Anmol Fankaar A website dedicated to artists of the Indian Subcontinent

Hemanta Kumar Mukherjee

(Below is an interview of  Hemant Kumar Mukherjee, taken by a representative of the Gramophone Company of India Limited, published in 'Record-Sangeet', Edition : Sarodio, 1385)

         Music, music and music – with just music, one after the other, many years have passed by. So, the passionate devotee of music, Hemanta Mukherjee, never got much time to spend on other subjects, neither does he got time now. There was a time when he would play the Football, go to the Cricket field, compose stories, but those days are no more. He also dreamt of directing films and his dream has come true. But somehow, music and nothing else, has just wrapped him up from all sides. At a time he had been engrossed in composing literary works; his writings have even been published in “Desh”. Hemanta Babu says, “Even now I wish to write, but where do I get the time?” So, what is the reason behind this? Music – again! Twice or thrice each month he has to travel between Bombay and Calcutta for music direction.

         When asked, “In that case, has not your personal life has been affected?” he promptly replies, “No, never. That’s because, music is my love. In my life as an artiste, I have been loved by all. I’ve myself gained no less joy in giving joy to my listeners.”

         Whenever he gets little breaks, Hemanta tours here and there. His favourite authors are, Saratchandra, Rabindranath, Shankar, Bimal Mitra, Ashutosh Mukherjee and Bibhutibhusan Banerjee. He also liked the early writings of Samaresh Bose. Hemanta says, “My favourite book is ‘Pather Panchali’ – it deserves being read a hundred times. A few days back, I had lost my copy of the book. I’ve purchased a new copy now. Whenever I feel bit low or tired, I sit with ‘Pather Panchali”. Just opening any page, I begin reading. The author takes me back to my childhood. Just through reading the book I get back my childhood days of Jaynagar. The greenery, the chirping of birds, the little pathways in between fields – it’s a completely different world altogether!”

“What do you love to eat?” “Sweets”, immediately responds Hemanta Babu, “But the doctor has forbidden my eating of sweets”, he sadly continues.

         In his long musical journey, Hemanta Babu has had many, many experiences, some of which he shares.

         “Ten years back, I had gone to sing in a musical programme in Karimganj. I was supposed to sing at the end, after all other invited artistes. Suddenly, an elderly woman came up to me and in a tone filled with affectionate respect, said, ‘Son, I have come to hear you from a far-off place, over twenty miles distance from here. I won’t be able to wait any longer. Would you not sing for me, my favourite, “Ganyer Bodhu”, which I had heard long back, when young?’ I could not say a ‘No’ to this eighty-year-old lady. I told the organisers to arrange for my singing and promised that I would sing then, and again at the end, when I was supposed to sing, initially. Finally I sang “Ganyer Bodhu” with the elderly woman listening – this memory would never fade from my mind.”

Song : Ganyer Bodhu (Lyrics & Music : Salil Chowdhury) (Release : 1949)

         “Another incident let me tell about. I had gone to sing in Rabindra Sadan and was waiting in the front row, for my turn. Quite close to me, a five-year-old girl was sitting with her parents. Suddenly, I overheard her saying, “Where is Hemanta? Where is Hemanta?” I could see the parents feeling really uneasy, seeing me sitting so close by. I myself asked the girl, “Which Hemanta are you searching for?” Her immediate reply was, “The Hemanta of ‘Diner Seshe Ghumer Deshe’ song.”

         “Just as we have such memories which give us joy throughout our lives, some are these which make us filled with sorrow. Once I had gone to West Indies to participate in a musical programme. A girl lame, named Surinam had come to hear me singing. She was very ill, and could not walk. After I sang, she came up to me, kissed my palm, spoke a few words and went away. Again in 1967, I went to perform at the same place. On searching for the girl, I was informed that she had been taken abroad for treatment and was in a critical state then.”

         “Asutosh Mukherjee’s son, Joy always remained very ill. Whenever I got time, I would go to Asutosh Babu’s house and sing for Joy. Whenever I met him, despite all illnesses, he would say, ‘I am absolutely fine’. I had also taken Lata, Asha and Manabendra to Joy’s house and they too had sung for him. He would always make a list of songs he wished to hear and we had to sing them all. He loved my song ‘Jai Chole Jai’ from ‘Kal Tumi Aleya’. But whenever he requested me to sing it, I always became very emotional and somehow managed not to sing it to him. I would try to convince him saying that I had forgotten the lyrics and tune. Before I went to London last year, I visited him. It was a moment of sorrow for me as I was sure that I would not meet him again after I return, and hence sang to him his favourite ‘Jai Chole Jai’. What I had predicted truly happened, when I returned from London, he was no more. I had kept some of his conversations recorded and listen to that, sometimes nowadays.”

Song : Jai Chole Jai (Lyrics : Pulak Banerjee, Music : Uttam Kumar) (Release : 1966)

         The environment had become grave; Hemanta Babu had become highly emotional. Just for a change I asked, “Do you believe in Destiny and Astrology?”

         “I have belief in Destiny but not much in Astrology. I believe, one’s deeds alone determine one’s fate. My brother Tarajyoti knows how to read palms. Some of his sayings about me have matched, too. But I personally do not practice Astrology.”

         I asked, “So certainly, you have no superstitions in mind, am I right?”

         “No, no superstition at all. As a father, husband and father-in-law as well, I have a very broad mind. Also I do not believe in the traditional rituals followed after one’s death. I have an objection carrying men on shoulders after they die.” It reflected that Hemanta Babu never wanted that anyone should suffer even the least amount of pain because of him, neither when alive, not after death. That is where; he thinks, would remain his satisfaction.

         On being, asked which of his own songs his favourite was, Hemanta Babu mentions the song ‘Runner’ and adds, “A talent like Sukanta Bhattacharjee is rare. Also, I feel it is Salil’s best music composition ever and would remain in the hearts of people of all generations, of all times."

Song : Runner (Lyrics : Sukanta Bhattacharjee, Music : Salil Chowdhury) (Release : 1951)

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