India’s Trailblazing Music Composers & Authors
This special for Khanak, on International Women’s Day celebrates four of India’s most prodigious female Author-Composers who have gone on to etch their names on the sands of time while swimming against the current and triumphing against seemingly impossible odds that lay on their path. The names that come to mind almost by reflex include Saraswati Devi, Ashmita Mukherjee, Usha Khanna and Maya Govindji.
Saraswati Devi- Indian Cinemas first professional female music composer..
It would surprise many that the song “Ek Chatur Nar Karke Singar” and “Koi Humdam Na Raha” had their roots in earlier films and were composed by one of India’s pioneering female music composers Khurshid Minocher-Homji popularly known as Saraswati Devi.It would only be appropriate to tag her as Indian Cinemas first professional female music composer who gave music to films produced by outside producers and banners. Taking off on her professional journey as a melody-maker before the advent of the playback era, when actors sang in their own voice, the 20-something Saraswati Devi, a classically trained musician, had the dexterity to simplify her tunes to suit the essentially non-singing film actors. Bombay Talkies, spearheaded by Himanshu Rai became the young composers musical canvas, as she, much against the wishes of her community became the first female composer wielding the baton for the talkie film “Jawani ki Hawa”(1935). Also, it is Saraswati Devi to whom goes the honor of introducing the playback technique in films much before it got prevalent in the cinema of the day. The musical ripples she created with sublime creations like “Main Ban Ki Chidiya” from “Achhut Kanya”(1936) echo across present day Indian homes.
Bowing out with over 24 films in a 2 decade long career Saraswati Devi takes pride of place in the pantheon of film music composers. Gems like “Mere Bichde Huve Saathi”continues to entrench her in the hearts of music lovers.
Ashmita Mukherjee- A prodigious musical powerhouse that continues to enthrall
What do you call someone who gave her first public performance of music at the age of 3 and bagged the first prize as singer at the tender age of 5 other than a prodigious talent of monumental ability. Ashima Mukherjee, the ground-breaking Singer/Music composer, from Bengal has always been way ahead of trends proving that an idea whose time has come cannot be stopped. With renowned gurus to guide her through her early musical pursuits Ashima Ji went on to secure a first class position, Gold Medal and the honorary title of Gitaprabha from the Bengal Music College. It is also worth mentioning here that to hone her skills Ashima ji trained in classical music that went on to burnish her composing skills in her spread out musical journey. Weighing in as an All India Radio Artist in 1960 the leading music label HMV also released her first musical album in the same vintage year. Films though had to wait till 1965 when she got her break with Dholna. Her march in fact had just begun as she went on to be associated with stalwarts like Manna De, Hemant Kumar, Jatileshwar Mukherjee for whom she conjured several memorable numbers while also using her own voice to her mellifluous compositions.1968 was a landmark year in her long career as she earned repute as the first film female music composer of Bengal with the film Chowrangee. What followed was a slew of assignments as a Music Composer notable among which are Ajker Nayak, Shubho Rajini, and Tonoya. Underlining her prowess as a musical talent with multiple hues,Ashima Mukherjee has also gone on to render some of the most memorable songs of Bengali cinema. Her two decade stint with All India Radio Kolkata, where she rose to the position of Assistant Station Director also gave her the bandwidth to assimilate world music into her overflowing oeuvre. Several prestigious awards like the Critics Council Award for contribution to music in New Delhi and the much coveted “Pride Of Region” award from the Ramakrishna Mission Golpark and the well deserved Sangeet Maha Samman from the state government in 2020 embellish the crown of this supremely talented, path breaking,music artist who can rightfully lay claim as being the guiding light to the emerging generation of female music creators of the country.
Usha Khanna- A lasting echo that refuses to fade away
When she wielded the music baton for the first time in 1959 she had the music world eating out of her hands.”Dil Deke Dekho” unwrapped one of the evergreen stars of the golden era of film music, Usha Khanna. Over 6 decades since her unforgettable debut, Usha Khanna has gone on to score some of the most loved tracks of Hindi film music while working with an astounding lot of talented singers of the era including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mukesh Mohammad Rafi Kishore Kumar and a host of others. Among others, some of her most delightful creations include “Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai, Barkha Rani Jara Jam Ke Barso”, Tu Is Tarah Se Meri Zindagi Mein Shamil Hain,“Chhodo Kal Ki Baaten.”
Never the one to be disheartened by the lack of opportunities in the male-skewed industry around the time Usha Khanna, went ahead and nurtured the early careers of such prolific talents like Sonu Nigam, Mohammad Aziz, Vinod Rathod, Shabbir Kumar, Anuradha Paudwal among others. Usha ji goes on to aver that her gender in no way came in the way of her musical career. Working in the style of a true-blue composer, Ushaji has always preferred to have the lyric written before she gave it her own musical aura. It was also her constant endeavour to see that the core melody was never overpowered by the musical arrangements and helped embellish the composition to the extent it could. Decorated with the Filmfare Award for the music of the film “Souten” the octogenarian continues to conjure melodies for television shows and has also had a tryst as a music composer with Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam cinema underlining her core belief that music is a universal language that says it all.
Maya Govind- A multitalented force of nature
“Teri Meri Prem Kahani”,“Naino Mein Darpan hain”More Ghar Aaye Sajnava” have the inimitable stamp of one of Hindi Cinemas finest song writers Maya Govind. The multifaceted Maya Govind, also a classical dancer, actor, singer, shines on through her prolific over 5 decade long glittering run as a significant creator blessed by the Goddess of art and creation. Immortal dance ballets like Meera, one of the longest running musicals in the world establish her as an exemplary fount of beautiful things who could adapt to any medium of expression with consummate ease. Her frolicsome ode to love “Maine Payal Hai Chankai” became one of the all-time biggest non-film hits and reverberates across music gatherings especially during the festive season. With over 750 songs to her credit Mayaji, stands tall in the lineage of lyric writers in cinema history. Her ability to adapt to the modern digital era also came gushing with title songs of popular television shows. The evolved thinker that veiled her bright demeanour made her craft all the more alluring. Mayaji was also renowned for her ability to conjure splendorous poetry on the spur of a moment, as was often displayed in the Kavi Sammelans of the day. Socially active mainly in the area of women empowerment Maya Govindji will be remembered as a versatile creative genius and much more.
