Pankaj Mullick : Another great Music Director of 20th century
Pankaj Mullick's music composition held a unique position right from the early thirties to the present day, maintaining an unfailing popularity for both young and old. Mullick also brought the concept of the 'tonga song' to the Indian screen for the first time with the immortal 'Piya Milan Ko Jaana'. He was also responsible for bringing down the pitch of Saigal's voice and toning its attractive sonorous quality.
Pankaj Mullick was born in Calcutta to Manimohan Mullick in the year 1905. His father was greatly interested in traditional music and would invite eminent singers and instrumentalists to perform during religious festivals.He was initially trained by Durgadas Banerjee and Dinendranath Tagore.He dropped college to cherish his first love music.In the year 1927 his career started when he got the opportunity of being a musician in the Indian Broadcasting Company.
Pankaj Mullick was a Bengali born and bred. And it was Rabindra sangeet that brought him into light. As he once put it: "Rabindra sangeet is my life. Therein lies my redemption. It is not just music but something more. I can't speak for others but Rabindra sangeet tranports me away from this world, far away, farther than even the sun and the moon and the stars!" Pankaj Mullick was introduced to the Tagore family, which was to have an everlasting influence upon him. Rabindra Sangeet became his forte, and he is the only man who has tuned a Rabindranath poem to music with the great poet's total approval. Through Pankaj Mullick's songs that Rabindra Sangeet became popular in every Bengali household, even raising great interest among Western music connoisseurs.
Mullick first joined Calcutta's famous New Theatre's where he trained and conducted rehearsals for artists like K C Dey and Saigal.His first break was Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933). Here, he shared the credits with R C Boral. Later he worked with R. C. Boral for P C Barua's legendary tragedy, Devdas (1935), where Saigal rendered 'Dukh Ke Din Ab Beetat Nahin'. Their other joint hits included Barua's Maya and Grihadah (both 1936), Hem Chunder's Karodpati (1936) and Nitin Bose's President (1937).
Pankaj joined films during the silent era and provided background music using Tagore melodies and conducting a live orchestra during the screening of silent films Chorkanta and Chashar Meye. After the arrival of sound Pankaj scored the music for New Theatres' first talkie, Dena Paona in Bengali (1932) followed by Attorthy's costume epic Yahoodi ki Ladki (1933), the latter being his maiden bid to score music for a Hindi/Urdu film. Later on Mullick got his first opportunity as an independent music director in P C Barua's Mukti (1937). It had Mullick's composition for Tagore's poem 'Diner Sheshe Ghumer Deshe', which became a huge hit. As a composer, Pankaj almost revolutionised the concept of music content in films. He was the first music director to establish the use of western orchestra and the equally important role of background music in highlighting the moods and tempo of the scenes. He was enthusiastic about using the piano and the accordion besides, conventional Indian instruments. Even today his compositions like Pran chahe do not pass as old-fashioned. It was Barua's Mukti (1937) where he not only composed its music but also made his debut as an actor in the role of a poor philosopher-singer and made himself known to the cinema fans.
In 1944, Mullick composed and even sang 'Do Naina Matware Tihare', 'Ai Kaat Be Taqdeer' and 'Chupo Na Chupo Na' for Chunder's Meri Bahen.The songs became instant hits.He scored many of Saigal's best songs, including 'Soja Rajkumari' and 'Main Kya Jaanoo Kya Jaadoo Hai'.
Who can foget the soul-stirring music by Pankaj Mullick in the composition, "Mahishasura-mardini", which still resonates within Bengali households every year at the dawn of Mahalaya.
He passed away in the year 1978.He is the author of four books on music, which illustrated the correct structure of Ragas, the rukes and canons of Indian classical music. His autobiography has been published whose title is 'Amar Jug Amar Gaan'.
Honours and Awards
- 1956-Sangeet Ratnakar
- 1970-Padmashree
- 1975-Rabindra Tagoracharya
- 1945-Best Music Director for Dui Purush
Best of Pankaj Mullick : Hindi Film
Hum Chale Watan
Movie : Kashinath
Singer Asit Baran
http://www.badongo.com/file/299847
Lo Shuru Hui
Movie : Kashinath
Singers : Asit Baran and Bela Mukherjee
http://www.badongo.com/file/299881
Aye Qutub-e-Taqdeer
Movie : My Sister
Singers : Pankaj Mullick
http://www.badongo.com/file/299891
Do Naina Matware
Movie : My Sister
Singer : K L Saigal
http://www.badongo.com/file/299909
So Ja rajkumari
Movie Zindagi
Singer : K L Saigal
http://www.badongo.com/file/299933
Pankaj Mullick Live : 1964
Chale Pawan
http://www.badongo.com/file/300058
Diner Sheshe Ghumer Deshe : Rabindra sangeet
It was a poem by Gurudev which he gave music with the total approval of the Poet himself. It is said that Gurudev told him "Pankaj you have given excellent tune maybe even better than what I would have given."
http://www.badongo.com/file/300070
Best songs sung by him : Private Albums
Chhor Musafir Maya Nagar ab
http://www.badongo.com/file/300175
Mere hathiley Shyam
http://www.badongo.com/file/300190
Fan Fictions
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
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