Purabi Dutta was an Indian Bengali language female singer from West Bengal. She is notable for her Nazrul Geeti (the songs created by Kazi Nazrul Islam).
Early years Purabi Dutta was daughter of Bibhuti Dutta, the famous classical vocal maestro. Her training was initiated at home. In 1946 she was a contestant in All India Music Competition organised by Chetla Murari Smriti Sangeet Sammilini where she won the silver trophy in vocal music.
Career Purabi Dutta was undoubtedly one of the noted exponents of Nazrulgeeti (the songs composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam). In her early days she was associated with various programs of All India Radio, Kolkata. She recorded many songs throughout her music career, mostly the songs composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam, known as NAZRUL SANGEET or NAZRUL GEETI. She selflessly dedicated herself in teaching Nazrul Sangeet for her entire life. For many years Purabi Dutta was attached to "Bani Chakra" of Gariahat. She was also attached to Bengal Music College, where she was a teacher along with Hemanta Mukherjee, Chinmoy Chattopadhyay, Akhilbandhu Ghosh and others. She was very close to Pandit Jnanprakas Ghosh, Biman Mukhopadhyay, Manabendra Mukhpadhyay, Adhir Bagchi and other eminent artists and singers of Bengal.
During 1950s and '60s Purabi Dutta was associated with All India Radio and performed in various programs.
Purabi Dutta's albums in Nazrulgeeti became very popular. Some of the album titles are noted below:
1974 Songs of Kazi Nazrul - SAREGAMA 1975 Songs of Kazi Nazrul - SAREGAMA 1980 Valentine Special - Bengali Romantic Nazrulgeeti 1982 Halud Gandar Phul 2014 Chharo Chharo Anchal 2014 Jhum Jhum Jhumra Nachte 2014 Shiuli Tolay Bhorbela - INRECO
Purabi Dutta appeared for a stage performance in the Bangla Sangeet Mela in April 2004, after keeping herself away for almost one and a half years from the spotlight. She sang two songs: মনে পরে আজ সে কোন জনমে (Mone pore aaj se kon janame), followed by নিরন্ধ্র মেঘে মেঘে অন্ধ গগন (Nirandhra meghe andha gagan). Angshuman Bhowmik observed:
Death Purabi Dutta died on Sunday, 1 December 2013, in her residence at Sonarpur (after she shifted from her Gariahat residence), far away from the music world she was acquainted with. In the obituary, Kolkata 24X7 news channel published the following:
Memoirs of the Life, Writings, & Correspondence
Pandit Jnanprakash Ghosh was involved in All India Radio for a long time, and during his tenure as producer in light music unit he produced very popular programs such as "Sangeetanjali", "Desh Bandana", "Ramya Geeti" and "E Maser Gaan" (Song of the month). He himself composed music in the lyrics by many poets, such as Bani Kumar, Nalinikanta Sarkar, Murari Mohan Sen, Dhirendra Narayan Roy, Shyamal Gupta, Gouriprasanna Majumdar, Prasun Mitra etc. In 1965 he composed tune for a song written by Bani Kumar: "ভারত নভের শুভ্র বীণায় কোন অমৃত ডাক দিলো রে". The song was sung by Gouri Mitra, Purabi Dutta, Subash Mitra, Diptiprakas Majumdar and Dhiren Basu. It was aired in the program "Desh Bandana". While releasing her newest album on Nazrulgeeti on 19 September 2013 at Bengal Club, Kolkata, eminent singer Indrani Sen expressed her gratitude towards her gurus Shrimati Purabi Dutta and Shri Biman Mukhopadhay. This was the last known public appearance of Srimati Purabi Dutta.
Selected list of songs List of Songs + Songs of Purabi Dutta Song Year Album/Type Tune/Music composer Lyrics Label Adho Rate Jadi Ghum 1974 Songs of Kazi Nazrul Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Saregama Antare Tumi Achho Chirodin Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Brajo Gopi Khele Hori 1974 Songs of Kazi Nazrul Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Saregama Chaitali Chandini Rate 1966 Gems from Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Chander Mato Nirobe 1980 Love Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Chharo Chharo Aanchal 1980 Bengali Romantic Nazrulgeeti Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Chhonder Bonya Horini Aronya 1974 Songs of Kazi Nazrul Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Saregama Elo E Banante Paagal Basanta Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Eso He Sajal Shyam Ghano Deya Dhirendra Nath Das Kazi Nazrul Islam Kemone Kohi Priyo 1990 Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Inreco Juin Kunje Mon Bhramara Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Ogo Sundar 1980 Bengali Romantic Nazrulgeeti Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Oi Godhuli Bodhur Sithite Sindur Anka 1957 Adhunik Shyamal Ghosh Prabir Majumdar Palash Manjari Paraye De Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Inreco Paradeshi Bondhu Ghum Bhangayiyo 1974 Songs of Kazi Nazrul Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Saregama Paro Janame Dekha Hobe Priyo 1975 Songs of Kazi Nazrul Kazi Nazrul Islam Saregama Piu Piu Bole Papiya 1990 Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Inreco Sedin Chhoilo Ki Godhuli Lagan Love Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Shyam Tumi Jodi Radha 1980 Bengali Romantic Nazrulgeeti Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Soi Bhalo Kore Binod Beni 1968 Sanjher Pakhira Phirilo Kulaya Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam Saregama
References