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| Satinath Mukhopadhyay & Utpala Sen : Bhagyer Chakata To Gurchhe |
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| Written by Sounak Gupta |
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Once in the 1950s, there was a musical programme held in Calcutta for the collection of funds. Many eminent vocalists performed. Similarly, Lata Mangeshkar, who was present in the occasion, performed too. After she left the stage with the listeners spellbound, the then lesser heard of singers of Bengal, who were still left to perform, were grasped by nervousness and none took up courage to face the audience. At such a time, in the inspiration of Utpala Sen, an amateur singer from Bengal courageously went up. He performed fearlessly and won the hearts of the listeners. This left the novice vocalist, with a lot of self-confidence and self-trust. At once, he positioned his inspirer Utpala Sen, in a special position, at his heart. This apprentice was none but the well known Satinath Mukhopadhyay.
 (Picture : Satinath Mukhopadhyay)
Born to Taraknath Mukhopadhyay of Chinsura, in 1929, Satinath Mukhopadhyay spent his student-life in “Shamindranath Training School” and then completed his Bachelors from Mehsin College. His grandfather, Raibahadur Ramachandra Mukhopadhyay was an eminent violin player and he was an inspiration for Satinath. As a child, Satinath took lessons in music from Prabodh Ghoshal and Dhirendranath Bhattacharjee. Later on, he got trained in Indian Classical under the evergreen maestros, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri. Satinath entered the world of professional singing under composer Gopen Mullick, recording “Balo Bhulechho Ki More” in 1941, when he was just twelve. It was 1950, while the making of eminent producer Saroj Mukhopadhyay’s “Marjada” was on, the music director; Ramachandra Pal was searching for an assistant. At such a time, lyricist Shyamal Gupta referred him to Satinath Mukhopadhyay. Satinath came, right from Chinsura, to be the assistant music director for “Marjada”. It was the same film in which, Satinath did his first playback. In the 1951, Saroj Mukhopadhyay have some misunderstandings with Ramachandra Pal and gave the novice assistant music director, the first chance to be the music director. It was “Anuraag” in which Satinath Mukhopadhyay, for the first time, worked as the music director. However, Satinath did not lend his voice for the lead male actor of “Anuraag”. It was the then popular singer Tarun Bandyopadhyay, who sang the lead actor’s songs in the film. The lead actress, Ramala Devi, had Sandhya Mukhopadhyay singing her songs. However, the film was not successful and the songs too, got veiled under the burden of the failure of “Anuraag”. At this juncture, 1952 saw the release of Satinath’s private songs “Aami Chole Gele Pashaner Buke Likhona Mor Naam” and “E Jeebane Jeno Aar Kichhu Bhalo Lagena Aaj Tumi Nei Bole” and the they were instant hits. After this, the singer got no chance to look back!
Song : Aami Chole Gele Pashaner Buke Likhona Mor Naam
Lyrics : Shyamal Gupta Music : Satinath Mukhopadhyay
Significantly, The Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar’s first recording of contemporary Bengali songs was under Satinath Mukhopadhyay. In 1956, she recorded “Aakash-Pradeep Jwale Durer Taarar Paane Cheye”, which was an instant hit.
Song : Aakash-Pradeep Jwale Durer Tarar Paane Cheye Lyrics : Pabitra Mitra Singer : Lata Mangeshkar Satinath Mukhopadhyay is a rare exception amongst vocalists, who had been associated with a very limited number of films and yet is so hugely popular. The snippet of Satinath in the 1955 film Agni Pariksha with “Jibon Nadir Jowar-Bhantay” is unparallel!
Life is always full of ups and downs and the popularity of any singer, with one or two or no exceptions, by the law of nature, comes down at a particular time and others take the place. Also, sometimes the fallen singer resurrects! A time came, in the 1960s when the sale of Utpala Sen’s records came down. As a result, The Gramophone Company refused to record any more of her songs. However, at this time, Satinath Mukhopadhyay’s records were selling like hot cakes in the market and the company went on encouraging him to record more and more songs. A situation came, when Utpala had no option but leaving the company. At such a point of time, Satinath looked at the fate of his eternal inspirer. With no hesitation at all, Satinath Mukhopadhyay resigned from The Gramophone Company. In his words, “If at all The Gramophone Company needs to remove artistes, not only Utpala but I too will leave!” Thus did Satinath, with his head held high, leave the prestigious institution just for the sake of his reverence for Utpala.
Later in life, in 1968, Satinath Mukhopadhyay and Utpala Sen united forever, in nuptial bonds. Just as the names Uttam and Suchitra get simultaneous utterance, so do the names Satinath and Utpala. This beautiful relation between the two is reminded by the beautiful song “Aamra Dujane Sudhu Dujanaar Gaane Gaane Katobaar Ei Kotha Koyechhi” by Utpala. It is to be remembered that none but Satinath Mukhopadhyay was the composer of the song!
