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Salil Chowdhury
Image of Salil Chowdhury
Background information
Born (1925-11-19)19 November 1925
Ghazipur, 24 Parganas, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India)
Died 5 September 1995(1995-09-05) (aged 71)
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Genres Bengali, folk, film base, western classical fusion, Indian classical fusion
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Poet, Lyricist, Story-writer

Salil Chowdhury (19 November 1925 – 5 September 1995) was an Indian music director, songwriter, lyricist, writer and poet who predominantly composed for Bengali, Hindi and Malayalam films. He composed music for films in 13 languages. This includes over 75 Hindi films, 41 Bengali films, 27 Malayalam films, and a few Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Odia and Assamese films. His musical ability was widely recognised and acknowledged in the Indian film industry. He was an accomplished composer and arranger who was proficient in several musical instruments, including flute, the piano, and the esraj. He was also widely acclaimed and admired for his inspirational and original poetry in Bengali.

The first Bengali film for which Chowdhury composed music was Paribortan, released in 1949. Mahabharati, released in 1994, was the last of the 41 Bengali films where he rendered his music. He is affectionately called Salilda by his admirers.

Career

Early influences – childhood and teenage

Salil Chowdhury was born on 19 November 1925, in a village called Ghazipur in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Salil's childhood was spent in the Tea Gardens Region of Assam. His father was reputed to stage plays with coolies and other low-paid workers of the tea-gardens. While his father, Dr Gyanendra Chowdhury, was the Medical Officer at Hathikuli Tea Estate near Kaziranga in Assam, between 1931 and 1951, the Chief Medical Officer was Dr Maloni, an Irish national. During his early years, he used to listen to western orchestral music on Dr Maloni's gramophone. To date, this information stands engraved in black granite in Hathikuli Tea Estate in his memory. During the second world war Chowdhury got the opportunity to closely observe human sufferings, hunger and problem of the refugees. He studied in Harinavi D.V.A.S High School and there after graduating from Bangabasi College, affiliated to the University of Calcutta in Kolkata, and during this period his political ideas were formulated along with a considerable maturity in his musical ideas.

As a teenager in school, Chowdhury already had an interest in music, and played the flute, harmonium and esraj. He learnt to play the piano from his elder brother at the age of 6. Once in college, he also began to compose tunes. His first popular song was "Becharpoti tomar bichaar" (lit. the days of new judgement have come because people are now awake), set to a kirtan tune. Chowdhury composed it in 1945 during the Indian National Army trials when the freedom fighters had returned from Andaman jail. Chowdhury shifted to a village in 24 parganas to live with his maternal uncles, when he was witness to a big peasant uprising there in 1943. He got involved with them and began writing songs for the peasant movement. In 1944, while studying for his MA, Chowdhury witnessed people dying on the streets of Calcutta, as 50 lakh Bengalis died during the famine. The famine was man-made as local rice was instead directed to Britain's war effort overseas, leading to scarcity, aggravated by black marketeers and hoarders. This led Chowdhury to become fully involved in the peasant movement, and he became a full-time member of IPTA and the Communist Party. Subsequently, arrest warrants were issued in his name, and he went underground in the Sunderbans, hiding in paddy fields and supported by local peasants. During this time, he continued writing plays and songs.

In 1944, a young Salil came to Calcutta for his graduate studies. He joined the IPTA (Indian Peoples Theater Association) the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India. He started writing songs and setting tunes for them. The IPTA theatrical outfit travelled through the villages and the cities bringing these songs to the common man. Songs like Bicharpati, Runner and Abak prithibi became extremely popular with the general population at the time.

Songs like Gnaayer bodhu (গাঁয়ের বধূ), which he composed at the age of 20, brought about a new wave of Bengali music. Almost every notable singer at the time from West Bengal had sung at least one of his songs. A few examples are Debabrata Biswas, Manna Dey, Hemanta Mukherjee, Shyamal Mitra, Sandhya Mukherjee, Manabendra Mukherjee, Subir Sen, and Pratima Banerjee.

Film career

Salil Chowdhury with eminent personalities 1
Sitting from left: Robin Majumdar, Bhanu Banerjee, Robin Chatterjee, Ila Bose, Bani Ghoshal, Sabita Chowdhury and Salil Chowdhury
Standing from left: V. Balsara, Shyamal Mitra, Montu Bose and Jahar Roy

The first Bengali film in which Salil Chowdhury composed music was Paribortan, released in 1949. Mahabharati, released in 1994, was the last of the 41 Bengali films where he rendered his music.

