Pankaj Mullick (1905–1978) was an Indian musician, music director, singer and composer who is regarded as one of the pioneers of film music in India. He was a leading figure in the early decades of Indian sound cinema, particularly in Bengali and Hindi films produced in Calcutta, and was also a long-serving broadcaster with All India Radio. He played a significant role in popularising the songs of Rabindranath Tagore, known as Rabindra Sangeet, through cinema and radio.
Key facts
| Full name | Pankaj Kumar Mullick |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 May 1905, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Died | 19 February 1978, Calcutta, West Bengal, India |
| Occupation | Music director, singer, composer, broadcaster |
| Languages | Bengali, Hindi |
| Major affiliation | New Theatres, Calcutta; All India Radio |
| Notable awards | Padma Shri (1970); Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1972) |
Background
Pankaj Mullick was born in Calcutta into a Bengali Hindu family. He received early training in classical music and was deeply influenced by the music of Rabindranath Tagore. He studied music under Durgadas Bandopadhyay and later came into contact with Dinendranath Tagore, through whom he developed a close engagement with Rabindra Sangeet.
Career
Early career and broadcasting
Mullick began his musical career in the 1920s as a singer for the Indian Broadcasting Company in Calcutta, the predecessor of All India Radio. He was associated with radio broadcasting for several decades, and through his programmes he helped take Tagore's songs and Indian classical and light music to a wide audience. He conducted a long-running radio music training programme, Sangeet Shikshar Ashar, which guided several generations of listeners and aspiring singers.
Film music at New Theatres
Mullick joined New Theatres, the influential Calcutta-based film studio founded by B. N. Sircar, where he worked alongside contemporaries such as R. C. Boral, K. C. Dey, K. L. Saigal and Timir Baran. He was among the earliest Indian composers to use background music as an integral element of cinematic narration and is credited with helping introduce playback singing techniques in Indian cinema.
His work with New Theatres included music direction and singing for several landmark Bengali and Hindi films of the 1930s and 1940s. He composed music for films such as Mukti (1937), Doctor (1941), Kapal Kundala, Nartaki and Yatrik, among others. Mukti in particular is remembered for being one of the early Hindi films to use a Tagore song, with Tagore's permission.
Promotion of Rabindra Sangeet
Mullick is especially noted for popularising Rabindra Sangeet in films and on radio. With the consent of Rabindranath Tagore, he set Tagore's lyrics to film situations and rendered them in his distinctive baritone voice. Songs such as "Diner sheshe ghumer deshe" became widely known partly through his interpretations.
Singing style
Pankaj Mullick was known for his deep, sonorous voice and a measured, expressive style of singing. He was equally at ease with Bengali devotional and Tagore songs as with Hindi film numbers, and his renditions are considered representative of an early, restrained form of Indian film singing that drew heavily from classical and traditional sources.
Timeline
- 1905: Born in Calcutta.
- 1920s: Began singing for the Indian Broadcasting Company, Calcutta.
- 1930s: Joined New Theatres; emerged as a leading composer and singer in Bengali and Hindi cinema.
- 1937: Music direction and singing in Mukti.
- 1941: Music for Doctor.
- 1940s–1960s: Continued work in films and at All India Radio, including Sangeet Shikshar Ashar.
- 1970: Awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
- 1972: Honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
- 1978: Died in Calcutta.
Awards and honours
- Padma Shri (1970), Government of India.
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1972), the highest Indian honour in cinema.
- Several honours from cultural and music organisations in West Bengal in recognition of his contribution to Bengali music and Tagore songs.
Legacy
Pankaj Mullick is remembered as one of the founding figures of Indian film music, alongside contemporaries such as R. C. Boral and Timir Baran. His work bridged the worlds of classical music, Tagore's compositions, radio broadcasting and early sound cinema. The Pankaj Kumar Mullick Music and Art Foundation, established in his memory, organises programmes, awards and concerts dedicated to preserving his musical legacy and promoting young talent in Indian classical and Rabindra Sangeet traditions.