Das, Subal

Das, Subal (1927-2005) composer, music director, was born on 27 December 1927 in Brahmanbaria. His father was Rashiklal Das and his mother was Kamini Das.

Subal Das';s interest in music developed in family setting. He learnt to play sitar under Ustad Khadem Husain Khan and Ustad Ayet Ali Khan. He gained proficiency in both music and directing it. He achieved a great deal of name and fame in directing music, mainly for films. He was also connected with radio and television. Singers of radio and TV present innumerable songs composed by him.

In the sixties, Subal Das became famous by setting to tunes the song Tobey ki 'a'm'a'r nei kono th'a'i'; (Is there then no place for me to live in) sung by Manabendra Mukhopaddhay in the film A'k'a'sh aar M'a'ti. He directed music for such films as Swaralipi, Darpach'u'r'n'a, Putrabadhu and Bh'a'ng'a'gar'a' and for modern songs.

Many singers earned popularity and fame by singing songs set to music by Subal Das. Runa Laila sang G'a'ner Kh'a't'a'y Swaralipi likhe ki Hobey;, Jiban 'A'ndh'a're Peyechi Tom'a're;, Ei B'r'i's'hti Bhej'a' R'a'te Chole Jeon'a;, Shilp'i' Aami Tom'a'der-i Gaan Shon'a'bo;, Jokhon Th'a'mbe Kol'a'hol Ghume Nijhum Ch'a'ridik;, Jokhon 'A'mi Th'a'kbon'a'ko 'A'm'a'y Rekho Mone;, and P'a'n Kh'a'iy'a' Thot Karil'a'm L'a'l;. Mahmudunnabi sang Tumi je 'A'm'a'r Kobit'a'/ Aamar B'a'nshir R'a'gin'i;, Aami S'a'ts'a'gar P'a'ri Diye Jeno Soikotey Pore Aachi'; and O Meyer N'a'm Debo ki Bh'a'bi Shudhu T'a'i';. Sabina Yasmin sang Sondh'a'y Chh'a'y'a' N'a'me Elomelo H'a'w'a'/ Bh'a'lo L'a'ge Jiboner ei Gaan G'a'w'a;, Abdul Hadi sang Ei P'r'ithiv'i'r P'a'nthash'a'l'a'y G'a'ite Gele Gaan;, Chole Jay Jodi Kew B'a'dhan Chire; and Tom'a'der Shukher ei Neere 'A'm'a'ke Khujon'a' Bondhu;, Abdul Jabbar sang Shotru Tumi Bondhu Tumi/Tumi 'A'm'a'r Sh'a'dhan'a;, Abida Sultana sang 'Eki Badhone Bolo Jarale Amay';. All these songs were set to music by Subal Das. For musical excellence these songs became very popular for the films as well as with the general public. The credit for this popularity goes to composer Subal Das. He died on 16 August 2005. [Khalid Hasan Komol] [Kamal, Khalid Hasan Teacher of Theatre and Music, Dhaka University]