In an interview with All India Radio, Salil Chowdhury described his coming to Bombay in 1953 as a "stroke of luck". He was writing the script for a Bengali film about a peasant who was disowned of his land and had gone to Calcutta to earn money as a Rickshaw puller. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who heard of it from Chowdhury during a visit to Calcutta, liked it immensely and suggested that he narrate it to the director Bimal Roy. Roy heard it, and asked him to meet him again the next morning. However, when Chowdhury went to meet him the next day, he learnt that Roy had rushed to Bombay on an urgent call. A week later, he received a telegram from Roy that he wanted to turn his script into a movie. This resulted in Chowdhury's debut in the Hindi film industry in 1953 as the music director for Do Bigha Zamin (1953). The movie was based on Tagore's poem by the same name, but the story was different and was written by Salil Chowdhury himself. Directed by Bimal Roy, this film took his career to new heights when it became the first film to win the Filmfare Best Movie Award and won the international Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

After working for about 20 years in Bengali and Hindi films, he entered the Malayalam film industry and, in 1964, composed music for the movie Chemmeen. He went on to compose music for films in 13 languages. This includes over 75 Hindi films, 41 Bengali films, around 27 Malayalam films, and a few Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Odia and Assamese films. Asked about his method, Chowdhury described it thus – He would usually ask the film maker to explain the situation to him, then Chowdhury would compose a tune to suit the mood, and the lyric writer would set in words. This remained his practice for most of his films including Madhumati, in which Shailendra wrote the lyrics subsequently.

During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Chowdhury contributed to the programmes of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra based in Kolkata. His 1971 album Bangla Amar Bangla was meant for the liberation struggle. Later, when Chowdhury visited Bangladesh in 1990, he was given the welcome of a mass leader in Dhaka. Chowdhury was posthumously awarded the Muktijoddha Maitreye Samman in 2012.

Poet, Playwright, Short story writer, Salil also directed a film Pinjre Ke Panchhi starring Meena Kumari, Balraj Sahani and Mehmood based on his own story and screenplay in 1966. Salil Chowdhury was the Founder of Bombay Youth Choir, the first ever Secular Choir in India in 1958 as its composer and conductor - he inspired scores of secular choir groups to be formed throughout India formulating a new genre of music using vocal polyphony for Indian Folk and Contemporary Music.

Personal life

Salil Chowdhury married the painter Jyoti Chowdhury in July 1952 in a temple. He had three daughters with her – Aloka, Tulika and Lipika. Later, he had a court marriage with singer Sabita Banerjee, with whom he had two sons, Sukanta and Sanjoy, and two daughters, Antara and Sanchari. Sanjoy Chowdhury is a successful music composer and has scored music for over 100 feature films. Sabita Chowdhury was a legendary singer and their daughter Antara Chowdhury too a known singer. Smt. Sabita Chowdhury died on 29 June 2017.

Legacy

Salil Chowdhury 2013 stamp of India
Chowdhury on a 2013 stamp of India
  • Salil's music was a blending of Eastern and the Western music traditions. He had once said: "I want to create a style which shall transcend borders – a genre which is emphatic and polished, but never predictable". He dabbled in a lot of things and it was his ambition to achieve greatness in everything he did. But at times, his confusion was fairly evident: "I do not know what to opt for: poetry, story writing, orchestration or composing for films. I just try to be creative with what fits the moment and my temperament", he once told a journalist.
  • Salil's love for Western classical music started when he was a young boy growing up in an Assam tea garden where his father worked as a doctor. His father inherited a large number of western classical records and a gramophone from a departing Irish doctor. While Salil listened to Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, and others everyday, his daily life was surrounded by the sound of the forest, chirping of the birds, sound of the flute and the local folk-music of Assam. This left a lasting impression in young Salil. He became a self-taught flute player and his favourite composer was Mozart. His compositions often used folk melodies or melodies based on Indian classical ragas but the orchestration was very much western in its construction. According to his daughter Antara, (Ref.: Ek Fankar @ Vividbharati Radio Programme at 10.00 pm on 19 November 2013), Salil himself once joked that he was Mozart, reborn.
  • Salil being a composing exponent, he even sensed the talent of a guitarist who played in his orchestra and uttered that, "I think he’s going to be the best composer in India". The guitarist eventually turned out to be Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. A. R Rahman's father, R. K Shekhar used to conduct Salil Chowdhury's arrangements in South Indian film music. Rahman once said that his musical understanding was greatly influenced by the musical sessions conducted by Salil Chowdhury.
  • "The Salil Chowdhury Foundation of Music, Social Help & Education Trust" was created in 2002 by Sabita Chowdhury, wife, and Antara Chowdhury, daughter of the late composer, to carry forward the legacy and preserve the works of Salil Chowdhury. In 2015 the Salil Chowdhury Memorial Concert and Honours were established in memory of the Genius to honour some of the greatest Indian singers and musicians.

