Datta Naik (12 December 1927 – 30 December 1987), also credited as N. Datta, was an Indian film music director in

Hindi films Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Hollywood". The industry, producing films in th ...

Early life and career

Born in the then

Portuguese colony The Portuguese Empire was a colonial empire that existed between 1415 and 1999. In conjunction with the Spanish Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa ...

Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...

, Naik, started his career as an assistant to the legendary music director

S. D. Burman Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was an Indian music director and singer. He was a member of the Tripura royal family, but his father was excluded from the throne. He started his career with Bengali films in 1937. He lat ...

in films like '' Bahar, Sazaa, Ek Nazar'' (1951), '' Jaal'' (1952), '' Jeewan Jyoti'' (1953) and ''

Angarey Angarey or Angaaray (translated alternatively as "Embers" or "Burning Coals") is a collection of nine short stories and a one act play in Urdu by Sajjad Zaheer, Rashid Jahan, Mahmud-uz-Zafar and Ahmed Ali first published in 1932 and general ...

'' (1954). His partnership with songwriter

Sahir Ludhianvi Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi. He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricists and poet ...

was popular and successful. He died on 30 December 1987. Datta Naik was born in 1927 in Aroba (near Colvale), a small village in Goa. At the age of 12, he ran away from his family and came to Mumbai. There he learnt classical music and later worked as an assistant to Ghulam Haider. He was a close friend of Chandrakant Bhosle who was playing rhythm with

Shankar Jaikishan Sankar or Shankar is a Sanskrit word meaning "beneficent" or "giver of bliss" and may refer to: People * Shankar (name) **Ravi Shankar, Indian sitarist and composer **Shankar (actor), Indian actor ** Shankar (Tamil militant), Tamil rebel ** Shan ...

's orchestra. He also used to participate in street music programs, where

Sachin Dev Burman Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was an Indian music director and singer. He was a member of the Tripura royal family, but his father was excluded from the throne. He started his career with Bengali films in 1937. He late ...

spotted his talent. The maestro employed him as his assistant and while working there, N. Datta also developed a notable career as an independent composer. His compositions showed a fine sense of melody and orchestration. His close association with lyricist

who was also his close friend ensured that his songs were always blessed by meaningful poetic lyrics. N. Datta also worked very closely with noted lyricists

Majrooh Sultanpuri Asrar ul Hassan Khan (1 October 1919 − 24 May 2000), better known as Majrooh Sultanpuri, was an Indian Urdu poet and lyricist in the Hindi language film industry. He wrote lyrics for numerous Hindi film soundtracks. He was one of the dom ...

Jan Nisar Akhtar Jan Nisar Akhtar (18 February 1914 – 19 August 1976) was an Indian poet of Urdu ghazals and nazms, and a part of the Progressive Writers' Movement, who was also a lyricist for Bollywood. He was the son of Muztar Khairabadi and great gr ...

and others. Film ''

Dhool Ka Phool ''Dhool Ka Phool'' () is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by B. R.'s brother Yash Chopra, being his first movie as a director, having been an assistant director in B. R.'s earlier film '' Naya Daur''. Th ...

''s (composed by N. Datta) two popular songs — "Daman Mein Daag Laga Baithe" and "Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega" were penned by Sahir Ludhianvi. Noted Marathi writer and music aficionado P .L. Deshpande had once famously written that whenever he listened to Lata's emotional ''Dhool Ka Phool'' title song "Too Mere Pyaar Kaa Phool Hai", he got the impression that each word, each note was rendered as if a tender flower petal was gently placed in flowing water. In ''Naach Ghar'', Lata's silken rendition of N. Datta's waltz based club song "Aye Dil Zubaan Naa Khol" subtly exposed this materialist world's duplicity in Sahir's sarcastic socialist lingo. His compositions from the B. R. Chopra film, ''Dhool ka Phool'', ''Sadhna'' and ''

Dharamputra ''Dharmputra'' is a 1961 Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra based on a novel of the same name by Acharya Chatursen. This is Yash's second directorial venture. It was the first Hindi film to depict the partition of India, and Hindu fundamentali ...

'' are considered as some of his best works. Songs from later movies like "Ponch Kar Ashk Apni Aankon Se", "Maine Pee Sharaab", "Tune Kya Piya", "Jaan Gayi Mein Toh Jaan Gayi" from ''

Naya Raasta ''Naya Raasta'' ( ''New Path'') is a 1970 Hindi-language drama film, produced by I.A.Nadiadwala on Pushpa Pictures banner and directed by Khalid Akhtar. The film stars Jeetendra, Asha Parekh, and music composed by N. Datta. Plot Chander is a s ...

'' (1970) and "Tere Is Pyar Ka Shukriya" from ''

Aag Aur Daag ''Aag Dur Daag'' is a 1970 Hindi-language action drama film directed by A. Salaam. The film stars Joy Mukherjee and Madan Puri. The film's music is by Datta Naik. Plot Bombay-based Young Raja witnesses his parents commit suicide after being ...

