Biography:

Anup Ghoshal (1944/1945 – 15 December 2023) was an Indian playback singer, composer in Hindi films and other vernacular Indian films, especially Bengali-language films. He was known in his native Bengal primarily as one of the foremost artists of the ‘golden age of Nazrulgeeti‘ (c. 1930s–1970s).

Ghoshal was born and brought up in a musical family. He was born to Amulya Chandra Ghoshal and Labanya Ghoshal. Her mother was the main source of inspiration for little Anup. She herself had a good voice. Apart from Anup, his elder sisters too were good singers in their respective capacities and that made the perfect musical environment for Anup to imbibe music into his inner self.

When he was 4, his mother arranged for his musical training. His first performance also took place at age 4, when he sang for a children’s programme, Shishu Mahal from All India Radio, Kolkata.

Ghoshal’s music lessons which began from the age of four continued until he was about 26 years of age. During his entire learning years he became a master of Thumri, Kheyal, Bhajan, Ragpradhan, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrulgeeti, Dwijendrageeti, Rajnikanter Gaan, modern Bengali songs and several other folk songs. He received his music lessons from various esteemed ‘Gurus’. Among them were Sangeetacharya Tarapada Chakraborty and Sangeetacharya Sukhendu Goswami. He learnt Rabindra Sangeet from Debabrata Biswas and learnt different Bengali songs from Manindra Chakraborty.

Apart from musical learnings he got his university degree in humanities from Asutosh College, Kolkata. He got his Master’s degree and Ph.D from Rabindra Bharati University. His thesis was titled “Nazrulgeeti – Roop O Rashanabhuti”. During his school and college years, Anup took part in many music competitions where he secured the highest marks in different classical, light classical, Bengali songs (traditional and modern), Rabindra Sangeet and folk songs.

Anup stood first in ‘Sangeet Bharati Degree Examination‘ in the years 1966-1967 and was awarded a gold medal. He was a National Scholar, selected in 1966-1967.

Anup’s first venture into movies as a playback singer was at the age of 19 years, when he sang for the movie ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne‘, by Satyajit Ray. His association with Ray continued which made him the recipient of National Award in 1981 for ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe‘. He sung for various Bengali as well as Hindi movies, and also in Bhojpuri and Assamese films.

Ghoshal visited UK, USA, Canada and Germany for various musical concerts. As of 2023, he still visited Western countries to promote Indian Musical Culture with references to Bengali songs along with folk songs of Bengal.

Anup Ghoshal also wrote an authoritative book on Indian Music, “Ganer Bhubane”. He believed that music is universal and is the best unifying force. He believed that the future of Indian classical music is bright.

Ghoshal also assisted Satyajit Ray in his Bengali films as assistant music director.

Anup Ghoshal was elected as one of the members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Uttarpara Constituency (Hoogly 185) as a candidate of All India Trinamool Congress headed by Mamata Banerjee in 2011.

Death

Anup Ghoshal died in Kolkata on 15 December 2023, at the age of 78.^[1]

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