Filmography

Hindi

Year Film
1953 Do Bigha Zamin
1954 Biraaj bahu; Naukri; Manohar
1955 Amaanat; Taangewaali
1956 Aawaaz; Parivaar; Jaagte Raho
1957 Aparadhi Kaun; Ek Gaaon ki Kahaani; LaalBatti; Musaafir, Zamaana
1958 Madhumati
1959 Heeramoti
1960 Jawaahar; Honeymoon; Qaanoon; Parakh; Usne Kaha Tha
1961 Chaardeewaari; Chhayaa; Kaabuliwaalaa; Maayaa; Memdidi; Sapan Suhaane
1962 Half Ticket; Jhoola; Prem Patra
1965 Chaand Aur Sooraj; Poonam Ki Raat
1966 Pinjre Ki Panchhi; Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose; Jawaab Aayega
1968 Mitti Ka Dev
1969 Ittefaaq; Sara Akaash
1970 Aanand
1971 Gehraa Raaz; Mere Apne
1972 Annadata; Anokha Daan; Anokha Milan; Mere Bhaiyaa; Sabse Bada Sukh
1974 Rajnigandhaa
1975 Chhoti si Baat; Sangat
1976 Jeevan Jyoti; Mrigayaa; Udaan Chhoo
1977 Minoo; Anand Mahal
1979 Kalaa Patthar; Jeenaa Yahaan
1980 Chehre Pe Chehra; Chemmeen Lahrein; Chirutha; Kuhasaa; Naani Maa; Room no.203; Daisy
1981 Plot no. 5; Agni Pareeksha
1982 Dil Ka Saathi Dil; Darpok ki Dosti; Artap
1984 Kanoon Kya Karega
1986 Zevar
1988 Trishaagni
1989 Kamla Ki Maut; Nehru The Jewel of India; Atmadaan; Aakhiri Badlaa
1990 Triyaatri; Hamaari Shaadi * (MD: Sanjoy Chowdhury and Salil Chowdhury)
1991 Netraheen Saakshi;
1994 Tiriacharittar (or Striyascharittram)
1994 Swami Vivekananda
1995 Mera Damaad
Salil Chowdhury Filmography (Detailed)
Year Title Language Other Notes Director
1949 Poribartan Bengali Satyen Bose
1951 Barjatri Bengali Satyen Bose
1952 Pasher Bari Bengali
1953 Bansher Kella Bengali
1953 Bhore hoye elo Bengali
1953 Do Bigha Zamin Hindi Bimal Roy
1954 Biraaj bahu Hindi Bimal Roy
1954 Naukari Hindi
1954 Aaj Sondhyay Bengali
1954 Mohila Mahal Bengali
1955 Amaanat Hindi
1955 Ek Din Ratre Bengali Shombhu Mitra and Amit Moitra
1955 Tangewali Hindi
1955 Rikshawala Bengali Story written by Salil Chowdhury. In 1952 story was used by Bimal Roy to create "Do Bigha Zameen" Satyen Bose
1956 Raat Bhore Bengali Mrinal Sen
1956 Parivar Hindi
1956 Jagte Raho Hindi
1956 Aawaz Hindi
1957 Apradhi Kaun? Hindi
1957 Ek Gaon Ki Kahani Hindi Dulal Guha
1957 Gotoma the Buddha Hindi A documentary film
1957 Lal Batti Hindi
1957 Musafir Hindi Hrishikesh Mukherjee
1957 Zamaana Hindi
1958 Bari Theke Paliye Bengali
1958 Madhumati Hindi Won – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Bimal Roy
1959 Heeramoti Hindi
1959 The River Hindi
1960 Jawaahar Hindi
1960 Gangaa Bengali Rajen Tarafdar
1960 Parakh Hindi
1960 Honeymoon Hindi
1960 Kanoon Hindi Background Score only. B. R. Chopra
1960 Usne Kaha Tha Hindi Moni Bhattacharjee
1961 Rai Bahadur Bengali
1961 Komol Gandhaar Bengali Ritwik Ghatak
1961 Kabuliwala Hindi From – Tagore's story Kabuliwala in Begali film 1960
1961 Char Diwari Hindi
1961 Chhaya Hindi Hrishikesh Mukherjee
1961 Maya Hindi
1961 Mem-Didi Hindi
1961 Sapne Suhane Hindi
1962 Half Ticket Hindi
1962 Sunbai Marathi
1962 Jhoola Hindi
1962 Prem Patra Hindi – From a Bengali film " Sagarika"
1964 Kinu Goaalaar Goli Bengali
1964 Ayanaanto Bengali
1964 Lal Patthar Hindi – From a Bengali film " Lal Pathar"
1965 Chand Aur Suraj Hindi
1965 Poonam Ki Raat Hindi
1966 Paari Bengali
1966 Pinjre Ke Panchhi Hindi
1966 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Hindi
1966 Jawaab Aayega Hindi
1965 Chemmeen Malayalam
1968 Mitti Ka Dev Hindi
1968 Anokhi Raat Hindi Background Score only
1968 Chehere Hindi TV series
1968 Ezhu Rathrikal Malayalam
1969 Ittefaq Hindi Background Score only
1969 Sara Akash Hindi Background Score only
1970 Abhayam Malayalam Background Score only
1970 Aparajeyo Assamese CHATURANGA – Phani Talukdar, Munin Bayan, Atul Bardaloi & Gauri Barman
1971 Anand Hindi Hrishikesh Mukherjee
1971 Samshaya Phala Kannada Won – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director
1971 Uyir Tamil Background Score only
1971 Gehraa Raaz Hindi
1971 Mere Apne Hindi
1971 Ghar Sansaar Gujarati
1972 Marjina Aabdullah Bengali
1972 Raktaakto Banglaa Bengali
1972 Anokha Milan Hindi
1972 Mere Bhaiya Hindi
1972 Sabse Bada Sukh Hindi
1972 Annadata Hindi
1972 Anokha Daan Hindi
1973 Swapnam Malayalam
1973 Achanak Hindi Background Score only
1973 Karumbu Tamil
1974 Nellu Malayalam
1974 Chairman Chalamayya Telugu
1974 Rajnigandha Hindi
1975 Rasaleela Malayalam
1975 Sangat Hindi
1975 Mausam Hindi Background Score only
1975 Chhoti Si Baat Hindi
1979 Pratheeksha Malayalam
1975 Neela Ponman Malayalam
1975 Onde Roopa Eradu Guna Kannada
1975 Raagam Malayalam
1975 Thomasleeha Malayalam
1976 Jeevan Jyoti Hindi
1976 Udaan Chhoo Hindi
1976 Thulavarsham Malayalam
1977 Kobita Bengali Bharat Shamsher
1977 Minoo Hindi
1977 Sister Bengali
1977 Mrigayaa Hindi
1977 Anand Mahal Hindi
1977 Aparadhi Malayalam
1977 Chinna Ninna Muddaduve Kannada
1977 Dweep Malayalam Background score only
1977 Vishukkani Malayalam
1977 Kokila Kannada
1978 Ee Ganam Marakkumo Malayalam
1978 Madanolsavam Malayalam
1978 Naukri Hindi Background Score.
Also Story Writer
1978 Samayamayilla Polum Malayalam
1978 Etho Oru Swapnam Malayalam
1979 Jibon Je Rakam Bengali
1979 Rupaali Soikate Bengali Alamgir Kabir
1979 Srikaanter Will Bengali
1979 Azhiyadha Kolangal Tamil
1979 Chuvanna Chirakukal Malayalam
1979 Kaala Patthar Hindi Background Score only
1979 Jeena Yahan Hindi
1979 Puthiya Velicham Malayalam
1980 Byapika Bidaay Bengali
1980 Parabesh Bengali
1980 Antarghaat Bengali
1980 Air Hostess Malayalam
1980 Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam Tamil
1981 Agni Pareeksha Hindi
1981 Akaler Sandhaney (In Search of Famine) Bengali Mrinal Sen
1981 Chehre Pe Chehra Hindi Background Score only
1981 Batasi Jhada Odia
1981 Plot No. 5 Hindi Background Score only
1982 Artap Bengali
1982 Anthiveyilile Ponnu Malayalam
1984 Kanoon Kya Karega Hindi Background Score only
1984 Vellam Malayalam Background Score only
1985 Protiggya Bengali
1985 Debikaa Bengali
1985 Mowchor Bengali
1985 Manas Kanya Assamese Phani Talukdar
1986 Jibon Bengali
1987 Zevar Hindi Background Score only
1988 Trishagni Hindi
1989 Swarnatrishaa Bengali
1989 Aakhri Badla Hindi
1989 Kamla Ki Maut Hindi Background Score only
1990 Nehru: The Jewel of India Hindi
1990/91 Aashrita Bengali Background Score only
1991 Haaraaner Naatjamaai Bengali
1991/92 Thamburan Malayalam
1991 Vasthuhara Malayalam
1994 Mahabharoti Bengali
1994 Sei Somoy Bengali
1994 Triyacharitra Hindi
1994 Swami Vivekananda Hindi G. V. Iyer
1995 Thumboli Kadappuram Malayalam
1985 Mera Damad Hindi
1995 Agar Aisa Ho Toh Hindi Television series

