The Lesser Known Genius - Honest To The Core Creator ( Abhijit Bandopadhyay)

February 2022 was bad for the music world of India. Immediately after Swaraswati Puja Day the country lost Lataji. Establishments remained closed as a mark of respect . She was regarded by one and all. It is learnt that when she was member of Rajya Sabha, the then Prime Minister, Atal Behari Bajpai waited to greet her. With her voice she mesmerised all. She sang in many languages and sang more Bengali songs than songs in her mother tongue ( Marathi ). West Bengal declared half day holiday and a statue is being put up at a park. She had numerous fans in West Bengal. But this is nothing special. All loved her voice and the renderation of her songs.

Only after a week ( 15th February) another renowned music director of Bollywood, Bappi Lahiri left us. He also sang songs which remain in our memory even today.Bappi Lahiri made it big Mumbai having scored numerous film tunes. He changed the pattern of music in Bollywood. His song on disco remains popular even today. He scored and sang songs for Bengali films too. Bappi Lahiri popular as Bappida was born in Jalpaiguri Town and was a regular visitor to Siliguri each year. He was known in Hollywood too for his style of music. After his death the media carried many startling coverages.

On 15th February West Bengal lost one of the dearest lady singers Sandhya Mukhopadhyay. She mesmerised the people of West Bengal with her voice. Her songs carried their own style yet she was a household name for being the voice of none other than West Bengali's much talked about herione, Suchitra Sen. The two combined well to keep songs sung by Sandhyay Mukhopadhyay for her in her films. It took time to overcome the loss of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay.

Another week had gone when West Bengal received the news of the death of the music director Abhijit Bandhopadhyay. His death almost went by silently even though he created music which linger in our lips even today. He was both a lyricist and music director. But his creations were in Bengali. The other parts of the country failed to hear his enchanting songs in the lips of others. He died at the age of 90. Voices like Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey, Arati Mukherjee, Haimanit Shukla sang for his tunes. The song sung by Haimanti Shukla, ` Ekhono Sarangi ta bajche, ekno chena chena atorer gondho .....................' ( The instrument is still playing . Till now the known Ator smell is there................) still is a favourite. As one continues to hear the song one is taken far to imagine things with the song. Song takes the listener to the length the song aims take one with him. As my lines are being typed the song is being played and my mind is being carried away symbolising the strength of his creation. Abhijit Bandopadhyay was one of unwritten disciples of the pride of West Bengal,Salil Chowdhury. He was a class of his own. Honest to the core. Hemanta Mukhopadhyay once could not sing for Bandopadhyay for Durga Puja and apoligised through a note. Hemanta Mukhodayay thought he made up that he gave the credit for the song to Bandopadhyay in the label of the record released by Columbia label. Abhijit Bandopadhyay never took the credit for the song even though it was hit. What would say to the creator ? Yes he was not known to all as he he rendered from the back through lyrics and music direction. Had he been a singer he would have received a bigger farewell from the world which is now torn by attack by the stonger on the weaker humanity. This also started in February. The month has not only taken away people on whom we sought escape but also people who want to live in this world. With each moment a life is extinguished.

Bandopadhyay first gave the background score for a song in 1950. It was sung by Shyamal Mitra, `Chipkhan tin dar'. Hemanta Mukhopadhyay sang the song, `Amon ekta jhor uthuk' .Subir Sen sang the song, `Saradin tomay bhebhe' . Dwijen Mukhopadhyay sang , `Satnir har debo'. Pratima Bandopadhyay sang, ` Tomar Do Chok ' . His first break as a music director was in 1966 for the film , `Ashru Die Lekha' . Sandhya Mukhopadhyay sang for the film.

Others who sang for him in films include Arati Mukherjee ( `Tung tang pionote') , Manna Dey ( `Jharna Jhar Jharie' ), Asha Bhosle ( `O pakhi ure ai' ), Pinto Bhattacharjee ( `Asha jaoa pather dhare' ), Kishore Kumar ( `Sei Tanpura ache') . He was music to about 150 films in Bengali.

Had he rendered music in other languages his creations would have been reached many more. His loss would have been understood better. In the midst of stalwarts like Lataji, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay and Bappi Lahiri the passing away of Abhijit Bandopadhyay remained submerged. February, 2022 has caused loss to India, West Bengal by taking away those who kept the people away from this mundane world. Those who gave us solace during the menace caused by Covid-19. February has also been unkind to the humanity . World peace stood rocked.

Yes the creator is not among us today but his creations will continue to mesmerise lovers of music. He will be remembered as one who believed in his own creation not on others, the `mantra' of any creation.

Note : Songs mentioned are all in Bengali Language.