Anup Ghoshal (1944/1945 – 15 December 2023) was an Indian

playback singer A playback singer, as they are usually known in South Asian cinema, or ghost singer in Western cinema, is a singer whose performance is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and the performers lip-sync the ...

and composer in

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

and other vernacular

Indian films The cinema of India, consisting of motion pictures made by the Indian film industry, has had a large effect on world cinema since the second half of the 20th century. Indian cinema is made up of various film industries, each focused on pr ...

, especially Bengali-language. He was known in his native Bengal primarily as one of the foremost artists of the golden age of Nazrulgeeti (c. 1930s–1970s).

Biography

Anup Ghoshal was born in 1944 or 1945 to Amulya Chandra Ghoshal and Labanya Ghoshal. His mother encouraged his singing by arranging for his musical training at age 4. His first performance took place soon after, when he sang for a children's programme, Shishu Mahal, from

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

, Kolkata. Ghoshal's music lessons continued until he was about 26 years of age. During his studies, he became a master of Thumri, Kheyal, Bhajan, Ragpradhan, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrulgeeti, Dwijendrageeti, Rajnikanter Gaan, modern Bengali songs, and several other folk songs. He received music lessons from teachers such as Sangeetacharya Tarapada Chakraborty and Sangeetacharya Sukhendu Goswami. He learned Rabindra Sangeet from Debabrata Biswas and learned different Bengali songs from Manindra Chakraborty. Ghoshal earned a university degree in Humanities from Asutosh College, Kolkata and a Master's degree and Ph.D. from Rabindra Bharati University. His thesis was titled "Nazrulgeeti — Roop O Rashanabhuti". During his studies, he took part in many music competitions in which he secured the highest marks in different classical, light classical, Bengali songs (traditional and modern), Rabindra Sangeet, and folk songs. Ghoshal stood first in ' Sangeet Bharati Degree Examination' in 1966—1967 and was awarded a gold medal. He was a National Scholar, selected in 1966—1967. Ghoshal's first venture into movies as a playback singer was at the age of 19, when he sang for the movie Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, written and directed by

Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (; 2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, author, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligraphy, calligrapher, and composer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influ ...

. His association with Ray continued, sometimes as an assistant music director, and he eventually won the National Award in 1981 for Hirak Rajar Deshe. He sang for various Bengali and Hindi movies, as well as in Bhojpuri and Assamese films. Ghoshal visited the UK, USA, Canada, and Germany for various musical concerts. Up until his death, he visited Western countries to promote Indian musical culture with references to Bengali songs along with folk songs of Bengal. He also wrote a book on Indian Music, ''Ganer Bhubane''. Ghoshal was elected as one of the members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Uttarpara Assembly constituency ( Hooghly 185) as a candidate of All India Trinamool Congress, headed by

Mamata Banerjee Mamata Banerjee (; born 5 January 1955) is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth and current List of chief ministers of West Bengal, chief minister of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of West Bengal since 2 ...

in 2011.

Death

Anup Ghoshal died in Kolkata on 15 December 2023, at the age of 78.

Accolades and awards

Ghoshal was offered honorary citizenship of Chicago in 1994 by Mayor

Richard M. Daley Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is an American politician who served as the 54th mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from 1989 to 2011. Daley was elected mayor in 1989 and was reelected five times until declining to run for a seventh ter ...

, as well as other awards: * Gold Medal in Sangeet Bharati Degree Examination in 1967—1968. * 1992 Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Male Playback Award for the Bengali film '' Goopy Bagha Phire Elo'' * 1983 Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Male Playback Award for the Hindi film '' Masoom'' * 1981 National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Bengali film '' Hirak Rajar Deshe'' * 1971 Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Male Playback Award for the Bengali film ''

Sagina Mahato ''Sagina Mahato'' is a 1970 Bengali film produced by Shri J. K. Kapur and directed by Tapan Sinha. The film stars Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, two acting giants of Indian cinema. The film is based on the true story of the labour movement of ...

Selected filmography

As playback singer * Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne * Hirak Rajar Deshe * Goopy Bagha Phire Elo * Sasti * Atattatar Din Porey * Nayikar Bumikay * Kabi * Chhadabeshi * Jiban Jerakam * Nimantran * Phuleswari * Biraj Bou * Mohun Baganer Meye * Subarnagolok * Bancharamer Bagan *

Harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...

* Ek Je Chhilo Desh * Ajab Gayer Ajab Kotha *

* Nishantey (1985) Popular songs *Tujse Naraaz Nahi Zindagi from Masoom *Husn Bhi Aap Hain, Ishq Bhi Aap Hain *Tum saath ho zindagi bhar key liyey from Sheeshay ka ghar As music director *

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ghoshal, Anup 1940s births Year of birth uncertain 2023 deaths Bengali Hindus Bengali singers Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award winners Indian male playback singers Singers from Kolkata Asutosh College alumni University of Calcutta alumni Rabindra Bharati University alumni 20th-century Indian singers Best Male Playback Singer National Film Award winners 20th-century Indian male singers Trinamool Congress politicians from West Bengal West Bengal MLAs 2011–2016