Salil Chowdhury
Salil Chowdhury was an Indian music director, songwriter, lyricist, writer and poet who predominantly composed for Bengali, Hindi and Malayalam films. He composed music for films in 13 languages. This includes over 75 Hindi films, 41 Bengali films, 27 Malayalam films, and a few Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Odia and Assamese films. His musical ability was widely recognised in the Indian film industry. He was an accomplished composer and arranger who was proficient in several musical instruments, including the flute, the piano, and the esraj. He was also widely acclaimed and admired for his inspirational and original poetry in Bengali.
The first Bengali film for which Chowdhury composed music was Paribortan, released in 1949. Mahabharati, released in 1994, was the last of the 41 Bengali films where he rendered his music. He is affectionately called Salilda by his admirers. He mentored famous music directors like R. D. Burman and Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Career
Early influences – childhood and teenage
Salil Chowdhury was born on 19 November 1925, in a village called Ghazipur in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Salil's childhood was spent in the Tea Gardens Region of Assam. His father was reputed to stage plays with coolies and other low-paid workers of the tea-gardens. While his father, Dr Gyanendra Chowdhury, was the Medical Officer at Hathikuli Tea Estate near Kaziranga in Assam, between 1931 and 1951, the Chief Medical Officer was Dr Maloni, an Irish national. During his early years, he used to listen to western orchestral music on Dr Maloni's gramophone. To date, this information stands engraved in black granite in Hathikuli Tea Estate in his memory. During the second world war Chowdhury got the opportunity to closely observe human sufferings, hunger and problem of the refugees. He studied in Harinavi D.V.A.S High School and there after graduating from Bangabasi College, affiliated to the University of Calcutta in Kolkata, and during this period his political ideas were formulated along with a considerable maturity in his musical ideas.As a teenager in school, Chowdhury already had an interest in music, and played the flute, harmonium and esraj. He learnt to play the piano from his elder brother at the age of 6. Once in college, he also began to compose tunes. His first popular song was "Becharpoti tomar bichaar", set to a kirtan tune. Chowdhury composed it in 1945 during the Indian National Army trials when the freedom fighters had returned from Andaman jail. Chowdhury shifted to a village in 24 Parganas to live with his maternal uncles, when he was witness to a big peasant uprising there in 1943. He got involved with them and began writing songs for the peasant movement. In 1944, while studying for his MA, Chowdhury witnessed people dying on the streets of Calcutta, as 50 lakh Bengalis died during the famine. The famine was human-made as local rice was instead directed to Britain's war effort overseas, leading to scarcity, aggravated by black marketeers and hoarders. This led Chowdhury to become fully involved in the peasant movement, and he became a full-time member of IPTA and the Communist Party. Subsequently, arrest warrants were issued in his name, and he went underground in the Sunderbans, hiding in paddy fields and supported by local peasants. During this time, he continued writing plays and songs.
In 1944, a young Salil came to Calcutta for his graduate studies. He joined the IPTA the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India. He started writing songs and setting tunes for them. The IPTA theatrical outfit travelled through the villages and the cities bringing these songs to the common man. Songs like Bicharpati, Runner and Abak prithibi became extremely popular with the general population at the time.
Songs like Gnaayer bodhu, which he composed at the age of 20, brought about a new wave of Bengali music. Almost every notable singer at the time from West Bengal had sung at least one of his songs. A few examples are Debabrata Biswas, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Hemanta Mukherjee, Shyamal Mitra, Sandhya Mukherjee, Manabendra Mukherjee, Subir Sen and Pratima Banerjee.
Film career
The first Bengali film in which Salil Chowdhury composed music was Paribortan, released in 1949. Mahabharati, released in 1994, was the last of the 41 Bengali films where he rendered his music.In an interview with All India Radio, Salil Chowdhury described his coming to Bombay in 1953 as a "stroke of luck". He was writing the script for a Bengali film about a peasant who was disowned of his land and had gone to Calcutta to earn money as a Rickshaw puller. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who heard of it from Chowdhury during a visit to Calcutta, liked it immensely and suggested that he narrate it to the director Bimal Roy. Roy heard it, and asked him to meet him again the next morning. However, when Chowdhury went to meet him the next day, he learnt that Roy had rushed to Bombay on an urgent call. A week later, he received a telegram from Roy that he wanted to turn his script into a movie. This resulted in Chowdhury's debut in the Hindi film industry in 1953 as the music director for Do Bigha Zamin. The movie was based on Tagore's poem by the same name, but the story was different and was written by Salil Chowdhury himself. Directed by Bimal Roy, this film took his career to new heights when it became the first film to win the Filmfare Best Movie Award and won the international Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
After working for about 20 years in Bengali and Hindi films, he entered the Malayalam film industry and, in 1964, composed music for the movie Chemmeen. He went on to compose music for films in 13 languages. This includes over 75 Hindi films, 41 Bengali films, around 27 Malayalam films, and a few Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Odia and Assamese films. Asked about his method, Chowdhury described it thus – He would usually ask the film maker to explain the situation to him, then Chowdhury would compose a tune to suit the mood, and the lyric writer would set in words. This remained his practice for most of his films including Madhumati, in which Shailendra wrote the lyrics subsequently.
