Pritam Chakrabarty
Born (1971-06-14) 14 June 1971[1][2]
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
NationalityIndian
EducationPresidency College
Alma materFilm and Television Institute of India, Pune
Occupations
  • Singer
  • composer
  • record producer
  • instrumentalist
SpouseSmita Chakraborty
Children2[3]
Musical career
GenresFilm songs
Years active2001–present
LabelsTips, T-Series, YRF Music, Eros, Zee Music Company, Sony Music India, Saregama

Pritam Chakraborty (born 14 June 1971), also known mononymously as Pritam, is an Indian composer, instrumentalist, guitarist, and singer. After working as an ad jingles composer, he debuted as a co-composer in the 2001 Hindi film Tere Liye. As a solo composer, his composition of the title track of Dhoom helped him win the Zee Cine Award for Best Track of the Year. In a career spanning over two decades, he has composed music for more than 125 Bollywood Movies, and he has been the recipient of numerous awards, including 5 Filmfare Awards for Best Music Director from 21 nominations and 4 Mirchi Music Award for Music Composer of The Year from 14 nominations. For his immense music sense and creativity, he is widely credited as one of the most popular music directors of India.

Early life

Pritam was born in a Bengali Brahmin family to Anuradha Chakraborty and Prabodh Chakraborty. He gained his early training in music from his father and learned to play the guitar while he was in school.

He went to St. James' School and has a bachelor's degree in geology from Presidency College. Pritam was associated with the non-partisan political platform Independents' Consolidation during his days at Presidency.[4] In 1994, Pritam joined FTII, Pune, where he took up Sound Recording and Engineering.

Pritam formed a band called "Jotugriher Pakhi" with his Presidency batchmates, for which he played the guitar.[5] They released a cassette around that time. Pritam joined a Bangla band, Chandrabindoo. Later Pritam started the band Metro with James, Suhail, Soham, and Eric during his film called Life in a... Metro.[6]

Career

1997–2003: Ad-Jingles and Bollywood debut

After completing his sound engineering course from FTII Pune, Chakraborty came to Mumbai in 1997. He started composing ad jingles where he met other budding artists such as Shantanu Moitra, Rajkumar Hirani, Sanjay Gadhvi and Jeet Gannguli. Pritam composed renowned jingles for brands like Santro,[7] Emami, McDonald's,[8] Head & Shoulders, Thums Up, Limca, Complan and composed title tracks for TV serials such as Astitva, Kkavyanjali, Ye Meri Life Hai, Remix, Kashmeer, Miilee, and Dil Kare.[9]

Pritam got his first break for Tere Liye (released December 2001).[10] Though the music was well-received, the film missed the mark. In 2002, The Jeet-Pritam duo once again composed music for Yash Raj Films' Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai. All the songs from the film were chartbusters. Soon after, over some misunderstanding, Jeet decided to split and the partners and go their separate ways.

2004–2009: Dhoom, Life in a Metro and Love Aaj Kal

Pritam's compositions were noted for their ability to blend Indian classical music with western styles. His compositions for Gadhvi's second film Dhoom were a runaway hit.[11][12] The title-track of Dhoom in two versions – Hindi (by Sunidhi Chauhan) and English (by Tata Young) – broke geographic barriers becoming popular in pubs in the UK, USA and the East Asia and won him his first Zee Cine Award for Best Track of the Year. He received his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for the soundtrack of Dhoom.

In 2006, he also composed the soundtrack and background score for Gadhvi's Dhoom sequel, Dhoom 2, which despite mixed critical reviews, achieved major commercial success and became the highest-selling Indian music album of the year. It also earned him his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

He followed this up with compositions for films like Gangster, Jannat, and Kismat Konnection.[13]

In 2007, his compositions for Anurag Basu's Life in a... Metro garnered him widespread critical acclaim.[14] He formed a band called Metro with Suhail Kaul, Sohu pet name Chakraborty, Eric Pillai and Bangladeshi singer James for the film.[15][16] He won his second Zee Cine Award for Best Track of the Year for the song "Mauja Hi Mauja" from Jab We Met by Imtiaz Ali. Jab We Met won him his first Producers Guild Film Award for Best Music Director. Both Jab We Met and Life in a... Metro earned him his third and fourth nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

He then composed the soundtracks of Race (2008), Love Aaj Kal (2009) and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), all of which earned him his fifth, sixth and seventh nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

2010–2014: Cocktail, Barfi! and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani

