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Biography of Suman Chattopadhaya
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Kabir Suman (born 1949), is a Kolkata-based
modern Bengali singer-songwriter, guitarist, poet,
journalist and TV presenter. He changed his name from
Suman Chattopadhaya to Kabir Suman when he became
a Muslim. He shot to fame in the 1990s with albums
such as Tomake Chai (I Want You) and Boshe Anko (Sit-and-Draw
Contest).
His contemporary urban, socially conscious songs draw
upon both Bengali adhunik (modern) and Western folk
and protest music. His work has been a major influence
in the development of the Bengali songs, which has
influenced bands like Chandrabindoo, and has grown
to become a major movement in contemporary Bengali
music. Most of his songs are played solo with just
a synthesiser or a guitar. Like many Bengali singers,
Suman has also recorded albums of Rabindra Sangeet
(Songs of Rabindranath Tagore), starting in the late-1990s.
Suman's primary training was in Indian classical music
and Rabindra Sangeet, and he picked up Western folk
forms while living abroad. From 1975 to 1989 he worked
as a broadcast journalist working overseas, living
in Germany, where he worked for German International
Radio, and in the United States, where he worked for
Voice of America's Bengali language service. He finished
his second contract with German International Radio
in 1989, and returned to Kolkata. He released his
first album, Tomake Chai, in 1992. Since then he has
released over ten albums, his most recent one being
Nandigram in 2007.
Political views and personal life
Along with his musical contributions, Suman is famous
as a journalist and active citizen of country. He
was a combat journalist in Nicaragua during Sandinista
revolution and wrote a book Mukto Nicaragua on that.
In beginning of his musical career, he showed some
adherence with the ruling Communist Party of India
(Marxist) and soon got disillusioned by them due to
his growing sympathy towards the Maoist Terrorists.
He continued to be vocal with his extreme Maoist attitude
in various forums. In fact, today he is one of the
important mass organizers of the ongoing terroist/anti
establish movement against West Bengalgovernment.
During the Godhra riots, his songs and activities
appealed very successfully to mass consciousness against
fundamentalism. He is infamous for his habit of using
slang words against West Bengal Government and CPI(M).Suman
composed several songs which have been released as
an album, Nandigram. Suman announced that the royalty
for this disc will be used for support of on going
save-lands struggle and as well as maoist Terrorist
movements.
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Basic
Albums |
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Tomaake
Chai (1992) - HMV
Boshe Anko (1993) - HMV
Ichche Holo (1993) - HMV
Gaanwallah / Suman the One Man Band
(1994)- HMV /EMI
Ghumou Baundule (1995) - HMV
Chaichhi Tomar Bondhuta (1996) -
HMV
Jaatishshor (1997) - HMV
Nishidhdho Istehaar (1998) - HMV
Paagla Shaanaai (1999) - HMV
Jaabo Ochenaaye (2001) - HMV
Aadab (2002) - HMV
Reaching Out (2003) - Kosmic Music
Dekhchhi Toke (2004) - Cozmic Harmony
Nandigram (2007) - Cozmic Harmony
Rizwanur Brityo (2008 )- Unknown
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Compilations
and live recordings |
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Sumaner
Gaan (1994) - HMV/EMI
Shawmokhkhe/Upfront- Live In New
York (1996) - Biswas Records
