Dhananjay Bhattacharya

Dhananjay Bhattacharya
Dhananjay Bhattacharya
Born	10 September 1922; Bally, Howrah, Bengal Presidency, British India
Origin	India
Died	27 December 1992 (aged 70); Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Genres	singing, music direction, Adhunik Bangla Gaan (Bengali modern songs), Shyama Sangeet
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer

Dhananjay Bhattacharya (10 September 1922 – 27 December 1992) was an Indian Bengali singer and composer. He was a versatile Shyama Sangeet singer.

Career

He started his career by singing modern Bengali as well as Hindi songs. His first song was "Jodi bhule jao more/janabo na abhiman..." in 1940, recorded with Pioneer Company. His first playback was in 1943. He was best known for singing Shyama Sangeet. Out of the 24 songs in the movie Sadhak Ramprasad (1956), Dhananjay sang 23. He was versatile in singing major types and forms of songs including modern Bengali, Hindustani classical music, Rabindra Sangeet, Kirtan, Bhajan, Baul, Ramprasadi (of Ramprasad Sen), Nazrul Geeti, and Shyama Sangeet. His singing career lasted more than fifty years. There are 500 records of his songs.^{[citation needed]} He was also a lyricist and wrote about 400 songs in the name of "Shri Partha" and "Shri Ananda".

He acted in a few films, including "Nababidhan and Pasher Bari. In the latter, his song "Jhir Jhir Jhir Jhirjhiri Baroshay" composed by Salil Chowdhury became an instant hit. "Matite Janmo Nilam", "Ei Jhir Jhir Jhir Batase", and "Jhanana Jhanana Baje" were other major hits which are still popular.^{[citation needed]}

Dhanajay won the Gold Prize^{[clarification needed]} for his devotional songs in Rani Rasmoni.^{[citation needed]} Among his basic records, one Raag based composition by Salil Chowdhuri released as a Saradiya number was such a hit that it kept on selling during the next Puja as well.

One of his best kept secrets was that he was also a prolific lyricist, all written under different pseudonyms. Many hit numbers of Pannalal Bhattacharya in particular were penned by him, as well as musical compositions.^[1]

Personal life

Dhananjay was married and had three sons. Out of them, only Dipankar has taken the onus upon him to carry the legacy of his father.

He was the older brother of the singer Pannalal. He studied in Rivers Thompson School, Bally, Howrah.

Some people^{[clarification needed]} say that he and Pannalal both wanted to please Kali by offering her their songs. According to them Dhananjay received the grace of the divine mother, but Pannalal didn't, and so he committed suicide, and after his death, Dhananjay bore the responsibility of Pannalal's family, along with his own.

Selected career

As playback singer

Abire Rangano
Adrysha Manush
Adya Shakti Mahamaya
Aleya
Ardhangini (1955)
Asampta
Balak Gadadhar
Babla

Badshah (1963)
Bandhan (1962)
Banka Lekha
Bardidi
Behula Lakshindar
Bhagwan Sriramakrishna
Bhagwan Sri Krishna Chaitanya
Bhadurai Masaya

Bireswar Vivekanada
Biraj Bou
Chaitali
Chalachal
Chandranath
Debitirtha-Kamrup (1967)
Debtirtha Kalighat
Dhooli (1954)
Godhuli (1955)
Jai Ma Tara (1978)
Kalo
Mahaprasthaner Pathey (1952)
Maharaj Krisnachandra
'Mirabai
Mejdidi (1950)

Naba Bidhan (1954)
Nader Nimay
Nastanir
Paper Pathey
Rani Rashmoni (1955)
Rupasi (1980)
Sachimatar Sansar

Sadhak Banakhyapa
Sadhak Ramprasad (1956)
Sahar Theheke Durye
Saheb Bibi Golam
Sati Kankabati
Shreebatsa Chinta (1955)
Swamiji
Tamasha
Tansen (1958)
Yata Mat Tata Mat
Yatrik (1952)

As actor

Naba Bidhan (1954) as Abinash
Pasher Bari
Sharey Chuattor (1953)
Shoshur Bari

As music director in films

Joy Ma Tara (1978)
Ladies Seat

References

^ Dhananjay, Bhattacharya. "Dhananajay Bhattacharya Best Compositions". RedMux. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.

External links

[1] Dhananjay, Bhattacharya. "Dhananajay Bhattacharya Best Compositions". RedMux. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.

[1]