Pritam Chakraborty at a success bash for Cocktail

His Sufi songs for the 2010 film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai were popular with the masses[17] and songs like "Pee Loon" and "Tum Jo Aaye" were declared chartbusters, earning him his eighth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.[18][19] He teamed up again with Mahesh Bhatt and Vishesh Films for music of Crook[20] of which the song "Mere Bina" got instant recognition with public. His foot-tapping numbers for Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 3 were also equally successful.[21] In 2011, he got to work for Salman Khan's Ready and Bodyguard. He recreated the famous 1971 song, "Dum Maro Dum" for Ramesh Sippy's 2011 movie of the same name.[22][23] He then composed for the romance Mausam which had a strong influence of Punjabi.[24] The songs were phenomenal hits in Northern India with "Rabba Main To Mar Gaya Oye" being a rage among people.[25]

In 2012, he composed several successful songs for films like Players, Agent Vinod, Jannat 2 and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Ferrari Ki Sawaari, where he worked with Rajkumar Hirani.[26] Later that year, he scored the music for Barfi! which won him two awards, including his first Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.[27] Barfi is considered to be one of the most critically acclaimed soundtrack album of his career. He also reunited with Imtiaz Ali for the romantic comedy-drama Cocktail, which earned highly positive reviews, in addition to his tenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

In 2013, he composed music for films such as Race 2, Murder 3, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Dhoom 3[28] and Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara which was his 100th film as a Music Director in Bollywood.[29] Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in particular proved to be a milestone in Pritam's career, earning him widespread critical acclaim and accolades, and proved to be the highest selling Indian music album of the year. It also earned him his eleventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

He started 2014 with compositions for Yaariyan, Shaadi Ke Side Effects & Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty. He then took a break in 2014.[30][31] He received his twelfth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for Yaariyan.

2015–2017: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Jagga Jasoos

He marked his return with three successful albums in 2015: Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan & Phantom and Rohit Shetty's Dilwale for which he earned his thirteenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.[32] The song, "Gerua" from Dilwale directly opened at the No. 1 position on the Radio Mirchi charts[33] and became the first Bollywood song to cross 100 million views on YouTube in the shortest duration ever.[34] It also ranked in the top slot in places like Malaysia, Oman, Sri Lanka and Bahrain.[33]

In 2016, he appeared as a guest composer and composed the song "Itni Si Baat Hai" for Azhar; the albums other composers were Amaal Mallik and DJ Chetas. He also composed the soundtracks of Dishoom, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Dangal. The soundtrack of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil proved to be yet another milestone in Pritam's career, earning him career-best reviews and accolades, including his second Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

In 2017, he composed the soundtracks of Jagga Jasoos (which earned him his third Filmfare Award for Best Music Director), Raabta along with Sohrabuddin, Sourav Roy and JAM8, Tubelight and Jab Harry Met Sejal along with Diplo, earning his sixteenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

2019–present: Kalank, Ludo and Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva

After a break in 2018, he return to composing in 2019 with Chhichhore and Kalank, earning his seventeenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for the latter.

In 2020, he composed the soundtracks of Love Aaj Kal (which earned him his eighteenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director) and Ludo. For Ludo, he won his fourth Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

In 2021, he composed songs for Tadap and 83.

In 2022, he composed all the songs of Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Laal Singh Chaddha (which earned him his twentieth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director). For Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, he won his fifth Filmfare Award for Best Music Director,[35] Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director amongst others. The song "Kesariya" from Brahmastra topped the Spotify India charts for 16 weeks[36] and became the first Indian song to cross 300 and 400 million streams on Spotify.

In 2023, he composed for Shehzada, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Tiger 3 and Dunki. As of now, he has 3 films lines up in 2024 : Merry Christmas, Metro In Dino and Aashiqui 3.

Musical style

Pritam has composed and covered some popular songs in a variety of genres including Rock (Life in a... Metro), Sufi (Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai) and even Ghazals (Barfi). His musical style is mainly characterized as a delicate fusion of Indian classical music with contemporary undertones.[37]

Allegations of plagiarism

Pritam has been alleged to have plagiarized numerous songs from the beginning of his film music career. Hits such as "Pehli Nazar Mein" was plagiarized from the Korean song "Sarang Hae Yo" by Kim Hyung Su (2005).[38] His critically acclaimed soundtrack Ae Dil Hai Mushkil also faced allegations of plagiarism as the guitar riff of the song "Bulleya" was lifted from the Papa Roach song "Last Resort".[39][40]

Rolling Stone India says, Indian music plagiarism tracking site www.itwofs.com alleges 52 instances between 2004 and 2010 where Pritam's songs are said to be "lifted", "copied", "plagiarized", or "similar" to those of tunes by other composers, who range from Arab and East Asian artists (such as Ihab Tawfik, Yuri Mrakadi and Kim Hyung-sub) to Western musicians like Boney M. and Damien Rice. Especially famous songs of Pritam, like "Tikhi Tikhi", "Allah Duhai Hain" and some others were found to be copied or plagiarised from Turkish famous singer Tarkan.[41][42]

