Pratima Bandopadhyay

Srimati Pratima Bandopadhyay
Srimati Pratima Bandopadhyay
	শ্রীমতী প্রতিমা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়
Background information
Born	21 December 1934; Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Died	29 July 2004 (aged 69)
Genres	Playback singer
Occupation(s)	Singer

Pratima Bandopadhyay or Banerjee (Bengali: প্রতিমা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়) (21 December 1934 – 29 July 2004) (born as Pratima Chatterjee aka Pratima Chattopadhyay) was a Bengali playback singer from Kolkata, who sang numerous songs in popular Bengali language movies and non-film as well, particularly during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.^[1]

Early life[edit]

Pratima Bandopadhyay's ancestors came from Baherak (Bengali: বাহেরক), Bikrampur(now Munshiganj), Dhaka, Bangladesh. She lost her father Mani Bhushan Chattopadhyay at the age of one year only. Her mother Kamala Chattopadhyay raised her in their house at Bhabanipur, Kolkata. She started taking lessons in music at a very early age from Sri Prakash Kali Ghoshal.^[2]

Career[edit]

Pratima Bandyopadhyay's first record appeared in 1945 through Senola Records. She made her debut in playback singing in Bengali films in 1951 when she recorded "Totini ami, Tumi sudurer chand" under the music direction of Shri Sudhirlal Chakraborty in film "Sunandar Biye". Over three decades, she lent her voice to more than 65 Bengali movies and numerous non-film songs.^{[citation needed]}

Death and legacy[edit]

After the death of Pratima's husband Shri Amiyo Kumar Bandyopadhyay in 1986, her health deteriorated rapidly, and on 29 July 2004 she breathed her last. She was survived by her daughter Raikishori Bandyopadhyay and son Amarnath Bandyopadhyay and family.^[1]

Memoirs[edit]

Pulak Bandyopadhyay, the famous and noted lyricist of Bengal of the yesteryear, mentioned in his memoir: "When the song "Ke prothom kachhe esechhi", written by me and sung by Manna De and Lata Mangeskar, became popular, I received a call from a mysterious fan, praising the lyrics. She did not reveal her name. Since then I used to receive call from her whenever a song written by me became a sensation. At last one day she agreed to come to meet me at certain location in Elgin road at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I was overwhelmed. The time was approaching, and cleaned my car and got dressed. Then the phone rang. It was Hemanta Mukherjee. He insisted that I should visit his house for creation of Puja songs at 5 o'clock. Pratima Bandopadhyay would be there waiting. All my persuasion to change the date failed. While driving my car towards Hemanta-da's house, the clock was approaching 5, I was thinking about the mysterious lady, and first two lines came in to my mind, "Baro saadh jaage, ekbar tomay dekhi" (I wanna see you just for once). Never heard of the lady ever after. Pratima recorded the song."^[3]
Nirmla Mishra recalled: "One night at about 12 o'clock I received a phone call. It was a great surprise for me, because the caller was none other than the famous artist Pratima Bandopadhyay. She told, 'Nirmala, Manab Babu had given us a song. Let us practice it here.' Regularly Pratima Bandopadhyay used to call me after mid night for practice." The song was: Abire Rangalo Ke Amay /Film Mukhujjye Paribar (1956).^[4]

Discography[edit]

Films[edit]

List of Films (as playback singer)
Year	Film
1951	Sunonda'r Biye
1952	Andhar Surjyo
1953	Bouthakuranir Haat
1953	Laljhuti Kakatua
1954	Dhuli
1954	Jodu Bhatta
1954	Jaydev
1954	Sadanander Mela
1955	Aparadhi
1955	Bhalobasa
1955	Dasyu Mohan
1955	Hrod
1955	Shap Mochan
1955	Tar Aar Par Nei
1955	Shap Mochan
1956	Asamapta
1956	Putrabodhu
1956	Shyamali
1956	Sinthir Sindur
1957	Aalo Andhare
1957	Daata Karna
1957	Harano Sur
1957	Harishchandra
1957	Neelachale Mahaprobhu
1957	Punarmilan
1957	Tasher Ghar
1958	Bandhu
1958	Kalamati
1958	Sahara (Hindi)
1959	Ek Gochha Rajanigandha
1959	Janmantar
1959	Lalu Bhulu
1960	Goriber Meye
1960	Kshudito Pashan
1960	Natun Fasal
1960	Prabesh Nishedh
1961	Jhinder Bondi
1962	Bandhan
1962	Bipasha
1962	Dadathakur
1962	Mayar Sangsar
1963	Dwiper Naam Tiyarang
1963	Kalsrot
1963	Uttarayan
1964	Kasti Pathar
1965	Mahalagna
1965	Mukhujjye Paribar
1966	Angeekar
1966	Ek Saathe
1966	Harano Prem
1966	Rajodrohi
1967	Chhuti
1967	Miss Priyambada
1968	Chowranghee
1968	Teen Adhyaya
1969	Parineeta
1969	Sabarmati
1970	Pratima
1971	Ekhane Pinjar
1971	Jiban Jigyasa
1971	Pratham Basanta
1972	Aalo Aamar Aalo
1972	Anindita
1972	Shapath Nilam
1973	Bindur Chhele
1974	Alo O Chhaya
1974	Bisarjan
1974	Jadu Bangsha
1974	Sujata
1974	Thagini
1076	Asamay
1977	Golap Bou
1978	Joy Maa Tara
1979	Heerey Manik
1981	Kapalkundala
1987	Lalan Fakir

Others[edit]

Musical Opera

Pratima Bandopadhyay also rendered her voice in the following Musical Opera:

Alibaba (Opera) Part-1 & 2 (Children Opera) created by Kshirod Prasad Bidyabinod. Drama: Pranab Ray, Music: V Blsara.
Shree Radhar Manbhanjan (Religious Opera). Compilation: Pranab Ray, Music: Rabin Chattopadhyay.

Music Composition by Pratima Bandopadhyay

Tandrahara Raat - Hemanta Mukhopadhyay; Lyrics - Debashis Chattopadhyay; Music - Pratima Bandopadhyay; (code 2vY3CeAHI8M).

References[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "Outlook 30 July 2004". Retrieved 6 September 2017.
↑ "কাজলা দিদি". Retrieved 6 September 2017.
↑ Bandyopadhyay, Pulak (1999). Kathay Kathay Raat Hoye Jay (Bengali: কথায় কথায় রাত হয়ে যায়). Ananda Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-8-172-15977-1.
↑ Nirmala Mishra Says about Pratima Bandopadhyay at YouTube; (accessed 30 August 2017)

External links[edit]

Pratima Bandopadhyay on IMDb

[out-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "Outlook 30 July 2004". Retrieved 6 September 2017.

[kajla-2] "কাজলা দিদি". Retrieved 6 September 2017.

[pulak-3] Bandyopadhyay, Pulak (1999). Kathay Kathay Raat Hoye Jay (Bengali: কথায় কথায় রাত হয়ে যায়). Ananda Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-8-172-15977-1.

[4] Nirmala Mishra Says about Pratima Bandopadhyay at YouTube; (accessed 30 August 2017)

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