Bengali music legend Ramkumar Chattopadhyay dead

Kolkata, March 18 (IANS) Legendary Bengali singer Ramkumar Chattopadhyay, known for popularising the 'shyama sangeet' and 'tappa' genres in West Bengal, died at a private hospital here Wednesday, hospital officials said. He was 89.

Chattopadhyay had been admitted to Belle Vue Clinic in south Kolkata with some complications March 9. 'He died at 4.36 p.m. Wednesday at the hospital,' a hospital spokesperson told IANS.

Besides being an exponent of 'shyama sangeet' - songs dedicated to Hindu goddess Kali - and 'tappa' songs composed by musician Nidhu Babu, he was a huge hit with the masses in West Bengal and Bangladesh for his funny and playful spin-offs on traditional music.

He is survived by singer son Srikumar Chattopadhyay.