'' are popular as well. N. Datta also composed music for a number of Marathi films. The song "Nimbonichya jhaadaamaage chandra jhopala ga baai" sung by

Suman Kalyanpur Suman Kalyanpur (born as Suman Hemmadi; 28 January 1937) is an Indian playback singer who is most notable for her work in Hindi cinema. She recorded songs for movies in several languages besides Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Ka ...

from ''

Bala Gau Kashi Angai ''Bala Gau Kashi Angai'' is a Marathi-language Family Drama film was released on 4 April 1977. It is produced by M.S.Salvi and directed by Kamlakar Torne. Film Stars Asha Kale, Vikram Gokhale and Nayantara in Lead Roles. In the film, Alka lose ...

'' (1977) is still very popular.

Death

N. Datta's later years were spent fighting ill health and commercial failure. The 1980 film ''

Chehre Pe Chehra ''Chehre Pe Chehra'' () is a 1981 Indian Hindi-language science fiction film produced and directed by Raj Tilak. It stars Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Mehra, Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha and Sulakshana Pandit. It is an adaptation of the 1886 novella ''Strang ...

'' was his last Hindi film and he died on December 30, 1987.

Filmography

* ''Baalo'' (Punjabi Film) (“Kothe Kothe Aa Kudiye” sang by

Geeta Dutt Geeta Dutt (born Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri; 23 November 1930 – 20 July 1972) was an Indian Indian classical music, classical and playback singer. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema and Bengali cinema (India) ...

, lyrics by

Sahir Ludhiyanvi Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi. He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricists and poet ...

) (1951) * ''

Milap Milap may refer to: Films * ''Milap'' (1937 film), 1937 Indian film * ''Milap'' (1955 film), 1955 Indian film * ''Milap'' (1972 film), 1972 Indian film Persons * Milap Chand Jain, Chief Justice of Dehli High Court * Milap Mewada, India ...

'' (1955) * '' Marine Drive'' (1955) * ''Chandrakanta '' (1956) * ''Dashehra'' (1956) * '' Hum Panchhi Ek Dal Ke'' (1957) * ''Mohini'' (1957) * ''Mr. X'' (1957) * ''Light House'' (1958) * ''Miss 1958'' (1958) * '' Sadhna'' (1958) * ''Bhai Bahan'' (1959) * ''Black Cat'' (1959) * ''

'' (1959) * ''Jaalsaaz'' (1959) * ''Mr. John'' (1959) * ''Naach Ghar'' (1959) * ''Didi'' (1959) * ''Dr. Shaitaan'' (1959) * ''Rickshawala'' (1960) * ''

Dharmputra ''Dharmputra'' is a 1961 Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra based on a novel of the same name by Acharya Chatursen. This is Yash's second directorial venture. It was the first Hindi film to depict the partition of India, and Hindu fundamentali ...

'' (1961) * ''Do Bhai'' (1961) * ''Dilli Ka Dada'' (1962) * ''

Gyara Hazar Ladkian ''Gyara Hazar Ladkian'' (Eleven Thousand Girls) is a 1962 Indian Hindi-language romantic social drama film directed by K. A. Abbas. The film was co-produced by the poet Ali Sardar Jafri, who also helped co-write the story with Abbas. Produced u ...

'' (1962) * ''Kala Samundar'' (1962) * ''Sachche Moti'' (1962) * ''Aawara Abdullah'' (1963) * ''Akela'' (1963) * ''Holiday in Bombay'' (1963) * ''Mere Armaan Mere Sapne'' (1963) * ''Rustam-e-Baghdad'' (1963) * ''Baadshah'' (1964) * ''Chandi Ki Deewar'' (1964) * ''Herculis'' (1964) * ''Gopal Krishna'' (1965) * ''Khaakan'' (1965) * ''Bahadur Daaku'' (1966) * ''Dilaawar'' (1966) * ''Jawan Mard'' (1966) * ''Albela Mastaana'' (1967) * ''Raju'' (1967) * ''Apna Ghar Apni Kahani'' (1968) * ''Ek Masoom'' (1969) * ''Patthar Ka Khwab'' (1969) * ''Ustaad 420'' (1970) * ''

Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia The rank of Inspector is present in all Australian police forces excep ...

'' (1970) * ''

'' (1970) * ''Badnaam Farishtey'' (1972) * ''Return of Johnny'' (1974) * ''Do Juaari'' (1974) * ''Ganga'' (1974) * ''Aag Aur Toofan'' (1975) * ''Phanda'' (1975) * ''Miss Toofan Mail'' (1980) * ''

'' (1981)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Naik, Datta Musicians from Goa 1987 deaths Hindi film score composers 1927 births 20th-century Indian composers Indian male film score composers 20th-century Indian male musicians