Kamal Dasgupta

Summary

Kamal Dasgupta (28 July 1912 – 20 July 1974) commonly known as Kamal Uddin Ahmed was a Bangladeshi music director, composer and folk artist. Rāga and Thumri were the main elements of his music.[1][2]

Kamal Dasgupta
কমল দাশগুপ্ত
Born(1912-07-28)28 July 1912
Died20 July 1974(1974-07-20) (aged 61)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Other namesKamal Uddin Ahmed
Occupation(s)composer, music director, folk singer
Spouse
(m. 1955)
ChildrenTahsin Ahmed
Hamin Ahmed
Shafin Ahmed

Early life and career edit

Dasgupta was born into Baidya Brahmin family on 28 July 1912 in Narail, Jessore of the then British India. He matriculated in 1928 from Calcutta Academy and later completed B. Com. from Comilla Victoria Government College. He earned his doctorate in music from Banaras Hindu University in 1943 for his work on Meerabai, the composer and singer of Bhajans. His early inspiration came from his father, Tara Prasanna Dasgupta. He took his first music lessons from his brother, Bimal Das Gupta. Later he studied under Dilip Kumar Roy, K C Dey (Kana Keshto), and Jamiruddin Khan.[citation needed]

Dasgupta sang modern songs in Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, and Tamil. He was also a composer, composing the music for about eight thousand songs. His work was based on classical music and tended towards the Thungri style, though he also drew inspiration from other sources.[citation needed]

Dasgupta composed the music for about eighty Bangla films, among them Tufan Mail, Jhamelar Prem, Ei Ki Go Shes Dan. His last film as a music director was Badhu Bharan (1967). He also composed the background music for an American film, War Propaganda. His active life as a composer covered about fourteen years. His unique contribution in music is his invention of a shorthand method for swaralipi (notations).[citation needed]

In 1935, Dasgupta joined the Gramophone Company of India as a music director. During his term there, he developed a close association with Kazi Nazrul Islam and composed the music for almost four hundred of his songs. The gramophone records for which Dasgupta composed music were notable in the 1950s and 1960s. Among his songs still notable today are Sanjher Taraka Ami (I am the star of twilight), Prithivi Amare Chay (The world needs me), and Ami Bhorer Juthika' '(I am the jasmine of morning).[citation needed]

Dasgupta died on 18 July 1974 in Dhaka.[3]

Discography edit

Hindi edit

  • Mrhospital
  • Jawab (1942)
  • Hospital (1943)
  • Rani (1943)
  • Megdoot (1945)
  • Arabian Nights (1946)
  • Bindiya (1946)
  • Krishan Leela (1946)
  • Zamin Aasman (1946)
  • Faisla (with Anupam Ghatak) (1947)
  • Gribala (1947)
  • Manmani (1947)
  • Chander Shekhar (1948)
  • Iran Ki Ek Raat (1949)
  • Phulwari (1951)

Bengali edit

  • Pandit Mashi (1936)
  • Shesh Uttar (1942)
  • Garmil (1942)
  • Sahadharmini (1943)
  • Joga jog (1943)
  • Chandar Kalnka (1944)
  • Dhampati (1944)
  • Bideshni (1944)
  • Nandita (1944)
  • Megdoot (1945)
  • Bhabi kaal (1945)
  • Rangamati (1948)
  • Anuradha (1949)
  • Malancha (1952)
  • Prarthana (1953)
  • Bhagwan Sri Krishna Chataniya (1953)
  • Sandhan (1953)
  • Nabibidhan (1954)
  • Bratacharini (1955)
  • Manraksha (1956)
  • Govindadas (1956)
  • Madhu Malati (1956)
  • Bodhu Baran (1967)

References edit

  1. ^ "Kamal Das Gupta: Voice of renaissance in Bengal music". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 12 May 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  2. ^ Hussain, Mohsin (2012). "Kamal Dasgupta". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ^ "Komol Dasgupta: An unparalleled composer". The Daily Star. 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2018-01-12.

External links edit

  • Kamal Dasgupta at IMDb