Bengali

Year Film
1949 Poribartan
1951 Barjaatri
1952 Paasher Baadi
1953 Baansher Kella
1953 Bhor Hoye Elo
1954 Aaj Sondhaay
1954 Mohila Mahal
1955 Rickshawaala
1956 Raat Bhore
1956 Ak din Raatre
1959 Baadi Thekey Paaliye
1960 Gangaa
1961 Rai Bahadur
1964 Kinu Goaalaar Goli
1964 Ayanaanto
1964 Laal Paathor
1966 Paari
1972 Marjina Aabdullah
1972 Raktaakto Banglaa (made in Bangladesh)
1977 Kobita
1977 Sister
1979 Jibon Je Rakam;Rupaali Soikate (made in Bangladesh)
1979 Srikaanter Will
1980 Byapika Bidaay
1980 Parabesh
1980 Akaler Sandhaney
1980 Antarghaat
1982 Artap
1985 Protiggya
1985 Debikaa
1985 Mowchor
1986 Jibon
1989 Swarnatrishaa
1990/91 Aashrita **(background: Salil) (MD:Hridaynath Mangeskar)
1991 Haaraaner Naatjamaai
1994 Mahabharoti
1994 Sei Somoy
1961 Komol Gandhaar
1981 Aswamedher Ghoraa