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Pritam commented on the allegations of plagiarism in his music, "Yes, I did make mistakes initially. But once I realised it, I have been particular about my music. However, people keep making false allegations, because it's easy to do that. Since the last three years, I have stopped taking false allegations seriously. For example, the Iranian band that said I had plagiarised 'Pungi' (Agent Vinod; 2012) had to give an apology in court for using my name falsely.".[43]

On screen appearance

Music videos and films

Television

Pritam mentored and judged Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009[46] and was a judge for Chhote Ustaad on Zee TV. He was also a guest judge for the X factor and Zee Bangla's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012–13.[47] He also composed the title track for Hrithik Roshan's TV series Just Dance for Star TV which was sung by KK.[48] Pritam sang some of his top hits on the popular show MTV Unplugged (Season 5) on 13 February 2016.[49] Pritam is the mentor and judge of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2016 alongside Mika Singh and Sajid–Wajid.[50] He was also a part of Star plus' show Dil Hai Hindustani as a judge alongside Sunidhi Chauhan and Badshah in 2018.

Awards and nominations

Year Film Award Category Result
2003 Kashmeer Indian Television Academy Awards ITA Award for Best Title Music/Song Track Won
2005 Remix Won
Dhoom Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
2006 Kkavyanjali Indian Television Academy Awards ITA Award for Best Title Music/Song Track Won
2007 Nominated
Dhoom 2 Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
2008 Life In A Metro Nominated
Jab We Met Nominated
2009 Race Nominated
2010 Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Nominated
Love Aaj Kal Nominated
International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Won
Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Won
Music Composer of the Year for the song "Pee Loon" Won
2011 Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
Bodyguard Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
2012 Barfi Asia Pacific Screen Awards Asia Pacific Screen Awards for Best Music Won
Asian Film Awards Asian Film Awards for Best Music Won
Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
Music Composer of the Year for the song "Ala Barfi" Nominated
Music Composer of the Year for the song "Phir Le Aya Dil" Nominated
Background Score of the Year Nominated
Cocktail Album of the Year Nominated
Music Composer of the Year for the Song "Tum Hi Ho Bandhu" Nominated
2013 Barfi Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Background Score Won
Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Won
Cocktail Nominated
Barfi International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Won
Cocktail Nominated
MTV VMAI Awards Best Bollywood Album Won
Zee Cine Awards Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director Won
2014 Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Nominated
2015 Yaariyan Nominated
Filmfare Awards Filmfare Awards Nominated
Dilwale Mirchi Music Awards Music Composer of the Year Nominated
2016 Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Won
Music Composer of the Year Won
Music Composer of the Year for the song "Channa Mereya" Nominated
Music Composer of the Year for the song "Bulleya" Nominated
Best Background Score Nominated
Dangal Album of the Year Nominated
Best Background Score Nominated
2017 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Won
IIFA Award for Best Background Score Won
Zee Cine Awards Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director Won
Jagga Jasoos Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
Best Background Score Nominated
Raabta Album of the Year Nominated
2018 Jagga Jasoos Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Won
Filmfare Award for Best Background Score Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Nominated
IIFA Awards for Best Background Score Won
Jab Harry Met Sejal Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
2020 Kalank Nominated
2021 Ludo
Filmfare Award for Best Background Score Won
Love Aaj Kal Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
2022 Ludo International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Nominated
83 Nominated
2023 Brahmastra: Part One - Siva Won
Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Won
Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year for the song "Kesariya" Won
Music Composer of the Year for the song ''Kesariya'' Nominated
Music Composer of the Year for the song ''Deva Deva'' Nominated
Best Background Score Won
Listener's Choice Album of the Year Pending
Listener's Choice Film Song of the Year for the song ''Kesariya'' Pending
Zee Cine Awards Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director Won
Laal Singh Chaddha Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated
Mirchi Music Awards Album of the Year Won
Listener's Choice Album of the Year Pending
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 International Indian Film Academy Awards IIFA Award for Best Music Director Nominated

