THE RECORD NEWS - The Digital South Asia Library - University of ...

Bengalee by birth. Mr. K. Mallick (real name was Qamal Malik) who at the time
was a very popular gramophone singer, was invited to the palace to sing at the
court of Maharaja Shiva Prasad on the occasion of his marriage. The Maharaja
was so pleased with K. Mallick's performance that he appointed him court singer
in Jharia. K. Mallick had to stay back at Jharia for sometime during which he
discovered Kamala's musical talent and brought her to Calcutta and introduced
her to HMV authorities. Kamala recorded four songs for HMV and went back to
Jharia. She was paid sixty-five Rupees only for the four songs. Her first published
record was a red label one, numbered N 3137 in 1930. The songs were a) Priya
Jeno Prem Bhulo Na, a Ghazal and b) Nithur Nayan Baan Keno Hano, a Dadra.
Lyricist for both the songs was Mr. Dhiren Das. The authorities had some
problem in naming the artiste. They knew her name but not her surname.
They could not credit her as Miss Kamala because there was already one singer
of the same name. Finally it was decided to identify her as Miss Kamala (Jharia)
keeping in mind her then usual place of residence and thus began her illustrious
musical career. Her formal training in music was from giants like a) Ujir Khan for
Thumris, Ghazals and Indian classical b) Jamiruddin Khan c) K. Mallick d) Mr.
Satish Ghosh and Shrinath Das Nandi, to whom she formally performed the Nara
Bandhan and became a regular student. Later, she came in contact with Kaji
Nazrul Islam and Tulsi Lahiri, who was a film director, producer, lyricist and
music director. In fact he was a very colorful personality with his talent spread
over a wide field. Later, Kamala Jharia became closely associated with Tulsi
Lahiri in her personal life and lived with him as his wife. Kamala became a
regular artiste of HMV and sister concern ‘The Twin’ records though she was
later shifted to Megaphone Company along with her mentor Tulsi Lahiri but this
was part of a purely business arrangement between HMV and Megaphone.
Other recording companies like Pioneer, Senola, Columbia also published her
songs. She joined films in 1933 and her first Bengali film was Jamuna Puliney
(1933), which happened to be the first sound film of Miss Angurbala, Indubala
and actress Kanhopatra (1937) as well. Apart from Bengali, she used to sing in
Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujrati and many other Indian languages and at
that period no other artiste would sing in so many different languages which
explains her all India status and popularity. One of her lofty achievements was
Bengali devotional songs like Kirtans and Ramprasadi. Songs like ‘Katara
Radhika Dekhiya Adhika’, ‘Maa Howa Ki Mukher Katha’, ‘Kanu Kahe Rai Kahitey
Darai’ (Chandidas) are remembered even today. She acted in films like in Mantra
Shakti (1935), Thikadaar(1940), Sonar Sangsar(1936), Bijoyini (1941), Bangalee
(1936), Tarubala (1936), Night Bird (1934), Step Mother (1935), Devjani (1939),
Pataal Puri (1935), Mastuto Bhai (1934), Blood Feud (1931) and other films. As a
playback artiste she lent her voice for the heroine Madhavi in the Urdu film
Selima (1935) directed by Modhu Bose. Her singing career spanned over three
decades. Kamala was associated with All India Radio from the time of its
inception as a singer. In 1976, The Gramophone Company of India honoured her
with a Gold Disc, as a mark of lifetime achievement. She was attached to the
radio from the very beginning of her career and also made several tours all over
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