Malayalam

Year Film
1965 Chemmeen
1968 Ezhuraathrikal
1970 Abhayam
1973 Swapnam
1974 Nellu
1975 Neelaponman
1975 Raagam
1975 Rasaleela
1975 Thomasleeha / St. Thomas)
1976 Aparadhi
1976 Thulavarsham
1977 Dweepu (background music only)
1977 Vishukkanni
1978 Samayamayilla polum
1978 Etho Oru Swapnam
1978 Madanolsavam
1978 Devdasi (Unreleased)
1978 Ee Ganam Marakkumo
1978 Chuvanna Chirakukal
1979 Pratheeksha
1979 Puthiya Velicham
1980 Air Hostess
1982 Anthiveyilile Ponnu
1985 Vellam (background music only)
1991 Vasthuhara (background music only)
1992 Thamburan (Unreleased)
1995 Thumboli Kadappuram

Others

Language Year Film
Tamil 1971 Uyir (Salilda composed background music only - MD was Ramana Sridhar)
Tamil 1973 Karumbu
Tamil 1978 Paruvamazhai
Tamil 1979 Azhiyatha Kolangal
Tamil 1980 Thooraththu Idimuzhakkam
Telugu 1974 Chairman Chalamayya
Telugu 1978 Amara Prema
Kannada 1971 Samsayaphala
Kannada 1975 Onde Rupa Eradu Guna
Kannada 1977 Chinna Ninna Muddaduve; Kokila
Gujarati 1978 Ghar Sansaar
Assamese 1970 Aparajeyo
Assamese 1985

1989

Manas Kanya

Bangshadhar

(Bankground Score)

Odia

1981 Batasi Jhada
Marathi 1962 Sunbai

Discography

List of some songs for which music or lyrics were composed by Salil Chowdhury (in alphabetical order)

