Pankaj Mullick | |
|---|---|
 Mullick in the film Doctor, 1940 | |
| Born | (1905-05-10)10 May 1905 |
| Died | 19 February 1978(1978-02-19) (aged 72) Calcutta,West Bengal, India |
| Occupations | musical composer, singer and actor |
| Known for | singing, music direction, composition and acting |
Pankaj Kumar Mullick (10 May 1905 – 19 February 1978) was an Indian music composer, playback singer and actor, who was a pioneer of film music inBengali cinema andHindi cinema at the advent ofplayback singing, as well as an early exponent ofRabindra Sangeet.[1][2][3][4][5]
Pankaj Mullick was awarded thePadma Shri award in 1970,[6][1] followed by theDadasaheb Phalke Award (India's highest award in cinema, given by theGovernment of India) in 1972 for lifetime contribution toIndian cinema.[1][5][7][8]
Pankaj Kumar Mullick was born on 10 May 1905 in Kolkata to Monimohan and Monomohini Mullick.[1] His father Monimohan had a deep interest in traditional Bengali music. He developed an early interest in music, and used to practice on his neighbour's harmonium in secret. He started his early training inIndian classical music under the tutelage of Durgadas Bandyopadhyaya. Pankaj studied at theScottish Church College of theUniversity of Calcutta.[9]
An important turning point in his life came when, after finishing his studies, he came in contact withDinendranath Tagore, who wasRabindranath Tagore's grand-nephew. This led to Pankaj Mullick's lasting interest inRabindra Sangeet. Rabindranath Tagore, in turn, grew fond of him, and soon Mullick became known as one of the leading exponents of Tagore's songs.[1][2][10]
Pankaj Mullick became a popular musician in the 1930s and 1940s in the era of singerK. L. Saigal.[7]Tagore's songNemecche Aaj Prothom Badal became his first commercial recording, with the Kolkata-based Videophone Company in 1926, at the age of twenty one.[2] This was the first of many albums which made him a household name in Rabindra sangeet.[1]
He started his career with theIndian Broadcasting Corporation in Calcutta in 1927, the forerunner ofAll India Radio (AIR), along with composerR. C. Boral, where he contributed as a music director and artist for nearly fifty years.[7][2] Apart from composing songs for movies, he also composed the programme called Mahishashur Mardini. This program was based on the triumph Maa Durga over the demon Mahishashur. The programme included Chandi Path by Birendra Krishna Bhadra andAgomoni songs by various singers. This programme gained such a huge popularity that till date, the recorded version of this programme is played by All India Radio on the day of Mahalaya at 4:00 am.[1][7][4]
He contributed in various capacities to Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil language films for 38 years, starting in 1931.[1] He worked as music director to artists likeK.L. Saigal,S.D. Burman,Hemanta Mukherjee,Geeta Dutt andAsha Bhosle. He acted with famous film actors like K L Saigal,P.C. Barua andKanan Devi. Along withNitin Bose and his renowned sound engineer brother Mukul Bose, Mullick introduced playback singing in Indian cinema. He also composed his own tunes and set lyrics to music.[2][7][4]
He worked with one of the early film studios,New Theatres Calcutta for 25 years. He became one of its two ace music directors.[7][4]
Pankaj Mullick died on 19 February 1978 in Calcutta, India.[2] TheIndian Postal Service released a postage stamp on his birth centenary in 2006 on 4 August, and on 10 May,Doordarshan, India's state television channel, telecast a special music programme to commemorate the occasion. Five decades earlier, it was he andBharatanatyam dancerVyjayanthimala who were lead performers at the nationwide launch of the channel in 1959.[5]
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Raikamal[2] |
| 1954 | Chitrangada |
| 1952 | Yatrik[2] |
| 1952 | Mahaprasthaner Pathey[2] |
| 1952 | Zalzala |
| 1950 | Rupkatha[2] |
| 1949 | Manzoor |
| 1948 | Pratibad |
| 1947 | Ramer Sumati[2] |
| 1945 | Dui Purush[2] |
| 1944 | Meri Bahen[2] |
| 1943 | Kashinath[2] |
| 1943 | Dikshul |
| 1942 | Meenakshi[2] |
| 1940 | Doctor[2] |
| 1940 | Nartaki[2][1] |
| 1940 | Zindagi[2] |
| 1939 | Badi Didi |
| 1939 | Dushman |
| 1939 | Kapal Kundala[2] |
| 1938 | Abhagin |
| 1938 | Abhigyan |
| 1938 | Desher Mati |
| 1938 | Dharti Mata |
| 1938 | Jiban Maran |
| 1937 | Badi Bahen |
| 1937 | Didi[2][1] |
| 1937 | Mukti[2][1] |
| 1936 | Devdas[2][1] |
| 1936 | Grihadah |
| 1936 | Karodpati a.k.a.Millionaire withR. C. Boral[2][1] |
| 1936 | Maya[2][1] |
| 1936 | Manzil[2][1] |
| 1933 | Yahudi Ki Ladki (His debut with the Hindi Film Industry)[2] |
| 1931 | Chasher Meye[2][1][7] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
