Renuka Dasgupta


Renuka Dasgupta was a Bengali singer, considered one of the best-known exponents of the songs of Atulprasad Sen. She was a direct disciple of Atulprasad Sen, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Dilipkumar Roy.

Early life

Born in Konnagar, West Bengal Renuka Dasgupta lived in Gaya, Dhaka and Calcutta. A cousin of Sahana Devi, Atulprasad Sen, Kanak Biswas. Renuka Dasgupta taught Music in Kamrunnesa Girls High School at Tikatuli, Dhaka in the late 1920s. She married Hirendra Chandra Dasgupta a graduate engineer of Bengal Engineering Collegein the early 1930s and settled permanently in Calcutta. She was associated with the radio audition committee of AIR, Calcutta.

Early work

In 1932, three Indian recording companies were born in Calcutta out of a nationalistic urge to compete with the British-owned Gramophone Company of India. One of these was Hindusthan Records. The owner C.C.Saha requested Rabindranath Tagore to record some songs and recitations. From those recordings was published the first record H1. Atulprasad Sen recorded two songs which were published in the second record H2. The third record H3 had the songs 'Jodi gokulachandra braje na elo' and 'Pagla montare tui bandh' sung by Renuka Sengupta. Sale for this record reached an unprecedented high mark, such was the popularity of these songs.
Contrary to popular, belief "Jodi gokulachandra braje na elo" is not written by Atul Prasad Sen. She was also trained by Kazi Nazrul Islam - recorded 2 songs under his tutelage, Krishna Chandra Dey - the recorded song was "Aye Bhikharin Premnagar Ke Pritam Pritam Bole".In 1935 she was trained by Sailajaranjan Majumdar to sing Rabindrasangeet chosen for her by Rabindranath Tagore. She went on to record 5 Rabindrasangeets' in her career.

Recorded Rabindrasangeet

  1. Diner Pore Din Je Gelo '
  2. Aamaar Ki Bedonaa '
  3. Basante Basante Tomar Kobi Re Dao Dak
  4. Koto Katha Tare Chilo Bolite
  5. Tomaro Shurer Dhara

    Recorded Nazrulgeeti

  6. Kon rosh jomuner kule
  7. Shukshari tonumon momo

    Recorded Songs of Atul Prasad

  8. Pagla Monta Re Tui Bandh 1932
  9. Emono Badole Tumi Kotha
  10. Nid Nahi Akhi Pate
  11. Esho Dujaney Kheli
  12. Ohe Jagatkaron 1969/70
  13. Chaadni Raatey
  14. Amaar Chokh Bedhey Bhober Khelay
  15. Jodi Tor Hrid Jamunaa
  16. Ke Go Gaahiley
  17. Ogo Saathi Momo Saathi
  18. Shuktara Tomar Chholo Chholo Akhi
  19. Amar paran kotha jay
  20. Se dake amare 1969/70
  21. Ki ar chahibo balo 1969/70
  22. Tobo ontoro eto monthoro
  23. Srabone ghono ghota
  24. Aaj Amar Shunya Ghore
  25. Krondeshi potho charini

    Recorded Songs of Other Genre (list incomplete)

  26. Jodi Gokulochandra Braje Na Elo - Kirtan
  27. Aye Bhikarin Prem Nagar Ki
  28. Ki Roop Dekhinu Kaalaa - Jnanadas - Kirtan
  29. Dine dine din je chole jay - Bhatiyali
  30. Nandanandana chande chandana - Kirtan
  31. Madhaba tunhu rahali re madhupur - Kirtan
  32. Khomiyo shib