Bollywood Retrospect: Music director Anil Biswas, a mentor to many singers

Anil Biswas (whose birthday comes up on July 7) was one of the pioneers of Hindi film music and credited with popularising playback singing and orchestral music in films. Amongst his many strengths as a music director was his ability to pick and groom singers. It is on this aspect that I will focus on in this post. Anil Biswas introduced singers like Zohrabai Ambalewali (Gramophone Singer, 1938), Begum Akhtar (Roti, 1942) and mentored Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh and of course, Meena Kapoor, whom he would go on to marry.
 
Mukesh: Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De (Pehli Nazar, 1945)

Mukesh’s first hit in Hindi films can be directly attributed to Anil Biswas. Mukesh made his debut in 1941 and was lost in Bollywood wilderness till this song came along. When Mukesh reported late for recording, he got an earful from Anil Biwas. When, in his youthful arrogance, Mukesh retorted that he would not sing the song, Anil Biswas slapped him hard and asked him to bring that pain into the recording room! Mukesh went on to sing the song in the style of KL Saigal but his troubles were not over yet. The film’s producer wanted to remove the song since the distributors’ felt that Mukesh’s voice did not suit actor Motilal. A tearful Mukesh eventually convinced the producer to keep the song. The song became very popular and Mukesh had his first hit. Mukesh went on to become a successful singer with a flair for the melancholy.

Talat Mahmood: Ae Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal (Arzoo, 1950)

While other music directors considered the quiver in Talat Mahmood’s voice a weakness, Anil Biswas was enamoured of it. It was Anil Biswas, who mentored and encouraged Talat who was beginning to despair after having failed to make an impact after five years in Hindi films. It was Talat Mahmood’s perseverance and Anil Biswas’ eye for talent that led to this hugely successful song. The popularity of “Ae Dil..” resulted in other music directors making a beeline to sign up Talat. The song also cemented Talat’s place as the voice of Dilip Kumar, who made it a point to recommend Talat for his films.

Lata Mangeshkar: Tumhare Bulane Ko Jee Chahta Hai (Ladli, 1949)

Anil Biswas, along with Ghulam Haider and Khemchand Prakash, stood by Lata Mangeshkar at a time when her future in the film industry was uncertain. She had been criticised for her “thin” voice and for her poor Urdu diction but with help from these maestros, she worked on her singing and went on to become the leading female singer in Hindi films for decades to come. This is what she had to say about what she learned from Anil Biswas in the book Lata Mangeshkar In Her Own Voice (by Nasreen Munni Kabir):

“Anil Biswas taught me many things – perhaps he didn’t mean to teach me, but I remember his advice. He taught me when to inhale and exhale. So when I sing, people can’t tell when I take a breath. Another thing Anil da told me was – if I am stressing on a particular note – how much to fade in and out of the note. I learned these techniques from him.”

Listening to this beauty gives us a sense of how adept a learner she was and how good a mentor Anil Biswas was:

Meena Kapoor: Kuchh Aur Zamana Kehta Hai (Chhoti Chhoti Baten, 1965)

Anil Biswas met Meena Kapoor during the recording of Anokha Pyar (1948). He fell in love first with her voice and then with her. His relationship with Meena Kapoor led to his divorce with his first wife Ashalata (maiden name Mehrunnisa) in 1954. Anil Biswas and Meena Kapoor got married in 1959. Meena Kapoor sang almost two hundred songs for Hindi films but couldn’t really make a mark for herself. Her voice was seen to be very similar to Geeta Dutt’s and most of her songs were for B-grade films. That was a pity because she really had a lot to offer. Like this beautiful song, with breath-taking lyrics by Shailendra, from what would be the last film of Anil Biswas and Meena Kapoor:

Bonus: Chale Bajaate Seeti Jeevan Ki Raahon Mein (Zamana, 1957)

Anil Biswas was pretty good singer himself. I wish he’d sung more. I love this obscure but happy little duet of his with Asha Bhosle that’s guaranteed to make you smile:

Want more of Anil Biswas? Check this list of his best songs.