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Vishmadev Chattopadhyay

Introduction

Sangeetacharya Vishmadev Chattopadhyay was an extraordinary genius singer who personified Hindustani Classical Music in true sense. Basically Khyalia he could easily wander around different fields of music and proved himself as a specialist in that particular genre only. His talent was manifested when he was 5years old and became famous as a CHILD PRODIGY. At his 12 years his First record on Tappa was published under PRESTIGE LABEL by HMV Record Company. Rabindra Bharati University conferred him D. Lit. in 1972 and Prachin Kalakendra of Chandigarh conferred him Sangeet Nayak title in 1976. UNESCO collected his songs as sample of Hindustani Classical music.

Family Background and Early life

Vishmadev’s family has a spiritual background. His parents were Asutosh Chattopadhyay and Pravabati Devi. Asutosh Chattopadhyay was the descendant of Sadhak Gangananda Swami of that Chattopadhyay family of Hooghly district to other branch of which Thakur Ramkrishna belonged. Vishmadev was the first person in his family with the musical talent. His mother could recognize that and extended all sorts of support for his growth. He was born on 8th Nov,1909 and brought to Kolkata when he was 1 year old, admitted to Sanskrit Collegiate school for academic education. He appeared for Probeshika Examination from Calcutta Training Academy. Thereafter he studied in Vidyasagar College. During the college days he stood First in all three categories- Khyal, Tappa and Thumri in the inter college music competition for two years consecutively. He was awarded BESTMAN prize and the marks that he obtained enabled the college to secure FIRST rank. Musical Training Shri Nagendra nath Dutta gave him initial talim.Thereafter Khalifa Badal Khan Saheb, nephew of Mian Haider Box of Delhi Gharana had given him talim for fourteen years. Later he himself created his own gharana as Badal Khan Sahib Gharana. Profession Kazi Nazrul Islam,an admirer of Vishmadev took him to The Megaphone Record Company where he joined as a Music Director cum Trainer in 1933. In 1937 Vishmadev joined Film Corporation as a Film Music Director.

‘Records

The Megaphone Record Company published his khyal on Raaga Malkaush & Aasha in 1933. Lately this company published many of his records on khyal &Thumri,Bangla Raagpradhan, Bhajan & Harmonium.

Achievement

His fame spread beyond the boundaries of Bengal. Invitations flowed like flood from different parts of the country-from Allahabad,  Kanpur, Lucknow, Benaras, Delhi, Mathura even from distant Sikarpur near Karachi of the then undivided India. All India Radio used to broadcast his songs on regular basis for which there was a great public demand. While working in Film Corporation he put music in 12 films. Kumar Sachin Dev Burman was his assistant in some of these films. Vishmadev made an attempt to mingle the tune of East and West in the film named RIKTA. It was a record breaking incident-first such kind of attempt in any Indian film. It created a sensation at that time. Tapan Sinha, the famous film director mentioned about this song quoting the first line of the song- ‘Aaro ektu shore boshte paro…’ .’.how modern in approach at that point of time!’

Family life

He married Smt. Diptikana Devi in 1934. He had three sons.

Temperament

A Sadhak singer as he was,Sangeetacharya Vishmadev Chattopadhyay loved to stay behind the lime light. During the peak years of his performance he earned the title -Legendary Figure of Indian Classical. Temperamentally Vishmadev was of non materialistic kind, After his Upanayan (thread ceremony) he used to wear saffron cloth for 11 years at a stretch and attend classes in school and college. In 1940 he left everything-his name, fame, money, family and went to Sri Aurobindo Asram at Pondicherry for a recluse. He spent 8 years there and came back in 1948 with broken health. During the last phase at Pondicherry he discontinued singing .(by order). After a short period of his come-back at Kolkata he again started singing and attending functions for performance. The Megaphone Record Company also did not miss the chance of publishing his records on Thumri, Khyal, and Bengali raagpradhan songs once again. But Vishmadev turned his face from film industry, no longer was he interested in working there,neither in Megaphone Record Company. He was living a secluded life,like a domestic sage. Finding his verdicts coming true some people started worshipping him keeping his photo in their puja rooms. The digit 8 played a peculiar part in his life. He was born on 8th November, sang 8 Bengali songs, spent 8 years in exile, died at 8p.m. on 8th day of the 8th month (August) of 1977.

Disciples

Eminent musicians and music personalities like Kumar Sachin Dev Burman,Rajkumar Shyamanand Singh,Begum Akhtar,Juthika Roy,Uma Basu, Chinmoy Chattopadhyay, Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi ( in his early days ), Suresh Chakraborty, Prakash Kali Ghosal, Pratima Bandyopadhyay, Bhabani Das, Himangshu Roy, Saila Devi and film personalities like Kanon Devi, Chhaya Devi, Pahari Sanyal ,Lily Chakraborty took talim from him. Jayanta Chattopadhyay, his youngest son, Chairman of Vishmadev Memorial Trust also took talim from him. As a Guru Vishmadev had his seat of deep reverence and regards in the hearts of his disciples

Applause

Once Ustad Mustaq Ali Khan, Sitar maestro of Jaipur Senia Gharana remarked ,’I have never seen a musical brain like Vishma’.

