Introduction

The Eminent Artist

Vishmadev Chattopadhyay

Introduction

The enigmatic personality of Sangeetacharya Vishmadev Chattopadhyay has still an appeal to attract people of present generation. He was a born musician and left a deep, distinct mark of his genius and creativity in the history of Indian Classical music. He made Bengal proud when UNESCO picked up four of his songs-two of which are Bengali songs.

His first record for the distribution of outside Bengal was published by the Megaphone Company and thereafter many of his Khyal, Thumri, Bhajan, Bengali Raagpradhan songs were published by Megaphone Co-the sole publisher of Vishmadev's songs and harmonium playing. He joined Megaphone Co as a Music Director and Trainer and tuned many songs in different languages like Bengali, Assamese, Hindi etc. Many Bengali palas (drama on disc) as well as orchestra music were also released under his music direction.

He had in his store 14 years of talim of Delhi gharana from Ustad Badal Khan Sahib. He was invited in almost every big music conference held throughout undivided India.

He formed a new style of Harmonium playing inspite of being a pure vocalist, Megaphone Co had also published the record of his harmonium playing. London Museum has kept one copy of this record.

Sangeetacharya Vishmadev Chattopadhyay's great and most noteworthy creation is the formation of a new type of gayaki in Bengali Raagpradhan song. Neither khyal nor thumri ang but he introduced entirely a different ang which resulted in forming a new genre of Bengali Raag Pradhan song. He also introduced & applied new types of Sargam in Khyal and Thumri.

He joined as a Music Director in the Film Corporation in 1937. His creativity and innovativeness again formed a new style of music with the mingling of eastern and western tune. He was the first music director in India who did make such fusion in film music at that time. The name of the film is Rikta. The lyricist of that film was Bengal's famous novelist and poet Premendra MItra who labelled the song as first Adhunik Bangla Gaan.

He was a saintly person and left the materialistic world to live in Pondicherry Asram when he was at the pinnacle of name and fame. After 8 years he came back and started living secluded life-with music alone and music only till his death in the year 1977. He was a legendary figure in the history of Indian classical music.