Died	15 November, 1987 (aged 58) Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Genres	Bengali classical music Indian classical Bengali ghazal
Occupations	Playback singer Music director Producer

Shyamal Mitra (14 January 1929 – 15 November 1987) was an Indian versatile playback singer and music director along with Hemanta Mukherjee and Manna Dey. Mitra had also worked in many Hindi and Bengali films as a music director and film producer. He was the most notable musician of the golden era of Bengali music industry. His baritone voice reflected a range of emotions. Besides recording a huge number of popular Bengali basic songs, he also worked as a playback singer in more than a hundred Bengali movies and directed music in more than fifty Bengali films. He also sang in various other Indian languages, like Hindi, Assamese and Oriya.

Early life

Shyamal Mitra was born in Naihati, a city near Kolkata, India. Their native village was Patul, near Seakhala. His father, Dr. Sadhan Kumar Mitra, was a reputed doctor in Naihati. The father wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and to become a doctor, but the son was very keen on music and was always inspired by his mother and the local singer Mrinal Kanti Ghosh. People associated with the I.P.T.A. movement used to visit Sadhan-babu's house and this gave the chance to young Shyamal Mitra to come in contact with Salil Chowdhury. Young Shyamal Mitra and his youngest sister Reba used to sing "O Aalor Pathajatree" on the road for I.P.T.A.

Shyamal Mitra went to Hooghly Mohsin College, then affiliated with the University of Calcutta, for his graduation degree. There he met Satinath Mukhopadhyay, another prominent exponent of modern music. Satinath inspired him. Then Shyamal Mitra came to Kolkata and met Sudhirlal Chackraborty. That was the turning point of his life. He started struggling until he got a chance to playback in "Sunandar Biye" with Supriti Ghosh and Pratima Bandyopadhyay in 1949, and recorded his first basic songs from H.M.V. under the supervision of Sudhirlal Chackraborty. After the sad demise of Sudhirlal Chackraborty in 1952, he recorded "Smriti Tumi Bedonar". That was the turning point and he never looked back after that. He became one of the leading singers and composers of the country.

Journey as musician

Shyamal Mitra started working as a singer and music composer for the Bengali music industry. During the fifties and early sixties he composed music for hit films like Joy Maa Kali Boarding, Jamalaye Jibonto Manush, and Bhranti Bilash. During this period he also worked as playback singer in many Bengali films.

In 1963, he produced a film called Deya Neya, another milestone of his career. Then he produced more films like Rajkanya, Kheya, and Ami Se O Sakha. He was also the distributor and producer of "Garh Nasimpur".

Shyamal Mitra went to Mumbai in the early fifties with Salil Chowdhury. He worked in three films: Musafer, Biraj Bou, and Naukri. In 1973, he again went to Mumbai. He worked in Shakti Samanta's films, like Amanush, Anand Ashram, F.C.Mehra's film Bandi, Basu Chatterjee's films like Safed Jhoot, and Mamta. He came back to Kolkata again and created many hit tracks in both Bengali basic and film songs.

Shyamal Mitra had a long association with All India Radio. He also sang in the famous Mahisasura Mardini programme of All India Radio. That song was "Subhra sankha robe" with co-artists Arati Mukhopadhyay and Ashima Mukherjee.

Beside modern Bengali songs and film songs, Shyamal Mitra worked with many other different forms of Bengali music like Rabindrasangeet, Nazrul Geeti, "Chotoder Gaan", and Atul Prasadi. As a music composer, he also worked in a Yatra Pala called "Bibi Anondomoyee".

As a music composer, Shyamal Mitra worked with many major artists like Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Tarun Bandyopadhyay, Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Pratima Bandyopadhyay, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Satinath Mukhopadhyay, Ila Basu, Supriti Ghosh, Gayatri Basu, Utpala Sen, Alpana Banerjee, Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Talat Mahmood and Kishore Kumar.

As an actor, Shyamal Mitra, worked in Bengali movies like Sharey Chuattar and Saapmochan.

Shyamal Mitra died on 15 November 1987, leaving behind his wife Protima Mitra, son Saibal Mitra and Saikat Mitra, daughter Monobina. His son Saikat has his singing legacy with him, who has become a star Bengali singer singing Shyamal Mitra's songs.

The Bengali audience will never forget his songs like "Tomar Samadhi Phule Phule Dhaka", "Gaane Bhubon Bhoriye Debe", "Amar Sopne Dekha Rajkonyya", "Ami Tomar Kachei Phire Ashbo", "Ke Jane Kobe Abar", "O Mon Kokhon Suru", "Tinti Montro Niye Jader Jibon", "O Shimul Bon", "Emono Din Ashte Pare", "Sediner Sona Jhora Sondha", "Naam Rakhechi Bonolata", "Ei Sundor Prithibi Chere", 'Jhiri jhiri baataas kaande' and many others.