(Picture : Utpala Sen) One of the brightest names in the history of light music, distinguished for her beautiful voice and stunning look, is no doubt, Utpala Sen. Born in Dhaka, on 12th March, 1924, as Utpala Ghosh, she began to learn the basics of music at a very young age from her mother, Hiranbala Devi. Soon after receiving the basic training, Utpala was sent to learn from the great musical maestro Ustad Gul Mohammad Khan. In course of time, by the virtue of her own talent and devotion, she got introduced to stalwarts like Begum Akhtar, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Bilayat Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Uday Shankar. Utpala was one of the very few singers who have entertained music lovers for over sixty years.
Utpala’s first performance on the Dhaka Radio occurred in 1939. In later years, she recollected that, the very next day after she sang in the radio, her school refused to keep her in the rolls any longer. However, on the third day, when her singing was publicly praised on the newspaper, the school requested her to come back! Thereafter, she cut her first disc under the eminent composer Durga Sen in 1942. Not much is known about Utpala Ghosh’s conversion to Utpala Sen, besides that she had been married to Sri Benu Sen, a marriage that did not last. However, in an interview, Utpala had recollected that when she was a college student, she would meet all her friends on Sundays and spend long hours enjoying with them. At those ocassions, Sri Sen would send with her many goodies, which Utpala would distribute amongst her friends.
Utpala Sen had learnt under eminent composer Sudhirlal Chakraborty. However, she recollected that there was no strict rules regarding the time. In an inteview, Utpala said that one day, Sri Chakraborty had asked her to come to his residence at one in the afternoon. As she went, he requested, "Utpala, please cook something for my cats!" After that he had his lunch and went for a nap! After taking rest, he began teaching only from evening! Nevertheless, until he was fully satisfied, Sudhirlal would never let his students leave. Utpala had had immense respect for her mentor. This has been clearly expressed through a short speech by Utpala about Sudhirlal. Notably, besides being a unique singer, Utpala Sen was a good speaker too!
Track : Utpala Speaks About Sudhirlal Chakraborty Translation of Utpala Sen’s speech : “Sudhirlal Chakraborty is my teacher of music. I feel privileged to have got a chance to speak some words about him. A resident of Faridpur, Sri Sudhirlal was a stalwart in Indian Classical and contemporary music. At the time when he had joined the Dhaka radio, there was not much demand for contemporary songs. He was the one who introduced such songs over there. He has maintained his own standard in the tunes of each of his songs and all his tunes are worth being listened to. They are unparallel creations. Sri Sudhirlal Chakraborty was a student of the eminent vocalist Sri Girijashankar Chakraborty. As a human being, he was very soft at heart and romantic. Many eminent vocalists of today are his students.”
Utpala Sen’s first hit song, “Ek Haate Mor Pujaar Thaala Aar Ek Haate Maala” had been released in 1943 under the direction of none but Sudhirlal Chakraborty. This, over seventy-year-old song is remembered my music lovers even today!
Song : Ek Haate Mor Pujaar Thaala Aar Ek Haate Maala Lyrics : Pranab Roy Music : Sudhirlal Chakraborty Sudhirlal Chakraborty was one of the greatest composers of ever - he was the one who shaped the career of various vocalists of later times. Under the able guidance of none but Sudhirlal, amateur singers of those days could give hits! Then of course, they came to limelight and shone as stars. It was none but Sudhirlal Chakraborty who gave Utpala Sen her early hit “Ek Haate Mor Pujaar Thaala Aar Ek Haate Maala”, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, her hit song “Saathihaara Raate Bimona Bonero Paakhi”, Geeta Roy “Brindabone Shyamo Naai Phule Madhu Naai”, Neeta Sen “Madhubone Bandha Achhe Milano Jhulona” and Pratima Bandyopadhyay “Uchhal Tatinee Aami Tumi Sudurer Chand”. Each of these artistes, novice till then, became a rage after rendering these compositions of Sudhirlal! Miraculous indeed!
In her initial years, Utpala Sen sang memorable under the banner of Birendranath Sircar’s New Theatres. Her song from the Hemchandra Chanda’s film “Meri Bahen”, “Mein In Phoolon Sang Doolun Re” is still remembered. The film was released in January 1945.
Utpala Sen had sung duets with two generations of singers! Her co-singers include Kundanlal Saigal, Pankaj Kumar Mullick, Robin Mazumdar, Jaganmoy Mitra (Jagmohan) and Ashitbaran of the early era. Once again, the younger generation, including Satinath Mukhopadhyay, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Shyamal Mitra, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Pratima Bandyopadhyay and others had Utpala Sen singing with them!
Utpala was extremely close to Kazi Nazrul Islam, Pankaj Kumar Mullick and Debabrata Biswas, who never called her by her original name but Bisakha, Mrinal and Balloon respectively! In an interview, she had narrated an incident, as a result of which Kazi Nazul had given her the name. Utpala said, "I had gone to learn a Nazrul Geeti from none but Kazi Saheb. I had hoped to record some of his compositions. When I sat with him, he said, 'Learn to distinguish the pronunciations of the two 'Rah's ('R' and 'Dh').' I am native to East Bengal and very normally, I had traces of the East Bengali accent. I do not know why, I felt very bad about it and promised in mind that I would never record any Nazrul Geeti! Kazi Saheb had said, 'This girl is not delicate like a lotus, so her name should not be Utpala (which means 'lotus'). Her name must be Bisakha!' And thus did he begin calling me so!"
