Shantanu Moitra (born 22 January 1968) is an Indian pianist, score composer and musician who has composed songs for the Hindi film industry, and is most known for his scores in the films Parineeta (2005), Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005), Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) and 3 Idiots (2009), and private albums, Mann ke Manjeere and Ab ke Saawan sung by Shubha Mudgal. In 2014, he received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) for Na Bangaaru Talli.[2]
Shantanu Moitra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 22 January 1968[1] Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, Composer |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | Since 1995-2023 |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editShantanu was born in Lucknow, where his father came from a Bengali Brahmin musical family. He was very young when he moved to Delhi with his family, where initially he lived in Patel Nagar in West Delhi, and studied at Springdales School, Pusa Road. There, he was the leader and singer of a band, and in 1982, the band hosted the school's first rock show. "What was even better was receiving an award in school for my contribution to music at a time when my school, Springdales in Delhi, didn't usually give awards for music. When I look back now, I think the award instilled huge confidence in me," he said.[3]
They also received musical training from urban-folk singer, Sushmit Bose, a Springdales alumnus, who would occasionally drop in and teach them. Later he moved to Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi.[4][5]
He studied at Deshbandhu College, Kalkaji, Delhi University and has a degree in Economics.[1][6]
Career
editMoitra started his career as a client servicing executive at an ad agency, while music remained a hobby. He started composing music for advertising jingles accidentally, when he was asked to compose a jingle at the last minute by Pradeep Sarkar, then the Creative Head of the agency. The jingle was "Bole mere lips. I love Uncle Chipps" for the chips brand Uncle Chipps, which became an instant hit. He later composed several jingles for Pradeep Sarkar, and several advertising brands.[6][7]
This led to composing music for Indipop albums that were hits including Ab ke Saawan, Mann ke Manjeere: an album of women's dreams for Breakthrough, and Sapna Dekha Hai Maine (2003) for Shubha Mudgal.
Moitra moved to Mumbai in 2002, when he started working for Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, his first signed film.[8] He soon formed a team with lyricist Swanand Kirkire, starting with the song "Bawara Mann..". Even before Parineeta was made, he had created a song called Raath Hamari To, sung by Chitra, which Vidhu Vinod Chopra the producer of Parineeta heard, and subsequently on his recommendation, he went on do his first Bollywood project- Parineeta (2005), directed by Pradeep Sarkar.[9][10][11]
Moitra gained recognition with his music in Parineeta (2005). His music was critically acclaimed and he received a nomination for the Filmfare Best Music Director Award. That same year he won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. In 2009, he composed the score for his first Bengali film, Antaheen.[12]
He was also a judge for two seasons of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla, a regional spinoff of the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.[citation needed]
He also wrote the book Ferari Mon - Memories by Santanu Moitra in Bengali, published by Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, Dey's Publishing.[citation needed]
Shantanu also undertook a 100-day journey across the Himalayas in 2016 along with Dhritiman Mukherjee which was documented and published on YouTube called “100 days in Himalayas” produced by Roundglass.[13]
Discography
editAs a music director
edit| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Pyaar Ki Dhun | |
| Leela | ||
| 2005 | Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi | |
| Parineeta | Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent | |
| Yahaan | ||
| 7½ Phere | ||
| Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow | ||
| 2006 | Lage Raho Munna Bhai | |
| 2007 | Khoya Khoya Chand | |
| Eklavya: The Royal Guard | ||
| Laaga Chunari Mein Daag | ||
| 2008 | Welcome to Sajjanpur | |
| 2009 | Antaheen | Bengali film |
| Phir Kabhi | ||
| 3 Idiots | ||
| 2010 | Well Done Abba | |
| Raajneeti | One song, "Ishq Barse" | |
| 2012 | Coke Studio 2 | Season 2 Episode 7 |
| Chakravyuh | ||
| Krishna Aur Kans | ||
| Shoebite | ||
| Paanch Adhyay | Bengali film | |
| Aparajita Tumi | Bengali film | |
| 2013 | Inkaar | |
| Madras Cafe | ||
| Naa Bangaaru Talli | Bilingual film (Telugu and Malayalam) | |
| 2014 | Buno Haansh | Bengali film |
| Bobby Jasoos | ||
| PK | ||
| 2016 | Wazir | |
| Pink | ||
| Gulzar in conversation with Tagore | Hindi music album | |
| 2018 | October | |
| 2019 | Aadhar | |
| 2020 | Gulabo Sitabo | One song, "Kanjoos" |
| 2021 | Kaadan | Trilingual film (Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu) |
| Sardar Udham | ||
| 2022 | Sherdil | All Songs |
| 2023 | Lost | |
| 12th Fail | ||
| Kadak Singh | ||
| Pradhan | Bengali film |
As a playback singer
edit| Year | Film | Song | Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 Idiots | "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" | Shantanu Moitra | |
| 2013 | Inkaar | "Maula Tu Malik Hai" | Shantanu Moitra |
As a background score composer
edit| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 Idiots | With Sanjay Wanderkar & Atul Raninga Won IIFA Award for Best Background Score |
| 2013 | Ente | Malayalam Film |
| Na Bangaaru Talli | Won National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Best Background Score) | |
| 2018 | October | |
| 2020 | Gulabo Sitabo | |
| 2021 | Sardar Udham | |
| 2023 | Lost | |
| 12th Fail |
Awards
edit- National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) -Na Bangaaru Talli (2013)[14][15]
- Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – Parineeta(2006)
- Filmfare Award for Best Background Score - Sardar Udham (2022)
- Best Music Director- Projapoti Biskut (2018)
- Best Music Director- Prem Tame (2022)
- Background Score of the Year - Madras Cafe (2013)[16]
References
edit- ^ a b Hindustan Times, Brunch, 5 August 2012, p. 22.
- ^ "Naa Bangaru Talli" wins three national awards – Telugu Movie News
- ^ "A musical high". Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ Sharing Notes: Musician Shantanu Moitra can claim credit for having popularised rock in his school[dead link] Indian Express, 10 July 2004.
- ^ Shantanu Moitra, before Parineeta Rediff.com, 3 September 2007.
- ^ a b Thank an ad crisis for Parineeta's music Rediff.com, 9 June 2005.
- ^ Shantanu Moitra on remixes Archived 19 October 2007 at archive.today IndiaFM, 10 August 2006.
- ^ Melody: Tracing the history of Hindi film music from 1931[permanent dead link] Screen, 2005.
- ^ Bohemian Rhapsody: Parineeta’s success hasn’t changed music composer Shantanu Moitra’s pace or lifestyle[dead link] Indian Express, 7 August 2005.
- ^ The man and his music: Shantanu Moitra talks about composing music for the upcoming film, “Laga Chunari Mein Daag” The Hindu, 5 October 2007.
- ^ ...But for everything I had to impress Vidhu Vinod Chopra first... Archived 27 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine musicindiaonline.com.
- ^ It's a dream debut: Shantanu Moitra: The Parineeta composer talks about his first Bengali film Archived 26 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Buzz18, 12 January 2009.
- ^ "In Photos: The Second Dispatch From Project #100DaysInHimalayas". Your Site NAME Goes HERE. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "61st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Naa Bangaru Talli" wins three national awards – Telugu Movie News
- ^ Parande, Shweta (28 February 2014). "Mirchi Music Awards 2014 winners: Shahrukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar honoured; Aashiqui 2 wins 7 trophies". India.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.