Raichand Boral
Rai Chand Boral (Bengali: রাইচাঁদ বড়াল)(19 October 1903 – 25 November 1981) was an Indian composer, considered by music conoisseurs to be the father of Bollywood film music.
He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the highest award in Indian cinema, given by Government of India, in 1978, and also in the same year, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.
Early life and training
Boral was born in Calcutta. His father, Lal Chand Boral was a classical musician (expert of Dhrupad). He had three sons, and Rai Chand was the youngest. Musicians from Rampur and Gwalior were invited for lessons. These include Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan of Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, Masit Khan (tabla player), and Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan (sarod player). Rai Chand learnt "Sath Sangat" on the tabla and attended music conferences in Lucknow, Allahabad, and Benares.
Career
Boral is often credited to be the pioneer of Indian film music. Along with Pankaj Mullick, he was in charge of New Theatres' music department. New Theatres set standards in film music which have rarely been approached since. They also shaped film music in its early days and their format was followed for the most part for first 20–30 years in Hindi film music. He was also responsible for shaping Saigal's budding career. Anil Biswas called Boral 'Bhishma Pitamah of film music'.