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Subir Sen

During the height of his popularity, Hemanta Kumar had a huge following in Bengal and as a result several new singers with voices closely resembling 'Hemanta' became quite popular. Many thought that Subir sounded a bit like Hemanta, but really speaking he had his own quality which can't be denied. In spite of his somewhat limited range, he recorded some wonderful songs and Salil wrote some beautiful pieces for him. In fact, 'Dharonir pathey pathey' must be one of the most beautiful songs Salil has ever composed; it was one of the maestro's own favorites. Later on, Lata Mangeshkar re-recorded it, but many feel it never quite reached the depth of Subir's original version.

Subir later re-recorded several tracks in the '80s for CMR (Salil's own recording company), including 'Odhikaar key kaake dei' and 'Jaani na jaani na'. Interestingly, Subir Sen also composed the music for a film called 'Midnight' produced in England in the '70s, featuring legends like Rafi, Geeta Dutt, and Asha Bhosle.

ID	Song Title	Year	Cross-Ref / Variations
SS1	Dhoronir pathey pathey	1980	Bng: LM33
SS2	Odhikaar key kaake dei	1981	Hnd: OB21 Bng: AS18
SS3	Aar kichhu saraney nei	1981	-
SS4	Kichhudin parey aar	1981	-
SS5	Jaani naa jaani na	1981	Hnd: HM6 Bng: OS09
SS6	Sukher Bandhan	1981	-
SS7	Kono bhaalo kobitaar duto ponkti daao	1981	Hnd: OB9 Bng: AN27
SS8	Aamaar jibon tarani	1981	Hnd: HT4 Oth: BT4
SS9	Dustoro paaraabaar	1981	Bng: MS21
SS10	Paagol Haawaa	1981	Hnd: CB2 Bng: OS12

Musical Analysis & Observations

The song SS7 ("Kono bhaalo kobitaar...") was later recorded by Antara Chowdhury with a completely different melody. When asked why, Salil reportedly claimed he couldn't remember the original melody! Regardless of the reason, both versions hold a unique charm. Saikat Mitra later performed a Hindi version of this song on Doordarshan.

Song SS2 was re-recorded by Sibaji Chattyopadhaay in 1990 with extended lyrics provided by Salil. Regarding SS5 and SS10, while Subir's versions are respected, many critics consider the original recordings by Sachin Gupta (1978) and Jatileshwar Mukhopadhaay (1978) to be superior in terms of emotional delivery.

Ultimately, Subir Sen's most enduring legacy within the Salil-Gharana is "Dhoronir pathey pathey." Salil Chowdhury himself considered it one of his finest compositions and praised Subir for a truly brilliant performance that captured the essence of the lyrics perfectly.