THE DAYS OF THE GRAMOPHONE…

In the mid 50s, electricity hadn't reached every corner of Dhaka, so gramophones were the only instruments on which people could play their favourite records. One or two shops in Islampur and Nawabpur used to import the latest Bangla records of great singers like KL Saigal, Pankaj Mullick, Kanon Devi, Juthika Roy, Shatinath Mukherji, Alpana Bannerji, Proteema Bannerji, Shandhya Mukherji, Hemanta Mukherji, Tarun Bandapadhya, Shaymal Mitra, Manabendra Mukherji, Lata Mungeskar, Utpala Sen, Mrinal Sen and so on from Kolkata.
Music aficionados used to collect them and often invite friends and relations over to enjoy listening to some good songs together. Close relatives and friends used to exchange records that they proudly possessed.
Throughout the 40s and 50s a good number of lyricists, music composers and singers started to come to Kolkata from different parts of Bengal and joined or got associated with a number of recording companies. They were extremely talented people having profound knowledge on Indian classic and modern as well as western music. They loved to experiment with music and break away from traditional style of music composition and singing style of the time. Together they brought about a revolution in the Bangla songs arena by early 50s.  

Lyrics became more modern, with love and desire becoming more pronounced, which often faced harsh criticism from ultra conservative people in society. Music became more pleasing to the ear, getting a new flavor, occasionally, with the subtle touch of western tune punched in with the help of modern instruments.   

It was the era when some timeless songs have been created by these people. They excelled in every genre of Bangla songs and often created history with their product. Romantic songs found a new expression in the hands of these music maestros.

An almost forgotten singer of great merit, Juthika Roy, sang a good number of modern songs in the late 40s and early 50s. She was well known even in the late 50s for her song, “ Shanjher taroka ami poth haraye eshechi bhule…” among many others.  

 Proteema Bannerji sang for the lovelorn girl, “Ekta gaan likho amar jonno, nahoi ami tomar kachhey chhilem oti nogonno….”.  And Manna Dey would give courage to the unsure young man with his song, “Teer bhanga dheu aar neer bhanga jhor, tari majhey prem jeno gorey khelaghor… ”  The romance-struck boy sings when the girl is not before his eyes, “E jibone mor joto kichhu baytha, joto kichhu porajoi, tomare shoria lagey jego, lagey jego modhumoi…” Shudirlal Chakrabarty sang this song a little earlier but it was very popular throughout the 50s.
When Kanon Devi teases with the words, “Jodi bhalo na lagey to deo na mon….”,   Manobendra Mukherji reassures with the legendary song, “Ami eto je tomai bhalobeshechhi tobu monay hoi ejenogo kichhu noi kano aro bhalo beshe jete parena hridoi…”  

Songs were the integral parts of Bangla films of the time. Shesh Parichay, Dev Das, Tasher Ghor, Shobar Uparey, Shilpi, Shap Mochon, Agni Porikhsha, Shagorika… all had beautiful songs to offer.  

These films gave the deserved break to many singers of the time like Alpana Bannerji and Shandhaya Mukherji. Songs such as, “ Ganey mor kon indradhanu…”,  “Aaj achhi kal kothai robo…”, “Kotoje kotha chhilo, koto je chhilo gaan…”, “Tobo bijoy mukut ajke dekhi shurjo ragey jholomolo…”, “Amar ganey shur chhilo, amar bonay phul chhilo…”, “Gopi jono mono choro giridhari nagoro…” and “Amar shopney dekha rajkonnya thakey…” all these super hit songs were from these films. And there were many, many more.

Throughout the late 50s and then on to the 60s, song lovers in this part of Bengal would wait for the release of new Puja records in Kolkata and their chance to have some of them. By then gramophones were on their way out with the advent of radios (Murphy) and battery operated turn-tables, radiogram etc. Kolkata and Dhaka radio stations used to play some of those popular Bangla songs for the listeners.