A gifted singer and composer, Pankaj Kumar Mullick was a pioneer in the field of film music, composing music and singing for over 100 films in Bengali and Hindi.

Born in Kolkata on 10th May 1905, Pankaj Mullick's love for music was inspired by his father Sri Manimohan Mullick. Initially trained by Durgadas Bandopadhyay and Dinendranath Tagore, Rabindranath's grandnephew, Pankaj Mullick dropped out of college to embrace his first love, music. His career took off in the year 1927, when he got the opportunity of being a musician with All India Radio. He came to conduct weekly music lessons called 'Sangeet Shikhshar Ashar' on All India Radio, for an astonishingly continuous 47 years, arguably a world record. He also created the "Mahisasura Mardini" programme, setting Sanskrit slokas to music, which is aired till today on All India Radio, every year on 'Mahalaya' morning, to usher in the Durga Puja, and has become an integral part of the Bengali Puja culture.

He was a big name in the Indian film world from 1928 onwards, conducting live-orchestras in movie theaters for silent feature films. Thereafter, he joined 'New Theatres' in 1930, where he trained and conducted rehearsals for artists, and he got his first break as an independent music director in P.C. Barua's film "Mukti" (1937).

A close friend and mentor of K.L. Saigal, he composed many of the songs which contributed to the popularity of Saigal. Immensely popular in his life-time, many of Pankaj Mullick's songs like "So Ja Rajkumari" (Sung by Saigal) and "Piya Milan Ko Jana" (sung by Mullick) remain timeless in their appeal. He was the first person to popularize the songs of Rabindra Nath Tagore through films, and his rendition of "Jana Gana Mana" was deemed as the definitive version to be followed while singing the national anthem. He was a pioneer in introducing western instruments in Indian Film music. He was also instrumental in promoting the playing of 'Tabla' along with Rabindra Sangeet.

As the Honorary Advisor to the "Lok Ranjan Shakha" run by government of West Bengal, Pankaj Mullick also helped propagate social awareness amongst the masses through music and entertainment. He also authored four books on Indian music.

Pankaj Mullick was awarded the 'Rashtrapati Puraskar' for composing the music for two films, 'Yatrik' and 'Raikamal'. He was also given the titles of 'Sursagar ' and 'Sangeet Ratnakar'. He was awarded the "Padmashree", in 1970, and the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1972. Several other felicitations came his way, including the BFJA (Bengal Film Journalists' Association)Award.

He passed away in the year 1978, but his contributions to Indian popular music will remain unforgettable.

The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Pankaj Kumar Mullick, the music maestro.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India