Raichand Boral

Remembering Indian Cinema’s legendary music composer #RaichandBoral on his 42nd death anniversary (25/11/81). Boral is considered by music connoisseurs to be the father of Indian film music. Legendary musician #AnilBiswas referred to him as ‘Bhishma Pitamaha’ of Indian Cinema Music.

Boral won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1978, the highest honour in Indian cinema. The same year, he also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, a big award for music, dance, and drama in India.

Boral worked with Pankaj Mullick at New Theatres’ music department and played a big role in setting high standards for film music. He helped shape the music for Indian films for the first 20 to 30 years. He also helped start the career of the singer Saigal. Anil Biswas, another famous musician, called Boral the “Bhishma Pitamah of film music”.

He started working with the Indian Broadcasting Company in 1927. In 1931, he moved to New Theatres, where he introduced playback singing in the Hindi film “Dhoop Chhaon” in 1935. This was a big change in Indian cinema. Boral worked on music for many films, both in Hindi and Bengali, directing music for around 70 to 75 films.

Rai Chand Boral passed away in 1981 when he was 78 years old. He is remembered as a very important person in the history of Indian cinema music.