Dattaram Bapurao Naik: A Music Composer belonging to Melodic School of composing Film

Dattaram Bapurao Naik: A Music Composer belonging to Melodic School of composing Film

“Too Mere Pyar ka Phool hai “was a title song of film Dhool ka Phool sung by nightingale Lata Mangeshkar. This song has been composed in such a way where each note had been performed as a tender flower petal was placed in flowing water. After listening to this song, well known Marathi writer, humorist, musician and beloved personality, P L Deshpande was so pleased and he appreciated both Singer as well as musician. In this singer was Lata Mangeshkar and music composition was done by Dattaram Bapurao Naik, popularly known as N Datta. N Datta was such a musician who had composed the songs in simple but effective melodies. He had composed the most of the songs written by poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi and these two gave catchy tunes in Hindi cinema

From Yogesh Gogwekar

Dattaram Bapurao Naik was born on 12 December 1927 in Village Arroba near Pedne in Goa. Since his father died so early, he was raised by his mother and his aunt. He grew up in the atmosphere permeated to music, including Portuguese-influenced “Goanese “Music- which is the peculiar blend of Indian folk music and Portuguese music of religious and folk categories. Near to his house, there was one small temple and people used to gather around there to sing devotional songs (Abhangs).  N Datta started enjoying these sessions and playing harmonium. He expressed his desire to learn the music but his maternal uncle did not allow him and asked him to concentrate on his studies. Therefore, he ran away from his house in 1942 and came to Mumbai and joined Hindustani art Music at Deodhar school of Indian Music to learn the music. No one knows about his early days in Mumbai but he used to frequently visit the film studios to get some work as a musical assistant. In 1946, he assisted a music director Ramakrishna Shinde who was composing music for Marathi plays.  Later on, he started assisting the music composer Ghulam Haider for a short time as Ghulam Haider left for Pakistan after the partition.

In the independent movement, nationalistic response was very much on Indian music. There were Prabhat Pheris and other local festivals. N Datta was participating and composing and singing the songs of patriotic spirit. In one of these local festivals, Sachin Dev Burman, a famous film music composer heard him in his setting and invited him to work with himself. N Datta joined S D Burman and enjoyed working him. With S D Burman, he did several films including Bahaar, Jaal and Sazaa. Songs like Saiyan Dil Mein Anna Re, Chori Chori Meri Gali Anna Hai Bura and De Bhi Chuke Hum Dil Nazrana Dil ka were his own compositions and were great hit. He also helped S D Burman to compose the music for Guru Dutt’s film Pyasa. At the time of working with S D Burman, he met four personalities with whom he got opportunities to work closely. They are film director Raj Khosala, music arranger Anthony Gonsalves, poet Sahir Ludhianvi and fellow assistant Jaidev.

After working for film Pyasa for Gurudutt, N Datta decided to leave S D Burman to become an independent composer. Raj Khosala decided to take him as music director for his film Milap in 1955 with leading roles Dev Anand and Geeta Bali and Sahir Ludhianvi was lyricist. Even though this film did not do well, its music has become a great hit and the film Industry started recognising N Datta as an independent music composer. Before Milap, he had done the music composition for Punjabi film Baloo which was directed by Kuldeep.  Songs which have become famous in the films Milap were Humse bhi karlo kabhi kabhi mithi mithi do baatain and Jate ho to jao per jaoge khan in Geeta Dutt's sensuous voice, Bachna zara ye zamana hai bura in the voice of M Rafi and Geeta Dutt and a romantic songs Ye baharon ka sama chand taron ka sama and Dard Ka Saaz Bhi Hai Dil Ki Awaz Bhi Hai sung by Lata Mangeshkar. By listening to these songs, one can really appreciate the talent of N Datta as a music composer.

After Milap, Sahir and Datta worked for G P Sippy’s production film Marine Drive in 1955 in which Beena Rai and Ajit played leading role.  All songs of this films were beautifully composed but I always like two songs namely,’ Ab Wo karam karein ya sitam and Karam Ki Bhikh Maangi & Bataa Ae Aasmaanwale” which have been sung by Mohamed Rafi. G P Sippy signed them again for Film Chandrakanta and even today, everyone is remembering its slow paced Gazal,’ Maine Chand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamanna Ki Thee and for this song Sitar was beautifully used by N Datta. In 1958, B R Chopra signed N Datta and Sahir Ludhianvi for film Sadhana in which Sunil Dutt and Vayajanthi Mala played leading role. Again Sahir and Datta have given great musical hit songs for this film. Two beautiful songs which were sung by Lata Mangeshkar became so popular and these songs are, “Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko “and “Kahoji Tum Kya Kya Kharidoge”.

Real magic of Sahir and Datta came out when B R Chopra decided to invite them for his next production of 1961 film Dhool Ka Phool in which Rajendra Kumar, Mala Sinha, Ashok Kumar and Nanda were in main roles. It is being said by various intellectuals of Music that these two were best in Dhool ka Phool. In this film, romantic songs like Tere Pyar Ka Aaasara Chahta Hoon and Jo Tum Muskura Do were sung by Mahindra Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar were beautifully composed but best song is Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega, Insaan Ki Aulad Hai Insaan Banega sung by Mohamed Rafi. Again B R Chopra selected these two for his next film Dharamputra (1961) which has given us soft music and ultimate romantic songs sung by Mahindra Kapoor, Rafi and Asha Bhosale. 

After Dharamputra, B R Chopra brought Ravi as new music composer to work with Sahir. Datta left the B R Chopra production, but still Sahir gave so many songs to N Datta for composing. Leaving B R Chopra Production was a great disaster to N Datta. He could not get good films to compose and he started developing drinking habits out of frustration.  It was a great tragedy for such a man who created a nationwide stir with his rock and roll. He used Accordions, Saxophones and Drums in his music compositions. He started his music composition with Sahir in 1955 and ended with Sahir only in his last film Chehre Pe Chehra in 1980. After this film, he did not get any film and joined the orchestra of Laxmikant Pyarelal. He died on 20^th December 1987 by leaving behind most memorable melodies.

He also composed the music for a dozen of Marathi films. His most memorable films in Marathi were Madhuchandra in 1967, Apradh in 1969 and Bala Gau Kashi Angai in 1977. Songs like Disashi Tu Navtaruni Kashmiri, Madhu Ethe Ani Chandra Tithe and Nimbonichya jhadamage chandra jhopala ga baai were great hits and rendered even Today. He was honored by Maharashtra government by naming the road near his house as Sangeetkar N Datta Marg.

There are some common features of his music. He was belonging to melodic school of composing films, he could compose the tunes which were known as rock and roll music and he used to compose nationalistic songs in simple chorus.

At last , I can only say  that he was a great music composer and will be membered till his songs get rendered in generations to come.

Mumbai

07/08/2020