Sabita Chowdhury

Sabita started her career in 1954 with Darwaza. In 1956 film Aankh Ka Nasha, she sang "Ae Dil Hum Toh Huye Ruswa", "Jayega Janewale Kaha", "Kuch Kareeb Jab Se Wah Begana", "Mehfil Me Aayi Haseena", "Nigahe Karam Kar De Shahe Madina", "Thi Aarzu Ki Chaman Me" in the film. She went on to playback in films like Masoom (1960), Usne Kaha Tha (1960), Kabuliwala, etc. She sang the title song of Baaje Ghungroo (1962) with Mohammed Rafi. She sang 66 songs in 42 Hindi films. After an unsuccessful career in Bollywood, she returned to Bengali music in the early 1970s. She sang hits like "O Alor Pothojaatri", dedicated to the independence war of Bangladesh in 1971. She later married composer Salil Chowdhury and gave birth to Antara Chowdhury, popular children's rhymes and modern songs' singer. She sang "Projapoti Projapoti" under Salil which was later converted in Hindi as " Janeman janeman tere do nayan" used in Chhoti Si Baat (1976) sung by Asha Bhosle and Yesudas . She also sang in Kabita (1977) for actress Mala Sinha.[1][2]

After the death of lyricist Shailendra, Salil Chowdhury was looking for another writer. He gave Yogesh half an hour to write a song. Yogesh got nervous and he went to Sabita for help. "Salilda’s assistant laughed and said a novice like me could never do justice to Salilda’s tunes. That shook my confidence." A dejected Yogesh walked out, but while waiting for the bus, was struck by some lines. He went back to Salil da and recited them. "He started screaming out to his wife, Sabita di. I thought he would tell her how incompetent I was, and then kick me out. Instead, he told her that I had written some beautiful lyrics".[3]

• Oi jhilmil jhauer boney
• Jaare jaa jaa mono paakhi
• Jhilmil jhilmil opaarero monjil
• Du chokhey aashaar nodi chhalachhal
• Ene de ene de jhumka
• Projapoti Projapoti
• Mar Jharu Mar [2]
• Aandhaare lekhe gaan haajaar jonaaki 1958

Sabita Chowdhury died on 28 June 2017 due to lung cancer that she was suffering from. She was 72. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee deeply mourned her death.[2]