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Pritam Chakraborty Turns 45 Today! Here's A Few Songs! – SirG.co". 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Pritam Chakraborty Biography". cinemagigs. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "My family is complete now: Pritam Chakraborty". The Hindu. IANS. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Pritam's breaking news". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "The other Bong connection". The Telegraph. 20 March 2006. Archived from the original on 16 September 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Music of Metro". LiveMint. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Music of Dhoom Had To Be Zip-Zap-Zoom!". Rediff.com. 31 August 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Soham Chakraborty on in Dino". Rediff.com. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Pritam Chakraborty". Cinemagig. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "Neighbours, now melody-makers – Jeet-Pritam: Two boys from Bengali strike a crescendo in Bollywood". The Telegraph. 27 September 2002. Archived from the original on 6 September 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Sinha, Lata (31 December 2004). "The Telegraph". Kolkota. Archived from the original on 5 January 2005. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Sharma, Devesh. "Dhoom machale!". Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  13. ↑ "Interesting facts about music of Gangster". Indiaglitz. 20 March 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "Life in a... Metro". The Times of India. TNN. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  15. ↑ Gopal, Sangita (2012). Conjugations: Marriage and Form in New Bollywood Cinema. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. p. 153. ISBN 9780226304274.
  16. ↑ "Music of 'Life in a Metro' launched". livemint.com. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  17. ↑ Sen, Raja (20 December 2010). "The best Bollywood soundtracks of 2010". Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Top 10 Bollywood songs of 2010 – The Express Tribune". Indo-Asian News Service. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  19. ↑ Pahwa, Kiran (2 July 2010). "'Pee loon' stands out in 'Once Upon A Time...' soundtrack". Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  20. ↑ Tuteja, Joginder. "Emraan-Pritam 'jodi' strikes again with CROOK - bollywood news : glamsham.com". glamsham.com. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Pritam packs in retro feel in 'Golmaal 3' soundtrack | TopNews". www.topnews.in. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Rohan Sippy bags remake rights of '70s hit song 'Dum Maro Dum'". The Indian Express. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  23. ↑ Sinha, Meenakshi (2 May 2011). "Action replay: Bollywood grooves to retro classics". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  24. ↑ Abid (7 August 2021). "Mausam music review". glamsham.com.
  25. ↑ Yount, Stacey (11 January 2012). "Top 50 Songs of 2011". Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Vijayakar, R.M. (30 August 2011). "Composer Pritam's Musical Experiments Are Paying Off". Indiawest.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "Live Blog: 58th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013". The Times of India. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  28. ↑ "Pritam Joins Dhoom 3". koimoi.com. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "I am disorganised. I made 10 other girls sing Daru Desi before Shalmali: Pritam". SantaBanta.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Pritam composed nothing in 2014; to make a smashing comeback in 2015". The Times of India. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  31. ↑ "Composer Pritam to resume work from November". IBN live. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Nominations for the 61st Britannia Filmfare Awards". The Times of India. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  33. 1 2 Lakshmi, V. (8 January 2016). "Music composer Pritam talks about his work and travels in the past year and the months to come". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  34. ↑ "Gerua is the first Bollywood song to cross 100 Million in the shortest duration: Pritam". Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  35. ↑ "WINNERS OF THE 68th HYUNDAI FILMFARE AWARDS 2023".
  36. ↑ "Spotify Wrapped: Arijit Singh, Pritam, A R Rahman topped the charts in 2022".
  37. ↑ "Pritam Chakraborty Biography – Saavn". Saavn. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  38. ↑ Singh, Sandeep (7 July 2016). "24 Popular Bollywood Songs You Never Knew Were Copied From Other Songs". ScoopWhoop. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  39. ↑ Desk, India com Entertainment (16 September 2016). "Pritam copied ADHM Sufi song from Papa Roach & Iron Maiden!". India.com. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  40. ↑ "Pritam accused of plagiarism yet again with 'ADHM' track 'Bulleya'". The Times of India. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  41. ↑ "Pritam and the Politics of Bollywood Music -". My Site. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  42. ↑ "Jagga Jasoos: Pritam embroiled in plagiarism controversy over song 'Galti Se Mistake'?". Firstpost. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  43. ↑ "I made mistakes initially: Pritam on plagiarising charges". Hindustan Times. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  44. ↑ Pandey, Prachita (10 July 2017). "JHMS song 'Safar': Imtiaz Ali, Pritam and Irshad Kamil share the screen with Shah Rukh Khan in this heartwarming number". Daily News & Analysis. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  45. ↑ "Marshmello and Pritam Team Up for Heavyweight New Song 'BIBA'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  46. ↑ "Adesh Srivastava, Pritam Chakraborty, Shankar Mahadevan and Himesh Reshammiya to mentor Sa Re Ga Ma Pa this year". The Times of India. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  47. ↑ "Zee Bangla's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' all set to go global". 30 June 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  48. ↑ "Hrithik's Music Video for Just Dance". The Tribune. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  49. ↑ "'MTV Unplugged' Season 5 Features Pritam Chakraborty, Jubin Nautiyal". 14 December 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  50. ↑ "Mika Singh, Pritam Chakraborty and Sajid-Wajid reintroduce the musical show with a refreshing format!". 27 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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