Baanshuriya (1998) - HMV
Suman Top 10 (1999) - HMV
Beesh Shawtoker Sheshe (2000) -
HMV
Nagorik Kobiyaal (2001) - HMV
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Basic
albums (Collaborative) |
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Onyo Katha Onyo Gaan Volumes I
& II (1986) - Sing To Live [with
Nagorik]
Nicaraguar Jonyo (1986) - Sing To
Live [with Nagorik]
E Desh Tomaar Aamar (1991) - SFI
/ HMV
Konthe Nilaam Notun Gaan (1994)
- Concord Music [with the Concord
Trio]
Shobujer Protishodh (1995) - HMV
[with Haimanti Shukla]
Choto Boro Mile (1996) - HMV [with
Nachiketa Chakravarty, Anjan Dutt,
Indrani Sen, Lopamudra Mitra, Payel
Kar, Shalini Chatterjee, Sreetoma
Ghosh, Shayari Das, Tanushree Haldar,
Paromita Chatterjee, Reema Roy,
Shubhanwita Guha and Reetomaa Gupto]
Notun Gaaner Nouka Bawa (1997) -
HMV [with Lopamudra Mitra]
Dhonyo Hok (1997) - HMV [with Sandhya
Mukherjee]
Bhetorghore Brishti (1998) - HMV
[with Lopamudra Mitra]
Shesh Dorjata Perole (1998) - HMV
[with Sandhya Mukherjee]
Tomaye Khnujechi (1999) - Soundtech
[with Sabina Yasmin]
Ochena Chuti / Gaane Gaane Duti
Mon (1999) - Raagaa/Soundtech [with
Sabina Yasmin]
Aashche Shotabdite (1999) - HMV
[with Sandhya Mukherjee]
Ekshaathe Bnachboi (1999) - HMV
[with Sohini, Shinjini, Debdutta,
Shidhdhaartho, Anirban, Oindrila,
Shreya, Shilpi, Arindam, Chiranjeeb,
Rajshekhar, Shongeeta, Gaargi, Arundhati,
Indrani, Shoilangi, Gargi, Aakaash
and Payel]
Rongdhonu Taanaa Shetu (2000) -
HMV [with Sandhya Mukherjee]
Shada Paayra Giyeche Ure (2001)
- HMV [with Sandhya Mukherjee]
Tumi Gaan Gaile (2002) - Prime Music
[with Indranil Sen]
Awshshomedher Ghora Chhutchche (2003)
- HMV [with Sandhya Mukherjee]
Protichhobi (2004) - No Audio Release
[with Sabina Yasmin and Bnaadhon]
Onekdin Por (2005) - Cozmic Harmony
[with Anjan Dutt]
Taero (2006) - Cozmic Harmony [with
Sabina Yasmin]
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Compilations
and Live Albums (Collaborative) |
Onurodher Aashor (1994)
- T-Series Ei Shomoye Ei Dujon- Live
At GD Birla Sabhaghar (1997) - HMV
[with Nachiketa Chakravarty]
Tribeni (1997) - HMV [with Nachiketa
Chakravarty and Anjan Dutt]
Notun Shurer Chnoa (1999) - HMV [with
Sandhya Mukherjee, Lopamudra Mitra,
Haimanti Shukla and Shaagotalokhkhi
Dasgupta]
Praan Khola Gaan (2003) - HMV [with
Lopamudra Mitra, Nachiketa Chakravarty
and Bhoomi]
Onyo Hawaye Onyo Gaan (2004) - HMV
[with Lopamudra Mitra]
Pujor Shera Gaan (2004) - HMV [with
Sandhya Mukherjee]
Graphiti (2006) - HMV [with Nachiketa
Chakravarty, Anjan Dutt, Lopamudra
Mitra, Protul Mukherjee and Moushumi
Bhowmick] |
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Film
Albums |
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Obhimaane Onuraage (1992) [Unreleased]
- [Playback Singers: Kabir Suman]
Attojaa (1993) - [No Audio Release][Playback
Singers: Kabir Suman, Haimanti Shukla]
Mahasangram (1993) - HMV [Playback
Singers: Kabir Suman, Indrani Sen]
Bhoye (1995) - [No Audio Release]
[Playback Singer: Kabir Suman]
Krishnachura [Bilingual in Assamese
(released) and Bengali (unreleased)]
(1995) - HMV [Playback Singers:
Kabir Suman, Haimanti Shukla]
Jodhdha (1996) - HMV [Playback Singer:
Kabir Suman]
Shedin Choitromash (1997) - HMV
[Playback Singers: Kabir Suman,
Nachiketa Chakravarty, Shaagotalokhkhi
Dasgupta and Lopamudra Mitra]
Shurjokanya (1997) - HMV [Playback
Singers: Kabir Suman, Sriradha Banerjee,
Shaagotalokhkhi Dasgupta and Srikanto
Acharya]
Katha (2007) [No Audio Release]
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