Pankaj Mullick

Pankaj Mullick, also known as Pankaj Kumar Mullick (Bangla: পঙ্কজ কুমার মল্লিক Pôngkoj Kumar Mollik) (10 May 1905 - 19 February 1978) was a Bengali India music director, who was a pioneer of film music in Bengali cinema and Hindi cinema at the advent of playback singing, as well as an early exponent of Rabindra Sangeet.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1970, followed by the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (India's highest award in cinema, given by the Government of India) in 1972 for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

Early life and training

He was born in Kolkata in 1905, to Monimohan Mullick and Monomohini. His father had a deep interest in traditional Bengali music. He started his early training in Indian classical music under the tutelage of Durgadas Bandopadhaya. He studied at the Scottish Church College of the University of Calcutta.Some Alumni of Scottish Church College in 175th Year Commemoration Volume. Scottish Church College, April 2008. page 590 An important turning point in his life came when, after finishing his studies, he came in contact with Dinendranath Tagore, who was Rabindranath Tagore's great-nephew. This led to Pankaj Mullick's lasting interest in Rabindra Sangeet. Rabindranath Tagore, in turn,...
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