Tum Bhulay Na Gaye!
KAMAL DASGUPTA
(Photographed by author at Dhaka)
(Yaad dilwate hain youn mera afsana mujhe)
(BY ABDUL RASHEED QURESHI)
Kamal Dasgupta a legend in Music Composition and Direction of the last century was born in a family belonging to Kalia Distt Jessore Bangladesh on 28Th July 1912*. I first met him at Dhaka in the late sixties. When I knocked at his flat situated on first floor, he himself opened the door and welcomed me – "I am Kamal Dasgupta". He was a graceful but simply dressed person. His wife Firoza Begum had gone to Barisal. We discussed his masterpiece compositions and legendary singers of that period. I met Firoza Begum at Rawalpindi when she was rehearsing at Radio Station with local musicians and Mr. Kamal Dasgupta with a Chadder on his shoulder was standing as an observer. The ignorance of the local music team about the great music director was apparent. He was the creator of Chupke Chupke Bol Mena, Aye chand chhup na jana, Tasweer teri dil mera, Yeh chand nahi teri arsi hai, Tum bhulay na gaye. He brought up many talents like Kumari Juthika Roy, Jag Mohan, Talat Mehmood, Hemant Kumar… Jag Mohan was later on awarded title of "Sur Sagar".
Re-collecting about Kumari Juthika Roy, Mr. Kamal Dasgupta said “she came for audition a number of times and failed but when she sang "Ami Bhorer Juthika" every one present was spellbound - although she had left but being enchanted with her singing the song was embedded in our senses”. He praised her with high tribute. A number of duets were sung by them including Bhajans and Naats. Some orthodox become annoyed with her when she sang Naats – they respected her as a living Meera Bai.”Akhon main Muthara Hai” sung by Juthika and “Ankhon main Madiana hai” – duet by Kamal and Juthika are the examples.
(Kumari Juthika Roy)
When asked about the compositions of Sm. Kamla Jharia’s Ghazals, Mr. Kamal Dasgupta disclosed that she mostly sang under the direction of Professor Zamiruddin Khan. He mentioned Prof. Zamir as his Ustad / Guru. This relationship was a very pleasant disclosure for me. Kamla Jharia, Indobala and Angurbal rendered ghazals in unique and distinct style with perfect pronunciation. Professor Zamiruddin Khan was one of the greatest music directors of the Gramophone Co. Dum Dum before Mr. Kamal Dasgupta. Mr. Kamal Das Gupta recalled Khemchander Parkash, "Woh hum sab say bazi legeya". This may be true but it shows humbleness of Kamal Dasgupta – named as "Kitto" by Anil Biswas.
He was a non-assertive person but when asked about his distinct performance as a composer he mentioned about a special five-unit (shorthand) music notation devised by him. On my request to name some members of his orchestra, who contributed to the glorious music, he wrote:
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“All people praise the visible characters on the stage but not the workers behind the curtain – perhaps these are the worldly ways”
“Written in Bengali on request of my younger brother”
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He identified the trumpet player as Abdul Hakim Chisti (reportedly working then at the Lahore studio of the Gramophone Company)
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An outstanding accomplishment of Kamal Dasgupta is evident in "Nazarul Geetee" rendered by Mst. Firoza Begum. Her incomparable singing on composition of Kamal was also re-conducted by others music directors e.g geet – "Birhan ke ghar badari barsey" by Pakistan Television and her long play record released by EMI Pakistan . Some songs of Kumari Juthika Roy were also included in Firoza Begum’s voice in that LP. But the golden voice of Firoza glitters on the music of Kamal – "Chupkey chupkey row lun" & " Tum bhulay na gaye". |
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After leaving New Theatres, Kanan Devi sang many songs on Kamal’s compositions "Duniya yeh dunyia toofan mail" "Meri Majbooriun ne Mera Daman Chak Kar Dala" – Kanan Devi …...
Dear Kamal passed away on 20th July 1974 at Dhaka* and was laid to rest in Bangladesh – God bless him - Ameen. His sons are - Mohammed Tehsin, Mohammad Hamin and Mohammad Shafin. God bless the family.
Tentative Filmography
Hindi
Jawab (1942), Hospital (1943), Rani (1943), Megdoot (1945),( Raj Luxmi 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
Pandit Mashi (1936), Shesh Uttar (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)
