Uncommon songs of Manobendra Mukherjee.
Manobendra Mukherjee, the classical best singer of the 50s, 60s and 70s, had left an everlasting treasure of romantic songs during his 50 years of musical career. The songs and compositions had embraced diverse areas in Bengali music including Nazrulgeeti, shyamasangeet, kirtans, Bagbajarer gaan, Ragprodhan, Ragastroyi, adhunik, etc.
If his romantic numbers like “ami eto je tomay bhalobesechi”, “emni kore porbe mone”, “ei bhalo ei bosonto noy” had stormed Bengali audience in the 50s, there were lot of uncommon songs which did not get publicity, which were rich in musical aspects. There are songs which showed Manobendra’s command over Hindustani classical and jugglery with taal and rhythm.
His song “bolo raat, bolo se kothay” could make the audience speechless with the somber mood and romantic presentation. Similarly the song “phulero dolay aji dole shemoray” sung by Manobendra Mukherjee and Shipra Basu had the flavor of conventional classical song. Similarly “nishitha ratero banshi” had shown Manobendra’s stylish presentation.
Similarly Manobendra had sung blank verses like “ei dur neel akash”, where there were hardly any table. The song was related to rhythm of waves of seas. His song “tumi je adhar tai boro bhalobashi”, composed by Himanshu Dutta had the romantic flavor embedded in it. Manobendra Mukherjee gave wider dimension to the romantic creation.
Besides “ei niralay sagoro belay” was based on reserve mood of the singer. His pure classical numbers like “bhule jete tumi bolona” and “tumi ki esecho aji” can make the music lovers enchanted. Manobendra had simplified classical songs in Bengali and persuaded the music lovers to get acquainted with classical harkats. Even his “romyogeeti” sung in All India Radio had variety and versatility.
His songs “bare bare ke jeno dake”, “rimjhim baje monjiro kar”, “ami parini bujhite parini” could make any classical singer proud. Besides, his song “koto je soyechi betha” composed by Chinmoy Lahiri had the flavor of thumri in Bengali. Manobendra had a huge history of singing devotional songs.
Most of his devotional songs including kirtans, shyama sangeet, bhakti geeti, had enriched Bengali film music. Some of them included “jagannath jagatbandhu” composed by Raichand Boral in the film Nilachale Mahaprabhu, songs sung in the film Badhu, composed by Manobendra himself, Joto Mat Toto Path and Sadhok Bamakhepa composed by Manobendra himself.
Independent research can be conducted on the creations of Manobendra Mukherjee including his classical songs and compositions. Many of his uncommon creations were valuable treasures which can motivate the new generation in developing their own music.
