Anjan Dutt

Anjan Dutt (Bengali: অঞ্জন দত্ত 'Añjan Datta') (19 January 1953) is an Indian singer- songwriter of the 1990s Bengali music scene defined by anyodharar gaan (alternative music). Anjan Dutt's style of music is different from the others in the sense that it has simple tunes, one that is reminiscent of western folk music. His lyrics are simple and more natural. Anjan's music is somewhat influenced by blues, bluegrass, folk and country music. He is the first Bengali artist to depend more on the saxophone. He is an admitted fan of Bob Dylan and his Bengali contemporary Kabir Suman.

Anjan is also an accomplished actor. He started his career as an actor in Bengali cinema. His first film was Chalachitro directed by Mrinal Sen, where he won the prize for the best newcomer actor, at the Venice Film Festival. Recently, he has acted in Aparna Sen's film, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. Anjan Dutt may be regarded as one of the best serious actors in the Indian serious cinema movement, that has seen the likes of Mrinal Sen's much-esteemed film "Bhuvan Som". Anjan Dutt has been regarded by some as being the 'angry young man' of serious cinema in contemporary India. He is also a national award winning filmamker and is one of the most prominent directors of Bengali Cinema. He has directed movies like The Bong Connection, Chalo Let's Go, Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona and many more. In recent years he has been directing Byomkesh Bakshi movie series, a fictional detective in Bengali literature created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.

Early years

Anjan Dutt was raised in the mountains of North Bengal. He had his schooling from St. Paul's School located in Darjeeling. He did not get much opportunity to listen to traditional Bengali songs (like Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti) but became well acquainted with folk and country music around that time. Initially, he had no plans to make career for himself as a singer. His father was a solicitor, who he wanted his son to take up a career in law, young Anjan was more inclined to working in theatres and cinema. He earned an MA degree in English literature from the University of Calcutta, in India. His friends inspired him to consider taking acting seriously as a profession. During his university days, he started working in theatres with thespian Badal Sarkar.

In late seventies, he joined a group called 'Open Theatre' and in early eighties performed plays translated from works of renowned foreign playwrights like Sartre, Peter Weiss, Jean Genet and Bertold Brecht.The group clearly drew inspiration from Nandikar a highly active and an already famous theatre group at that time. But due to politically sensitive content, they faced many obstructions in producing and performing their work, and eventually the group had to discontinue its repertoire.

He was first selected in a feature film named 'Chalachitro' that was directed by renowned filmmaker Mrinal Sen. This was an unexpected break for him. The film with Anjan's performance got critical acclaim in the Venice Film Festival but for unknown reasons, it was never released commercially. After that although he worked as an actor in the film-making industry, he was more interested in doing art cinema (or films with aesthetically sensible filmmakers) rather than commercial mainstream cinema. After doing a few art films that were not so commercially successful, including the critically well received 'Juganto', scarcity of job opportunities forced him to take up jobs in advertising and later as a journalist for the Kolkata-based daily, The Statesman. Subhajit Roy who is big fan of Anjan Dutta

Singing career

At that time, Anjan was greatly influenced by the music of Suman Chatterjee (now known as Kabir Suman), who had heralded a new era in Bengali music through his songs, that were very different from the existing genres of Bengali music. These songs and lyrics, commonly referred to as Jeebonmukhi (literally meaning towards life), concerned itself with the tough reality of Bengali middle class social life, in and around Kolkata. Anjan started translating some English songs. In his efforts, he was supported and constantly inspired by his ideological precursor, Suman Chatterjee himself. Dutt later decided to delve into the music arena on his own. When HMV offered to publish his songs, he finally realised that he had to take it seriously.

Discography

Anjan Dutt is a popular singer- songwriter of the 1990s Bengali music scene defined by anyodharar gaan. Anjan Dutt's style of music is different from the others in the sense that it has simple tunes, one that is reminiscent of western folk music

Albums

• Shunte Ki Chao (1994)
• Purono Guitar (1995)
• Bhalobashi Tomay (1996)
• Keu Gaan Gaye (1997)
• Ma (1998)
• Chalo Bodlai (1998)
• Priyo Bandhu (1998)
• Hello Bangladesh (1999)
• Kolkata–16 (1999)
• Bandra Blues (2000)
• Asamoy (2000)
• Rawng Pencil (2001)
• Onek Din Por (2004)
• Ichchhe Korei Eksathe (2005)
• Abar Pothe Dekha (2007)
• Ami ar Godot (2007)^[1]
• Unoshaat (2014)

Singles (1996–2011)

• Khawar Gaan (3:02) – (with Nachiketa Chakraborty & Suman Chattopadhyay)
• Hotuk Shob Oshundor (1:58) – (with Shalini Chatterjee, Shayari Das, Tanushree Haldar & Sreetoma Ghosh)
• Feludar Gaan (3:04) – (with Nachiketa Chakraborty & Suman Chattopadhyay)
• Freedom (5:37) – (with Indrani Sen, Indranil Sen & Others)
• Sadhinota (4:50) – (with Indrani Sen, Indranil Sen & Others)
• Ekushe Pa (3:57)
• Bow Barracks Forever! (4:38)
• Tumi Na thakle (4:25) – (with Usha Uthhup)
• Chalo Let's Go.. (4:43)
• Ei Poth Jodi Na Sesh Hoy (4:30) – (with Srikanto Acharya & Others)
• Jedike Rasta (3:45)
• Tumi Nei Tai (4:07)
• Kato ki Korar Chhilo (4:32)
• Jagorone Jay Bibhabori (2:54) – (with Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury, & Kabir Suman)^[2]

Filmography

Awards

• 1981 - Best Actor award for film Chaalchitra in Venice Film Festival^[3]
• 2012 - National Film Award - Special Jury Award for Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona

References

2014– sesh bole kichu nai

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anjan Dutt.

• Anjan Dutt at the Internet Movie Database