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Salil Chowdhury

Laal Paathor (1964)

A richly orchestrated soundtrack with Bengali, Hindi, and even German versions — one of Salil’s most fascinating works.

Film Information

Language: Bengali

Title Music: Yes

Lyrics: LP3 & LP5 by Gulzar; LP1, LP2 & LP4 by Salil

Songs

This soundtrack includes Bengali originals, Hindi ghazals, and even a German translation of a Rabindrasangeet.

Nr Song Singer Variations HndMalTamTelKanBngOth
LP1 Deko Naa More Deko Naa Shyamal Mitra, Sabita Chowdhury - -EZ3----BJ4
LP2 Jaa Jaa Jaa Baansi Jaa Re Sabita Chowdhury - -------
LP3 Saans Ke Jakham (Hindi) Manna Dey - -------
LP4 Sokhi De Sajaay Phoolo Saaj Sujata Mukherjee - -------
LP5 Rukhe Rukhe Se (Hindi) Mubarak Begam - -------
LP6 O Dieu, O Mein (German) German Translation of LP7 - -------
LP7 Aalo Amaar Aalo (Rabindrasangeet) Shyamal Mitra - -------

Notes & Background

Laal Paathor (1964) is one of Salil's most musically ambitious Bengali films, featuring a remarkable mix of Bengali, Hindi, and even German-language versions.

Only short fragments of the two Hindi songs — "Saans Ke Jakham" (Manna Dey) and "Rukhe Rukhe Se" (Mubarak Begum) — appear in the film itself. Their full versions survive only through 78rpm records, making them prized items for collectors.

The Bengali tracks "Deko Naa More" and "Jaa Jaa Jaa Baansi" are remembered for their strong melodies and emotional depth, supported by Salil’s exceptional background orchestration.

Most unique is the presence of a German translation of the Rabindrasangeet "Aalo Aamar Aalo" — a rare cultural crossover made possible through Salil’s collaborations with international ensembles.

A VCD release in 2003 finally made the film accessible again, although only partial audio sources survive for some tracks.