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Debabrata Biswas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Debabrata Biswas (Bangla: দেবব্রত বিশ্বাস Debobroto Bishshash) (1911 - 1980) was an Indian singer who was one of the best-known exponents of the songs of Rabindranath Tagore (Rabindrasangeet). He was born in 1911, when King George V was visiting India for the Delhi Durbar, so he was nicknamed George. He is popularly known as George Biswas or George-da. His music, though not always technically pristine, was notable for its exceptional depth of expression.
During his life, because of his often unorthodox renditions of Tagore's songs, his recordings were not recognized by some of the mainstream exponents of Rabindrasangeet.[citation needed] In fact, he entitled his autobiography "ব্রাত্যজনের রুদ্ধসঙ্গীত" Brattojoner Ruddhoshonggit ("The Hidden Songs of the Ostracized").
He was also actively associated with the IPTA movement along with others like Salil Chowdhury and Hemanta Mukherjee. He served as a playback singer in some films by well-known director Ritwik Ghatak. Apart from that he also acted in dramas and a few Bengali films, including Bhuli nai, as a "singer-actor".
Biswas was fond of sketching and often gave drawings along with autographs. One such signature features himself praying to Tagore accompanied by Tagore's words, "শুরের গুরু দাও গো শুরের দিক্ষা" Shurer Guru Dao Go Shurer Dikkha ("O Lord of Song, please initiate me to music"). Another autograph shows Tagore hitting a sixer with a cricket bat.
After his death, noted film-maker Utpalendu Chakrabarty made a documentary film (in 1982) on his life, based on archival footage and interviews of the singer.