Remembering Indian Cinema’s legendary music composer Raichand Boral on his 38th death anniversary.

Remembering Indian Cinema’s legendary music composer Raichand Boral on his 38th death anniversary.

Rai Chand Boral is considered by music connoisseurs to be the father of Indian film music. Legendary music director Anil Biswas referred to Boral as ‘Bhishma Pitamaha’ of Indian Cinema Music.

Rai Chand Boral was born on 19th October 1903 in Calcutta, his father; Lal Chand Boral was a classical musician (expert of Dhrupad). He had three sons, and Rai Chand was the youngest.

Boral joined the Indian Broadcasting Company in the year of its inception, 1927. In 1931, he shifted to the New Theatres in the silent era for supporting the stage with live music.

Boral is credited to begin playback singing in Films. He introduced playback singing in 1935 in ‘Bhagyachakra’ and its Hindi version ‘Dhoop Chhaon’. The song, “Main Khush Hona Chahun”, had an all women chorus led by Parul Ghosh with Suprabha Sarkar and Harimati picturised in a dance sequence.

Boral came to Bombay in 1953. After coming to Bombay, he composed music for Dard-e-Dil (1953) with Lata’s songs. Boral went on to compose music for more than 150 films including Hindi and Bengali films. His music compositions for the film “Vidayapati” are considered to be the best of any time in Indian Cinema.

And we owe to R.C.Boral for the first singing super star of Hindi film industry — Kundan Lal Saigal. He received National Award Sagar Sangam in 1958 and Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1978. He also received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1978.

Rai Chand Boral died on November 25, 1981 at the age of 78.

Indian cinema music wouldn’t have been what it is today without Rai Chand Boral.

R C Boral, the legend of Indian film music will always live in the heart and minds of Music Lovers through his songs across the boundaries of language and geography.