Salil Chowdhury Discography
Year Song Singer Language Film/album Lyrics Music
1955 Ab machal utha hain dariya Chorus Hindi Non-Film 78 rpm record ( N76006) Govind Munshi Salil Chowdhury
1949 Abujh mon re bol more Chorus Bangla Poribartan Bimal Ghosh Salil Chowdhury
1946 Aage chalo aage chalo Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1958 Aaja Re Pardesi Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1953 Aaja tu aa Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Do Bigha Zameen (Story written by Salil Chowdhury "Rikshawala") Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1953 Aajab teri duniya Md Rafi with Chorus Hindi Do Bigha Zameen (Story written by Salil Chowdhury "Rikshawala") Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Aaji shunye gagan pothe Bangla Mohila Mahal Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1961 Aakela tujhe jaane na du Lata Hindi Chaar Deewaari Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Aankho mein masti sharaab ki Talat Mahmood Hindi Chhayaa Rajinder Krishan Salil Chowdhury
1945 Aalor desh thekey aandhaar paar hoyee Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1953 Aamar kichhu moner asha
[Chale thumak thumak - Hindi (1957) Lata Mangeskar (Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani])
Utpala Sen Bangla - Salil Chowdhury
1953 Aamay kichhu khete dao ma Mahananda Baul Bangla Bhor Hoye Elo Salil Chowdhury
1949 Aamra kishore dal Chorus Bangla Poribartan Bimal Ghosh Salil Chowdhury
1954 Aarzi hamari Kishore Kumar Hindi Naukri Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Aanshu samajhke kyun mujhe Talat Mahmood Hindi Chhayaa Rajinder Krishan Salil Chowdhury
1980 Alaiyendi Kollvom S. P. Balasubramaniam, P. Susheela Tamil Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam Salil Chowdhury
1961 Ay dil kahan teri manjil Dwijen Mukherjee & Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1961 Ay dil kahan teri manjil Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1961 Ay mere pyaare watan Manna Dey Hindi Kaabuliwaalaa Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar Salil Chowdhury
1946 Ay re o ay re Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1955 Ay re o paushali batase Chorus Bangla Rikshawala Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1955 Baa.nki adaayei.n dekhnaa ji dekhnaa Geeta Dutt Hindi Amaanat Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1957 Baat koi matlab ki hai zaroor
[Jay jay din - Bengali (1967) Biswajit]
Asha Vonsle Hindi Aparadhi Kaun Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1982 Beeti dino ki sapne
[Kayse manaao - Hindi (1961) Mukesh]
[Chanchal sonali pakhnay - Bengali (1982) Arundhati]
Arundhati Home Chowdhury Hindi Non-Film Yogesh Salil Chowdhury
1953 Bhaai re.. Dharti kahe pukar ke Lata Manna Chorus Hindi Do Bigha Zameen (Story written by Salil Chowdhury "Rikshawala") Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1944 Bhango bhango bhango bhango bhango kaaraa Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1947 Bichaarpoti tomaar bichaar korbey jaaraa Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1954 Bodhua lagiya basraso sajanu Bangla Aaj Sandhyay Salil Chowdhury
1957 Bole pihu pihu pi papiharaa Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1956 Bone noy mone aaj ronger mela Sandhya Mukhopadhyay Bangla Raat Bhore Gouriprasanna Mazumdar Salil Chowdhury
1954 Bristi pare tapur tupur Hiralal Sarkhel Bangla IPTA Bhaskar Bose Salil Chowdhury
1958 Chadh Gayo Papi Bichhua Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1957 Chale thumak thumak taare
[Amaar kichhu moner aasha - Bengali (1953) Utpala Sen]
Lata Mangeskar Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1982 Chanchal sonali pakhnay [Kayse maano piyawa - Hindi (1961) Mukesh] Arundhati Home Chowdhury Bangla Non-Film Salil Chowdhury
1955 Chet re moorakh..re moorakh tu kyaa Asha & Manna Dey Hindi Amaanat Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1955 Chhal chhal paani hamaari zindagaani Asha & Manna Dey Hindi Amaanat Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Chham chham naachata aayee bahaar Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Chhayaa Rajinder Krishan Salil Chowdhury
1954 Chhotasa ghar hoga Kishorekumar & Shaila Belle Hindi Naukri Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Chhotasa ghar hoga Hemanta Mukherjee Hindi Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1957 Chuk chuk chhaiya chhaiya Manna Dey, Chorus Hindi Lal Batti Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1955 Dekho tangaa mera nirala Md. Rafi Hindi Taangewaali Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1957 Desi kyaa bidesi, goraa bhi kitnaa Shamshad Begum, Manna Dey Hindi Lal Batti Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1946 Dheu uthchhey karaa tutchhey Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1954 Dil mera [Na jani re - Bengali (1954) Gayatri Basu] Shamshad Begam Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1958 Dil Tadap Tadap Ke Mukesh, Lata Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Dil se dil ki Dor baandhe Lata, Mukesh Hindi Chhayaa Rajinder Krishan Salil Chowdhury
1954 Do matwale do dilwale Samshad Begum, Chorus Hindi Manohar V.M.Adil and J.S. Kashyap Salil Chowdhury
1954 Dol gayee dharti Md Rafi Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1956 Dukher simaa naai Satinath Mukherjee Bangla Raat Bhore Gouriprasanna Mazumdar Salil Chowdhury
1954 Duru duru duru guru guru guru
[Aarzi hamari - Hindi - Kishore]
Bangla Mohila Mahal Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1956 E maajhi re Shyamal Mitra Bangla Raat Bhore Gouriprasanna Mazumdar Salil Chowdhury
1960 Ebar Amar Somoy Holo Madhuri Chattopadhyay Bangla Puja Album Salil Chowdhury
1956 Ei duniyay bhai sob i hoy Manna Dey Bangla Ak Din Raatre Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1954 Ek chhotisi naukri ka talabgaar hoon Kishore, Shyamal Mitra, Shankar Dasgupta Hindi Naukri Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Gangaa aaye kahaa.n se
[Uthaali paathaali amaar buuk (1960) Manna Dey (Ganga)]
Hemant Kumar Hindi Kaabuliwaalaa Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar Salil Chowdhury
1958 Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadke Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Gori babul ka Lata, chorus Hindi Chaar Deewaari Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1946 Gowrisringa tulechhe sheer Chorus Bangla IPTA Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1955 Ghoom Aay Re Aay Pratima Bandyopadhyay Bangla Puja album Mangalacharan Chattopadhyay Salil Chowdhury
1979 Habuchandra Raja from "Chhotasa ghar hoga" Antara Chowdhury Bangla Salil Chowdhury
1958 Hai Bichhua Hai Re Hai Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1957 Hain pyaar ke do matwaale Geeta Dutt,Manna Dey Hindi Aparadhi Kaun Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1957 Hay jhilmil jhilmil ye shaam ke saaye
[Shyamameghame - Malayalam (1977) K.J.Yesudas ]
Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Lal Batti Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1957 Hay koi dekh lega Lata Mangeskar, Talat Mahmood Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1955 Halke halke chalo saa.nware
[Unaru Unaru (Malayalam) Movie- Air Hostess (1980) K.J.Yesudas, Vani Jairam]
Lata Mangeskar, Hemant Mukherjee Hindi Taangewaali Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1953 Hariyaala sawaan dhol bajaata aaya
[Uru taka taka taghina taghina - Bengali (1944)]
Lata Manna Chorus Hindi Do Bigha Zameen (Story written by Salil Chowdhury "Rikshawala") Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1948 Hei samaalo dhaan ho, kasteyta dao shaan ho Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1961 Ho ya qurbaan.. o sabaa kehnaa mere dildaar ko Mohammed Rafi Hindi Kaabuliwaalaa Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar Salil Chowdhury
1957 Holi Hain....
[O kanai paar karo amare - Bengali by Nirmalendu Choudhury]
Lata Mangskar, Manna Dey Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1958 Hum Haal-e-Dil Sunaenge Mubarak Begum Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Hum to ghar mein choolha phoonke Lata, Mahendra Kapoor,chorus Hindi Memdidi Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Humko samajh baiThi hai, ye duniyaa [Ei duniyay bhai sob i hoy - Bengali (1956) Manna dey (Ek Din Raatre)] Mukesh Hindi Chaar Deewaari Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1980 Indro Manam kalangi K. J. Yesudas Tamil Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam Salil Chowdhuri
1961 Itnaa na mujhse tu pyaar baDhaa
inspired by Mozart's Symphony number 40 in G minor
Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood Hindi Chhayaa Rajinder Krishan Salil Chowdhury
