The unexplored side of Pannalal Bhattacharyya - Modern Songs versus Devotional Songs

Every connoisseur of Bengali music remembers Pannalal Bhattacharyya, as one of the finest exponents of devotional songs dedicated to Goddess Kali.  Born in 1930, he was the younger brother of another great singer Bengal has produced - Dhananjay Bhattacharyya. Both the brothers were great singers of Bengali modern songs and later diversified to singing only Kali bhajans, popularly known as "Shyama Sangeet" in Bengal.
Pannalal started early, at a young age of 17, and before concentrating only on devotional songs of Kali he sang quite a handful of Bengali modern songs. He was more famous as a great exponent of Shyama Sangeet and therefore the modern songs recorded by him have gradually faded into oblivion. Below is a playlist of the Bengali modern songs sung by him.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

In his mid twenties Pannalal took to singing only devotional songs. The reason for such a shift is largely unknown. Such was the devotion and dedication in his singing that he expected to have "Darshan" (holy sighting) of Goddess Kali. On the other hand, his elder brother, Dhananjay was also a great singer of Kali songs. It is alleged that one fine day Dhananjay had the "Darshan" of Kali and he shared his experience with his younger brother. It is said that Pannalal suffered an extreme bout of depression following this episode and told that he does not want to continue living if he does not have the privilege of the "Holy Sighting" before his elder brother. "Ma Tui Dhana Da Ke Dekha Dili, Aamay Dili Na", is what he said in Bengali meaning thereby, "Mother, you have appeared before Dhananjay Da and you have eluded me despite my devotion". Shortly thereafter he committed suicide on 27th March 1966 at his home in Calcutta. Below is a playlist of all the devotional songs by him.

He took his life only at an young age of 36, but he has claimed an important position in the heart of thousands of Kali devotees.

Uma Basu - The Unsung Heroine of Bengali Music

Many of us are not aware of Uma Basu; at least the present young generation in their teens and twenties. I still vividly remember that I first heard Uma Basu at the insistence of my late father. Those were the days of LP records and he had just bought a long playing record from HMV and was playing it on our old Fiesta Popular. I was too young then to value and cherish that golden voice. As time went by, I listened to her songs innumerable number of times and I was, and I am still amazed at the rich and melodious voice that she possessed.
Uma was the first child of Dharani Kumar Basu, and she was born in Kolkata (Calcutta) on the 22nd of January 1921 and she passed away on the same date in 1942 just at the age of 21. She was born in a family which had deep connections with the doyens of Hindustani classical music and therefore music was deeply ingrained into her heart and soul from childhood. She recorded her first song on HMV at the age of 13 with Harindranath Chattopadhyay. During her short career she recorded close to 27 songs including a couple of Rabindrasangeet, most of which are in my collection and I shall be providing them as a playlist in the end. She was fondly called "Hasi" (meaning smile in Bengali) and Mahatma Gandhi called her the "Nightingale of Bengal" after listening to her sweet voice at a private function. She was a disciple of Dilip Kumar Roy and his influence is very well evident in all the songs that she has recorded.
Very little, apart from what I have already told, is known about Uma Basu. What we know is that had this prodigy lived longer she would have made a mark in the Indian music scenario.
Enjoy the playlist of Uma Basu's songs.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Happy listening.