Swami Vivekananda (1994) | Salil Chowdhury

Film Information

Language: Hindi

Lyricists:
• Gulzar (Songs VN1–VN3)
• Swami Vivekananda
• Surdas
• Kabir
• Jaidev
• (Possible 6th: Dr. P.V. Srinivas – unclear credit)

The film includes devotional, philosophical and bhajan-based compositions. This is one of the only Salil soundtracks to feature six lyricists — many long deceased — reflecting the deep spiritual foundation of the story.

Since the film was released after Salil Chowdhury’s passing, the background score was composed by Vijay Bhaskara Rao, making this one of the extremely rare cases where Salil did not score his own background music.

Songs

Nr	Song	Singer(s)	Hnd	Mal	Tam	Tel	Kan	Bng	Oth
VN1	chalo man jaayein ghar apne	K.J. Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
VN2	sanyaasi talaashi jiski hai	Asha Bhonsle	✔	-	-	-	-	SC24	-
VN3	jaana hai jaana hai us paar bhaai re	Antara Chowdhury & Chorus	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
VN4	binaa prem dheeraj nahi	K.J. Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
VN5	Tava birahe vanamaali sakhi	Kavita Krishnamurthy	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
VN6	Re man krishna naam kahi liije	Anup Jalota	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
VN7	Prabhuji more abgun chit na dharo	Kavita Krishnamurthy	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
VN8	Na hi surjo na hi jyoti	K.J. Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-

Notes & Background

Swami Vivekananda (1994) is one of the most unusual projects in Salil Chowdhury’s career — featuring spiritual and devotional compositions with lyrics from diverse historical sources.

Gulzar penned three contemporary songs (VN1–VN3), while traditional verses by Kabir, Surdas, Swami Vivekananda, and Jaidev formed the bhajan-based pieces.

Since Salil passed away before the film’s release, the background score was handled by Vijay Bhaskara Rao — an unusual situation, as Salil almost always composed his own background music.

The Bengali version of “sanyaasi talaashi” (SC24) remains especially popular and showcases Salil’s signature choral layering.

The film’s cassette/CD release confusingly listed Gulzar as the only lyricist, creating a long-standing attribution mystery.