His Contribution in the field of INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

Vishmadev introduced new type of sargam in khyal and thumri He introduced new genre of Bangla Raagpradhan song He introduced new style of singing and formed a different Gayaki He introduced new style of Harmonium playing He introduced mingling of the tune of Eastern and Western music in Indian Film.

Recognition

UNESCO collected his four songs as the specimen of Indian Classical Music. London Museum collected the Record of his Harmonium Playing Rabindra Bharati University conferred D. Litt. Title in 1972 In 1975 West Bengal Government prepared a documentary film on his life and work on celluloid. In 1976 Prachin Kalakendra of Chandigarh honoured him with Sangeet Nayak title. Sri Bimal Das, an eminent artist sketched his portrait which was published by The West Bengal Pustak Parshad in their calendar for the year 1984. In 1991 Kolkata Doordarshan made a documentary film on his life and music. In 2006 Kolkata Doordarshan prepared a separate film on his life and music. In 2006 Swami Santadas Smarak Samman was dedicated in his memory by Swami Santadas Institute of Culture. They paid homage with the posthumous award on the day of Gurupurnima, acclaiming him Revered Guru in the line of Indian tradition. He did receive number of gold and silver medals for his performances at various places. He also received innumerable souvenirs and Maanpatras from different organizations. His life and music is a subject for research work after the post graduation level. Some obtained Ph.D degree doing research work exclusively on his music. A street in New Alipore, Kolkata is named after him- Pd. Vishmadev Chattopadhyay Sarani. Rabindra Bharati University has taken a resolution (in 2016) to arrange for an Archive in his memory.

Music Director in the Feature Film


 * Hari Kirtan (Hindi)
 * Asha (Hindi)
 * Rise (Hindi)
 * Dil Hi to Hai (Hindi)
 * Qaidi (Hindi)
 * Hindustan Hamara (Hindi)
 * Rajgi (Bangla)
 * Rikta (Bangla)
 * Pratham Prabhat (Bangla)
 * Tatinir Bichar( Bangla)
 * Muktisnan (Bangla)
 * Amar Geeti (Bangla)

Music Direction in Yatra Pala


 * Khana
 * Shakuntala
 * Sri Ramchandra
 * Sindhubadh
 * Mahanisha
 * Naldamayanti
 * Tarakeswar
 * Fullora
 * Promodranjan
 * Karnarjun
 * Mantrashakti

Records by Megaphone Record Company   (now available in CD )

Khyal


 * Piu piu Ratata (Lalit)
 * Phul Ban ki (Deshi)
 * Pia Pardeshi (Dhansi)
 * Aad Ayori (Asha)
 * Ab Ho Lalan (Bihag)
 * Rut Basant Apnee (Rageshri Bahar)
 * Bahar Aai Aai Re (Bahar)
 * Mati Malnia (Kamod)
 * Aai Re Rut Basant (Basant)
 * Baman De Bata (Shankara)
 * Barashe Meharba (Gaud Malhar)
 * Tande Salam (Tilang)
 * Pir Na Jaani (Malkaush)
 * Mukh Mor Mor ( Malkaush)
 * Phagwa Brij Dekhan (Basant)

Thumri


 * Rasili tori Ankhiya (Bhairavi)
 * Bhala Mora (Kafi Bhairavi)
 * Ha Mana Bhabania (Dhani)
 * Saiyan Tu Ek Beri (Pilu)
 * Barasana Lagi (Khamaj)
 * Dukhwa Main kase (Tilak Kamod)
 * Lagat Hai Kalejwa (Bhairavi)

Bhajan


 * Ban Than Kar Aayee Jasoda
 * Ban Than Kar Aayo re Gopi

Raag Pradhan Bangla Gaan
 * Jaago Aalok lagane (Ramkeli)
 * Jodi Mone pore (Kafi Bhairavi)
 * Phuler Din (Jai Jayanti)
 * Shesher Gaanti Chhilo (Gazal)
 * Nabaruna Raage (Bhairavi)
 * Taba Laagi Byatha (Desi Todi)
 * Ato ki Chaturi (Tappa)
 * Sakhi ki Kare (Tappa)

Harmonium
 * Bhairavi
 * Mishra Kafi

BOOKS


 * Smaran Bedanar Barone aanka By Suresh Chakraborty
 * Sudha Sagar Teere By Suresh Chakraborty
 * Ostad Kahini By Ajit Krishna Basu
 * Pondicherryr Dinguli By Prithindranath Mukhopadhyay
 * Thumri ki Utpatti Bikas aur Sailiyan by Shatrughna Shukla
 * Kothai Gelo Tara By Jayanta Chattopadhyay
 * Surchhanda Patrika- Sept 1972 issue
 * Siladitya Patrika –Pujobarshiki 2017

References:


 * Ananda Bazar Patrika 6th Dec,2015 by Gulzar
 * Srishti   Vol 3 no2            April-Jun 2006
 * Ananda Bazar Patrika     27th Feb ,2005
 * Dainik Statesman              7th Nov ,2004
 * Aajkal                                7th Nov,1985