As music composer

Film Name	Year
Lakh Taka	1953
Joy Maa Kali Boarding	1955
Jamalaye Jibonto Manush	1958
Deli Passenger	1958
Bhranti	1959
Sokher Chor	1960
Hashi Sudhu Hashi Noi	1963
Bhranti Bilash	1963
Deya Neya	1963
Saptarshi	1964
Trishna	1965
Rajkanya	1965
Kheya	1967
Hotath Dekha	1967
Gor Nashimpur	1968
Bibaha Bibhrat	1969
Duranta Charai	1969
Samantaral	1970
Padmagolap	1970
Pratibad	1971
Janani	1971
Jiban Jiggasha	1971
Bhanu Goyenda Jahar Assistant	1971
Andha Atit	1972
Banpalashir Padabali	1973
Chithi	1973
Amanush	1974
Phulu Thakurma	1975
Ami Se O Sokha	1975
Rajbangsha	1977
Ajashra Dhonnyobad	1977
Jaal Sanyashi	1977
Anand Ashram	1977
Bandi	1978
Nishan	1978
Dhanraj Tamang	1978
Priyatama	1980
Khana Baraha	1981
Bandi Balaka	1981
Kalankini	1981
Maayer Ashirbaad	1982
Maatir Sorgo	1982
Songsarer Itikotha	1983
Kenaram Becharam	1986
Mohamilan	1987
Ekaki	1990

As playback singer

Film Name	Year
Sunandaar Biye	1951
Antaraal	1965
Aakashpradeep	1963
Asamaptaa	1956
Aabak Prithivi	1959
Onno Maati Onno Rong	1971
Angikaar	1966
Abhaya O Shrikanto	1965
Oshru Diye Lekha	1966
Agnisikha	1962
Andhar Surya	1969
Alo Andhare	1974
Bodhubaran	1967
Baaluchori	1968
Bhagya	1971
Bhagabaan ShriShriRamakrishna	1955
Bhanu Pelo Lottery	1958
Chutir Ghonta	1976
Deep Nebhe Nai	1964
Dashhu Mohan	1955
Dwiper Naam Tiarang	1963
Dersho Khokaar Kando	1959
Eaktaara	1957
E Johor Se Johor Noy	1959
Hangshamithun	1968
Cheenamukh / Kaantataar	1964
Kamallata	1969
Kaajal	1962
Kostipathar	1964
Kothin Maaya	1961
Keri Saheber Munshi	1961
Kono Eakdin	1960
Kichukhhon	1959
Krishnarjun	1982
Laalpathor	1964
Maahut Bondhure	1959
Maayar Songsaar	1962
Muktisnaan	1970
Mohalogno	1965
Maamlar Phol	1956
Noder Nimai	1960
Nirdharito Silpir Onuposthitite	1959
Nishipadma	1970
Nokol Sona	1973
Prostor Sakhhor	1967
Pandober Bonobaas	1966
Panna Hire Chuni	1969
Roktorekha	1968
Rajodrohi	1966
Raat Bhore	1955
Ruposhi	1970
Saapmochon	1955
Sagarika	1956
SriKrishna Sudama	1955
Sindur	1957
Sashibabur Songsaar	1959
Silalipi	-
Sunobaranari	1960
Sohorer Itikotha	1960
Sona Boudi	1970
Saraswatir Protigga	-
Taa Hole	1964
Upohaar	1955
Utsorgo	1983
Mondomodhur	1981
Nishitrishna	1978
Aami Ratan	1979
Noya Michil	1972
Daabi	1974
Bonpalashir Podaboli	1972
Ogo Suncho	1957
Bonjotsna	1969
Sachimaar Songsaar	1971
Biraaj Bou	1972
Ekadoshi	-
Tir Bhanga Dheu	1977
Roktojoba	1985
Sare Chuattor	1953
G T Road	1979
Behula Lokhindor	1977
Bhagyalipi	1979
Dub De Mon Kali Bole	1979
Haashitukui Thaak	-
Sondhay Surya	-
Bhorer Kuasha	-
Baari Theke Paliye	1959
Mriter Morte Agomon	1959
Shakuntala	1971
Archana	1972
Chupi Chupi	-
Aapanjan	1968
Maatir Putul	-
Maa O Meye	1969
Raajpurush	1987
Prithibi Amare Chai	1957
Sei Chookh	1976
Omor Prem	-
Jibon Moron	1983
Surer Poroshe	1957
Punormilan	1957
Aparadhi	1988
Aamader Desh	-
Dui Bondhu	-

See also

• List of Indian film music directors

External links

• Shyamal Mitra at IMDb
• Shyamal Mitra