Shantanu Moitra (born 22 January 1968) is an Indian pianist, score composer and musician who has composed songs for the Hindi film industry, and is most known for his scores in the films Parineeta (2005), Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005), Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) and 3 Idiots (2009), and private albums, Mann ke Manjeere and Ab ke Saawan sung by Shubha Mudgal. In 2014, he received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) for Na Bangaaru Talli."Naa Bangaru Talli" wins three national awards – Telugu Movie News
Early life and education Shantanu was born in Lucknow, where his father came from a Bengali Brahmin musical family. He was very young when he moved to Delhi with his family, where initially he lived in Patel Nagar in West Delhi, and studied at Springdales School, Pusa Road. There, he was the leader and singer of a band, and in 1982, the band hosted the school's first rock show. "What was even better was receiving an award in school for my contribution to music at a time when my school, Springdales in Delhi, didn't usually give awards for music. When I look back now, I think the award instilled huge confidence in me," he said.
They also received musical training from urban-folk singer, Sushmit Bose, a Springdales alumnus, who would occasionally drop in and teach them. Later he moved to Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi.Sharing Notes: Musician Shantanu Moitra can claim credit for having popularised rock in his school Indian Express, 10 July 2004.Shantanu Moitra, before Parineeta Rediff.com, 3 September 2007.
He studied at Deshbandhu College, Kalkaji, Delhi University and has a degree in Economics.Thank an ad crisis for Parineeta's music Rediff.com, 9 June 2005.
Career Moitra started his career as a client servicing executive at an ad agency, while music remained a hobby. He started composing music for advertising jingles accidentally, when he was asked to compose a jingle at the last minute by Pradeep Sarkar, then the Creative Head of the agency. The jingle was "Bole mere lips. I love Uncle Chipps" for the chips brand Uncle Chipps, which became an instant hit. He later composed several jingles for Pradeep Sarkar, and several advertising brands.Shantanu Moitra on remixes IndiaFM, 10 August 2006.
This led to composing music for Indipop albums that were hits including Ab ke Saawan, Mann ke Manjeere: an album of women's dreams for Breakthrough, and Sapna Dekha Hai Maine (2003) for Shubha Mudgal.
Moitra moved to Mumbai in 2002, when he started working for Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, his first signed film.Melody: Tracing the history of Hindi film music from 1931 Screen, 2005. He soon formed a team with lyricist Swanand Kirkire, starting with the song "Bawara Mann..". Even before Parineeta was made, he had created a song called Raath Hamari To, sung by Chitra, which Vidhu Vinod Chopra the producer of Parineeta heard, and subsequently on his recommendation, he went on do his first Bollywood project- Parineeta (2005), directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Indian Express, 7 August 2005.The man and his music: Shantanu Moitra talks about composing music for the upcoming film, “Laga Chunari Mein Daag” The Hindu, 5 October 2007....But for everything I had to impress Vidhu Vinod Chopra first... musicindiaonline.com.
Moitra gained recognition with his music in Parineeta (2005). His music was critically acclaimed and he received a nomination for the Filmfare Best Music Director Award. That same year he won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. In 2009, he composed the score for his first Bengali film, Antaheen. It's a dream debut: Shantanu Moitra: The Parineeta composer talks about his first Bengali film Buzz18, 12 January 2009.
He was also a judge for two seasons of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla, a regional spinoff of the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.
He also wrote the book Ferari Mon - Memories by Santanu Moitra in Bengali, published by Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, Dey's Publishing.
Shantanu also undertook a 100-day journey across the Himalayas in 2016 along with Dhritiman Mukherjee which was documented and published on YouTube called “100 days in Himalayas” produced by Roundglass.
Discography
As a music director Year Film Notes2002 Pyaar Ki Dhun Leela 2005 Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi Parineeta Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music TalentYahaan 7½ Phere Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai2007 Khoya Khoya Chand Eklavya: The Royal Guard Laaga Chunari Mein Daag 2008 Welcome to Sajjanpur2009 Antaheen Bengali filmPhir Kabhi 3 Idiots 2010 Well Done Abba Raajneeti One song, "Ishq Barse"2012 Coke Studio 2 Season 2 Episode 7Chakravyuh Krishna Aur Kans Shoebite Paanch Adhyay Bengali filmAparajita Tumi Bengali film2013 Inkaar Madras Cafe Naa Bangaaru Talli Bilingual film (Telugu and Malayalam) 2014 Buno Haansh Bengali filmBobby Jasoos PK 2016 Wazir Pink Gulzar in conversation with Tagore Hindi music album2018 October2019Aadhar2020 Gulabo Sitabo One song, "Kanjoos"2021 Kaadan Trilingual film (Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu)Sardar Udham 2022SherdilAll Songs 2023Lost12th FailKadak SinghPradhanBengali film2026All Songs
As a playback singer Year Film Song Composer Notes2009 3 Idiots "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" Shantanu Moitra 2013 Inkaar "Maula Tu Malik Hai" Shantanu Moitra
As a background score composer Year Film Notes2009 3 Idiots With Sanjay Wanderkar & Atul RaningaWon IIFA Award for Best Background Score2013 Ente Malayalam FilmNa Bangaaru Talli Won National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Best Background Score) 2018 October 2020 Gulabo Sitabo 2021 Sardar Udham 2023Lost12th Fail
Awards National Film Awards National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) -Na Bangaaru Talli (2013)"Naa Bangaru Talli" wins three national awards – Telugu Movie News
Filmfare Awards Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – Parineeta(2006) Filmfare Award for Best Background Score - Sardar Udham (2022)
Filmfare Awards Bangla Best Music Director- Projapoti Biskut (2018) Best Music Director- Prem Tame (2022)
Mirchi Music Awards Background Score of the Year - Madras Cafe (2013)
International Indian Film Academy Awards Background Score of the Year - 3 Idiots (2009)
References
External links Shantanu Moitra, official website
Shantanu Moitra news article