Although Utpala mainly sang contemporary songs, she has successfully recorded Tagore songs. She had even been a part of Tagore’s musical dramas and successfully recorded some. Presented below, a snippet of Utpala from the play “Tasher Desh”, where Utpala sings “Gopono Kothati Robena Gopone” as Patrolekha.
Track : Utpala Sings “Gopono Kothati Robena Gopone” As Patrolekha Utpala Sen had been a regular artiste of Banikumar-Birendra Krishna Bhadra-Pankaj Mullick’s “Mahisashuramardini”, broadcasted live on every Mahalaya. It was a radio programme with chantings from Hindu texts and rendering of devotional songs, welcoming the Mother Goddess and lightening up the latent hearts of people with the light of autumnal celebrations. While broadcast was on, "Mahisasuramardini" had been recorded every year from 1960 till, 1967. Ultimately when the LP of the same, containing selected songs from different recordings from 1960 to 1967, was released in 1978, it had the concluding song, “Shanti Dile Bhori Dukharajani Gelo Timiro Hari” in the dulcet voice of Utpala Sen. This song was no doubt another hallmark in Utpala’s career!
Song : Shanti Dile Bhori Dukharajani Gelo Timiro Hari Lyrics : Banikumar (Baidyanath Bhattacharjee) Music : Mohammad Sagir Khan Utpala Sen was an artiste of The Gramophone Company since the 1940s. She had innumerable records from the company, to her credit. Top selling records include Salil Chowdhury’s compositions for her, the 1953 songs, “Prantarero Gaan Aamar Metho Shurer Gaan” and “Aamar Kichhu Moner Aasha Aar Kichhu Bhalobasha”. It is unknown to many that these songs were at first recorded by legendary Rabindra Sangeet singer Kanika Bandyopadhyay. But, the higher authorities of Bishwa Bharati had forbidden the release of the record as they demanded that she recorded only Tagore songs!
Song : Prantarero Gaan Aamar Metho Shurer GaanLyrics & Music : Salil Chowdhury Song : Aamar Kichhu Mone Aasha Aar Kichhu Bhalobasha Lyrics & Music : Salil Chowdhury After Utpala Sen left The Gramophone Company in the late 1960s, she, along with Satinath Mukhopadhyay went to The Megaphone Company to record some of their finest songs! Utpala’s “Kingshuk Phul Hingshuk Bhaari” that she recorded for legendary composer Nachiketa Ghosh under Megaphone has become immortal similarly, Satinath’s ‘Baajena Banshi Keno Baajena Daakena Paakhi Keno” has become immortal. No doubt, there are numerous other songs of the duo that became instant hits under Megaphone.
Song : Kingshuk Phul Hingshuk Bhaari Lyrics : Pulak Bandyopadhyay Music : Nachiketa Ghosh Song : Baajena Banshi Keno Daakena Paakhi Keno Lyrics : Pulak Bandyopadhyay Music : Satinath Mukhopadhyay The duets of Satinath and Utpala have always been extremely beautiful. Music lovers will never forget the song “O Paare Tumi Raadhe E Paare Aami” from the 1959 film “Atithi”, so wonderfully sung by the eternal duo!
I will, forever, cherish this video of Satinath Mukhopadhyay and Utpala Sen singing Lata Mangeshkar’s “Aakash-Pradeep Jwale Durer Taarar Paane Cheye” on the Television!
The Utpala Sen-Satinath Mukhopadhyay duo had received immense appreciation from a number of sources, to name some, the king of Puri and Queen Elizabeth! Besides, their vocal chords had mesmerized Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Padmaja Naidu, Sarojini Naidu, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Lal Bahadur Shashtri and Bidhan Chandra Roy!
The departure of Satinath Mukhopadhyay and Utpala Sen was a major loss to the musical scene. It was on the 13th of December, 1992 when Satinath’s end came all of a sudden. He had gone out marketing in the morning. When he returned, he felt very ill and was immediately taken to the hospital, where he left his last breath in the evening of the same day. After the untimely death of Satinath, Utpala was a person completely shattered at heart, although her face never implied the existence of such deep wounds of sorrow. The last days of Utpala Sen were not as good they were supposed to be. She was under immense financial problem but no one came forward to help. Very sadly, Utpala had said in her last days, “Although the melodies of Satinath Mukhopadhyay and my own were all for Bengal to cherish, no one thought about us… No one considered how medicines could be bought, even when this very serious illness came.” Utpala Sen passed away of Cancer, silently, in May, 2005 at the S.S.K.M.Hospital, Calcutta.
The sad end of the most romantic duo of Bengal, Satinath Mukhopadhyay and Utpala Sen, reminds me of a song of their own… It was from the 1978 film “Bhagyachakra”… “Bhagyer Chakata To Ghurchhe Bhagyer Ckakata To Ghurbe”…
Song : Bhagyer Chakata To Ghurchhe Bhagyer Chakata To Ghurbe Lyrics : Shyamal Gupta Music : Satinath Mukhopadhyay
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