1959 Jaa re ure jare pakhi Lata Mangeshkar Bangla Puja Album Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1961 Jaa re ur jare panchhi Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1956 Jaago mohan pritam Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Ak Din Raatre Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1955 Jab tumne mohabaat chheen lee Asha Bhonsle Hindi Amaanat Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1952 Jhir jhir jhir jhiir jhiri barosa Dhananjay Bhattacharya Bangla Pasher Bari Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1954 Jhoom re Geeta Dutta Hindi Naukri Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1957 jhoome re neela ambar jhoome Talat Mahmood Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Jhuk jhuk jhuk jhoom ghaTaa aayee re Lata Hindi Chaar Deewaari Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Jibano mono charane tomar Gayatri Basu Bangla Aaj Sandhyay Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1958 Jungle Mein Mor Naacha Md Rafi Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Kaabuliwaalaa.. nanhi munni kyo.n kumhalaaya Hemant, Usha, Sabita Chowdhury, Ranu Mukherj Hindi Kaabuliwaalaa Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar Salil Chowdhury
1958 Kaancha Le Kanchi Lai Lajo Asha Bhonsle, Sabita Chowdhury & Ghulam Mohammad Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1957 Kaanha khubDa langDa loolaa, buDDhaa Asha Bhonsle Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1944 Karaar duaar bhaango bhaango oikker bajra kothin hathey Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1995 Kaathil Thenmazhayaay K.J Yesudas Malayalam Thumboli Kadappuram O.N.V Kurupp Salil Chowdhury
1961 Kayse maano piyawaa Mukesh Hindi Chaar Deewaari Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1953 Ke jaabi ay Geeta Mukherjee Bangla Bhor Hoye Elo Salil Chowdhury
1961 Ki je kori, durey jetey hoi taai
[Aanshu samajhke kyun mujhe (1961) Talat Mahmood]
Lata Mangeshkar Bangla - Salil Chowdhury
1952 Klaanti naame go Dwijen Mukherjee Bengali - - Salil Chowdhury
1957 Koi dekhe to kahey tujhko Asha Vonsle Hindi Aparadhi Kaun Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1961 Koi sone ki dil wala Md Rafi Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1957 Kyaa se kyaa ho gayaa re Nirmalendu Chowdhury, Chorus Hindi Lal Batti Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1956 Lo se wai wai Sandhya Mukherjee and others Hindi Ak Din Raatre Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Maajhi re chal naiya, raam karega paar Nirmalendu Chowdhury Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1954 Maharaja jaago ji Asha Bhonsle & Chorus Hindi Manohar V.M.Adil and J.S. Kashyap Salil Chowdhury
1955 Mai.n lut gayee duniyaa waalo.n Lata Mangeskar Hindi Taangewaali Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1954 Meghe meghe rim jhim Alpana Banerjee Bangla Aaj Sandhyay Anil Chatterjee Salil Chowdhury
1957 Mera dil dil dil dil dil laa... Asha Vonsle Hindi Aparadhi Kaun Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1954 Mere man bhula bhula kahe dole Hemanta Mukherjee Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1955 Meri wafaaei.n tumhaari jafaaei.n Asha Bhonsle Hindi Amaanat Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Na jani re
[Dil mera - Hindi (1954) by Shamshad Begam in Biraj Bahu]
Gayatri Basu Bangla Aaj Sandhyay Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1959 Na jeo na Lata Mangeshkar Bangla Puja Album Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1959 Naach re dharti ke pyaare (bangla version: Aay re o pousaali bataasey Hindi Heera Moti Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Nind pari lori gaayi
[Prantorer gaan - Bengali (1953) Utpala Sen
Lata Manggeskar Hindi Chaar Deewaari Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1960 Nijere Haraye KhNuji Madhuri Chattopadhyay Bangla Puja Album Salil Chowdhury
1948 Nondito nondito desh aamaar Geeta Mukherjee & Salil Chowdhury Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1947 Nobaaruno raage raange re Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1955 Nao Gaan Bhore Naoy Pratima Bandyopadhyay Bangla Puja album Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1959 O banshi hay Lata Mangeshkar Bangla Puja Album Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1955 O jab se milee.n to se ankhiyaa.n
[Dola o dola - Bengali]
Geeta Dutt & Hemant Mukherjee Hindi Amaanat Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 O man re Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Naukri Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1960 O sajna barkha bahar ayi Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Parakh Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Om namo namo Hemanta Mukherjee Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1980 Onnam kunnin from "chhotasa ghar hoga" K.J.Yesudas Malayalam Air Hostess ONV Kurup Salil Chowdhury
1960 Ogo ar kichu to nai Lata Mangeshkar Bangla Puja Album Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1954 Patthar se badle huye Hindi Mohila Mahal Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1961 Phir ekbar kaho Dwijen Mukherjee & Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1957 Phir wohi dard hai phir wohi jigar Manna Dey Hindi Aparadhi Kaun Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1953 Prantorer gaan
[Neend pari lori gaaye - Hindi (1961) Lata Mangeskar (Chaardeewaari)]
Utpala Sen Bangla - Salil Chowdhury
1977 Ponnushassin
[Jhuk jhuk jhuk - Hindi (1961) Lata;
Monobinaay akhoni boojhi - Bengali (1962) Sabita]
P. Jayachandran Malayalam Vishukkani SreeKumaran Thampi Salil Chowdhury
1951 Puntimachh dangay uithya foot katey Tarja Gaan Bangla Barjatri Gurudas Pal Salil Chowdhury
1957 Raat ne kyaa kyaa khwaab dikhaaye Talat Mahmood Hindi Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1956 Rim jhim jhim Sandhya Mukhopadhyay Bangla Raat Bhore Gouriprasanna Mazumdar Salil Chowdhury
1955 Rimjhim jhim jhim badarvaa barse
[Jhir jhir jhir jhiir jhiri barosa (Bengali) Movie- Pasher Bari (1952) Dhananjoy Bhattyacharya]
[Jil jil jil (Malayalam) Movie- Puthiya Velicham (1979) Jayachandran, P.Susheela]
Lata Mangeskar Hindi Taangewaali Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1951 Roop nagarer pothik ogo Supriti Ghosh Bangla Barjatri Bimal Ghosh Salil Chowdhury
1961 Sanam tu chal Md Rafi Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1956 Se gaan ami jai je bhule Sandhya Mukherjee Bangla Ak Din Raatre Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1980 Sevvali Poove P. Susheela Tamil Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam Salil Chowdhury
1954 Shyam re Hemanta Mukherjee Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1952 Shyamal baroni ogo kanya
[Aankhon mein masti sharaab ki - Hindi (1961) Talat Mahmood (Chhaya) ]
Dwijen Mukherjee Bengali - - Salil Chowdhury
1951 Shimul shimul shimulti Bharati Basu Bangla Barjatri Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1955 Siaram Siaram (Hindi) Dhananjay Bhattacharya and Chorus Bangla Rikshawala Govind Munshi Salil Chowdhury
1958 Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Mukesh Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Taare udaas Gayatri Basu Hindi Aaj Sandhyay Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1958 Tan Jale Man Jalta Rahe Dwijen Mukherjee Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Tasbeer teri dil me Lata Mangeshkar & Md Rafi Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1954 Tera ghar aabad rahe Lata & Shyamal Mitra Hindi Biraj Bahoo Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1955 Tere nayno ne Lata and Md. Rafi Hindi Taangewaali Prem Dhawan Salil Chowdhury
1954 Tomra kebal moner sukhe Bangla Mohila Mahal Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1958 Toote Huye Khwabon Ne Md Rafi Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1954 Tore tokka tokka tore Bangla Mohila Mahal Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1980 Ullam Ellam Thalladuthe K. J. Yesudas & S. Janaki Tamil Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam Salil Chowdhury
1944 Uru taka taka taghina taghina [Hariyaali sawaan dhol bajaata aaya - Hindi - Do Bigha Zameen] Chorus Bangla IPTA Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1960 Uthaali paathaali amaar buuk Manna Dey Bangla Ganga Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
1960 Ye banshi kiun gay Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Parakh Shailendra Salil Chowdhury
1961 Ye kahde hum insaan nahi Md. Rafi Hindi Chhayaa Rajinder Krishan Salil Chowdhury
1961 Zadu daale hai Asha Bhosle & Chorus Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1961 Zindegi hai kya Md Rafi Hindi Maya Majrooh Salil Chowdhury
1958 Zulmi Sang Aankh Ladi Lata Mangeshkar Hindi Madhumati Shailendra Salil Chowdhury

