Category: Chitragupt Shrivastava

Chitragupt Shrivastava

Chitragupt Shrivastava, the famous music composer of Hindi cinema was born in a village Karmaini, Bihar on 16 November, 1917. He had a double MA, in Economics ∓ in Journalism. He Worked as a lecturer in Patna before he ran away to Bombay to pursue a career as a composer in films. He assisted S. N. Tripathi for some time before he got an independent opportunity with Ramnik Vaidya in 1946. He tasted success after a lot of struggle in 1952 with the release of Sindbad The Sailor, the duet ‘Adaa Se Jhoomte Hue..’, beacme a hit.

S. D. Burman recommended him to Meiyappan of AVM studios, and he started with a film Shiv Bhakt in 1955. Bhabhi, Barkha, Main Chup Rahoongi and Main bhi ladki hoon were the other notable ventures of this collaboration. He worked with few big name studios or actors – with Mohan Sehgal, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, G. P. Sippy, Kishore Sahu and AVM being the exceptions. He parted ways with his mentor, S. N. Tripathi, due to their difference in their innovative approaches and ideas from popular Western music. His classical roots are seen in songs likeKishore Kumar’s “Paayal Waali Dekhna..” from Ek Raaz, while his modern and light-hearted, foot-tapping music could be sampled in songs like ‘Dekho Mausam Kya Bahaar Hai..’ from Opera House. His notable films include Bhabhi, Ek Raaz, Main Chup Rahoongi, Oonche Log, Opera House, Vasna, Zabak etc.

Chitragupt was also a good singer and lyricist. He worked with all the major lyricists of the time like, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Rajinder Krishan, Anand Bakshi, Prem Dhawan and even Sahir Ludhianvi. After Sahir Ludhianvi agreed to write to the tunes Chitragupt composed, they produced some wonderful songs for Vaasna – ‘Ye Parbaton Ke Daayre..’ and ‘Itni Naazuk Na Bano..’. When it came to Bhojpuri films, Chitragupt was the ruling king, He composed music for some very memorable Bhojpuri films like, ‘Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaube’, ‘Laagi Naahi Chhute Rama’ and ‘Gangaa’. He also composed the music for a few Punjabi and Gujarati films.

He suffered a heart attack in 1968 and a paralytic stroke in 1974. He died on the 14th of January 1991. His children include Anand and Milind, the famous composer duo who created some memorable songs for Mansoor Khan’s Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

Full Name: Chitragupt Shrivastava
Date of Birth: November 16, 1917
Birth Place: Chapra, Bihar, India
Date of Death: January 11, 1991
Children: Anand, Milind (they formed a team of music directors called Anand-Milind)

Chitragupt Shrivastava popularly known as only Chitragupt was the renowned Bollywood music director of 1960′s. Chitragupt was born in 1917 in Karmaini villagefrom Gopalganj district of Bihar. Before turning into music direction, Chitragupt has previously done the job of lecturer in Patna. He is arguably the high qualified music director of Indian cinema. He had done double post-graduate- MA in Economics and Journalism. When he was working as lecturer in Patna, he left it and ran away to Bombay (Mumbai- film destination of India, where Bollywood resides) to pursue career in music direction.

In his early career in Mumbai, he started assisting S.N. Tripathi. Tripathi was a popular music director of 1940′s. Chitragupt get a chance as independent music director with Ramnik Vaidya’s Toofan Queen in 1946. But the film didn’t give him recognition as prominent music director. Then after years of struggle he found success in 1952 with the film Sindbad The Sailor. A song from the film ‘Adaa Se Jhumate Huye’ which was a duet of Mohammad Rafi and Shamshad Begum became hit and topped the charts.

Later the music director S.D. Burman recommended his name to Meiyappan of AVM studios and like this AVM signed him. His first film with AVM was Shiv Bhakt in 1955. In his association with AVM, he gave the hit films like Main Bhi Ladki Hoon, Barkha, Main Chup Rahoongi and Bhabhi.

Later he split away from his guru S. N. Tripathi, because of having some difference in their approach to Western music. In his career Chitragupt has worked with every top singer including Shamshad Begum, Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood, Mahendra Kapoor to new ones like Amit Kumar and Anuradha Paudwal.

Besides music composition, Chitragupt also was a good singer and lyricist. He had written lyrics for many of his composition. Also he had sung around 30 of hiscompositions. Chitragupt also had worked with almost every top lyricist of his time like Majrooh Sultanpuri, Anand Bakshi, Rajinder Krishan, Sahir and Prem Dhawan. With Sahir, he gave the hit numbers like ‘Ye Parbato Ke Daayare’ and ‘Itani Naazuk Na Bano’ in film Vasna.

Chitragupt’s other notable films as music composer includes Vasna, Aplam Chaplam, Ek Raaz, Bada Aadmi, Opera House, Oonche Log, Zabak, and many more. Along with Hindi films, he also had done music composition for Bhojpuri, Gujrati and Punjabi films.

Chitragupt go weak due to a heart attack in 1968 and a paralysis attack in 1974. But he successfully recovered from it and even composed for films after that. However, he passed away on January 14, 1991. His last film was Insaaf Ki Manzil in 1988. Later his sons Anand and Milind formed a team of music composers called Anand-Milind. Anand and Milind had assisted their father Chitragupt for 8 years. Anand-Milind also became popular composers, who are remembered for their songs in film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

Chitragupt – Popular Compositions

• Chal Ud Ja Re Panchhi Ke – Bhabhi
• Machalati Huyi Hawa Mein – Ganga Ki Lahren
• Mujhe Darde Dil Ka Pata Na Tha – Akash Deep
• Chaand Ko Dekho Ji – Chand Mere Aa Ja
• Itni Najuk Na Bano – Vaasna
• Jaane Kaisa Chaane Laga Nasha – Zabak
• Do Dil Dhadak Rahein Hai – Insaaf
• Panghat Pe Chali Sawaar Gori – Shri Gansh Vivah
• Jab Se Ham Tum Bahaaro Mein – Main Shaadi Karne Chala

aaa