IPTA:: Indian People's Theater Association

Awards and recognitions

1953 – Do Bigha Zamin

A Hindi film directed by Bimal Roy based on a story in Bengali "Rikshawalaa" written by Salil Chowdhury.

1st Filmfare Awards (1954) Winner – Best Film; Winner – Best Director – Bimal Roy;

1st National Film Awards (India) Winner – All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film

7th Cannes Film Festival (1954) Winner – Prix International (International Prize) Nominated – Grand Prize (Best Film)

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Winner – Prize for Social Progress

1965 – Chemmeen

A Malayalam film directed by Ramu Kariat, based on a novel of the same name written by the renowned writer Thakazhy Shivshankar Pillai, where Music Direction was done by Salil Chowdhury.

Recipient of president's gold medal in 1965.

1958 – Madhumati

Received Filmfare Best Music Director Award along with eight other Filmfare awards Madhumati won the National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi

The Uttar Pradesh Film Patrakar Sangh Puraskar in 1966 for his only Hindi directorial film 'Pinjre Ke Panchhi'

The Bengal Films Journalist Award, Kolkata in 1973

The Allauddin Smriti Puraskar in 1985 from the Govt of West Bengal

1988 – Salil Chowdhury received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

The Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar Award in 1990

Posthumously he was awarded the Mukti Judhho Maitreyi Samman Award by the Govt Bangladesh in 2012.

Poet, Playwright, Short story writer, he also directed a film Pinjre Ke Panchhi starring Meena Kumari, Balraj Sahani and Mehmood b

See also

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