During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Chowdhury contributed to the programmes of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra based in Kolkata. His 1971 album Bangla Amar Bangla was meant for the liberation struggle. Later, when Chowdhury visited Bangladesh in 1990, he was given the welcome of a mass leader in Dhaka. Chowdhury was posthumously awarded the Muktijoddha Maitreye Samman in 2012.
Poet, Playwright, Short story writer, Salil also directed a film Pinjre Ke Panchhi starring Meena Kumari, Balraj Sahani and Mehmood based on his own story and screenplay in 1966. Salil Chowdhury was the Founder of Bombay Youth Choir, the first ever Secular Choir in India in 1958 as its composer and conductor - he inspired scores of secular choir groups to be formed throughout India formulating a new genre of music using vocal polyphony for Indian Folk and Contemporary Music.
Personal life
Salil Chowdhury married the painter Jyoti Chowdhury in July 1952 in a temple. He had three daughters with her – Aloka, Tulika and Lipika. Later, he had a court marriage with singer Sabita Chowdhury, with whom he had two sons, Sukanta and Sanjoy, and two daughters, Antara and Sanchari. Sanjoy Chowdhury is a successful music composer and has scored music for over 100 feature films. Sabita Chowdhury was a legendary singer and their daughter Antara Chowdhury too a known singer. Smt. Sabita Chowdhury died on 29 June 2017.Legacy
- Salil's music was a blending of Eastern and the Western music traditions. He had once said: "I want to create a style which shall transcend borders – a genre which is emphatic and polished, but never predictable". He dabbled in a lot of things and it was his ambition to achieve greatness in everything he did. But at times, his confusion was fairly evident: "I do not know what to opt for: poetry, story writing, orchestration or composing for films. I just try to be creative with what fits the moment and my temperament", he once told a journalist.
- Salil's love for Western classical music started when he was a young boy growing up in an Assam tea garden where his father worked as a doctor. His father inherited a large number of western classical records and a gramophone from a departing Irish doctor. While Salil listened to Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and others everyday, his daily life was surrounded by the sound of the forest, chirping of the birds, sound of the flute and the local folk-music of Assam. This left a lasting impression in young Salil. He became a self-taught flute player and his favourite composer was Mozart. His compositions often used folk melodies or melodies based on Indian classical ragas but the orchestration was very much western in its construction. According to his daughter Antara,, Salil himself once joked that he was Mozart, reborn.
- Salil being a composing exponent, he even sensed the talent of a guitarist who played in his orchestra and uttered that, "I think he's going to be the best composer in India". The guitarist eventually turned out to be maestro Ilaiyaraaja. A. R. Rahman's father, R. K. Shekhar used to conduct Salil Chowdhury's arrangements in South Indian film music. Rahman once said that his musical understanding was greatly influenced by the musical sessions conducted by Salil Chowdhury.
- "The Salil Chowdhury Foundation of Music, Social Help & Education Trust" was created in 2002 by Sabita Chowdhury, wife, and Antara Chowdhury, daughter of the late composer, to carry forward the legacy and preserve the works of Salil Chowdhury. In 2015 the Salil Chowdhury Memorial Concert and Honours were established in memory of the Genius to honour some of the greatest Indian singers and musicians.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Language | Other Notes | Director |
| 1949 | Poribartan | Bengali | Satyen Bose | |
| 1951 | Barjatri | Bengali | Satyen Bose | |
| 1952 | Pasher Bari | Bengali | ||
| 1953 | Bansher Kella | Bengali | ||
| 1953 | Bhore hoye elo | Bengali | ||
| 1953 | Do Bigha Zamin | Hindi | Bimal Roy | |
| 1954 | Biraaj bahu | Hindi | Bimal Roy | |
| 1954 | Naukari | Hindi | ||
| 1954 | Aaj Sondhyay | Bengali | ||
| 1954 | Mohila Mahal | Bengali | ||
| 1954 | Monohara | Tamil | ||
| 1955 | Amaanat | Hindi | ||
| 1955 | Ek Din Ratre | Bengali | Shombhu Mitra and Amit Moitra | |
| 1955 | Tangewali | Hindi | ||
| 1955 | Rikshawala | Bengali | Story written by Salil Chowdhury. In 1952 story was used by Bimal Roy to create "Do Bigha Zameen" | Satyen Bose |
| 1956 | Raat Bhore | Bengali | Mrinal Sen | |
| 1956 | Parivar | Hindi | ||
| 1956 | Jagte Raho | Hindi | ||
| 1956 | Aawaz | Hindi | ||
| 1957 | Apradhi Kaun? | Hindi | ||
| 1957 | Ek Gaon Ki Kahani | Hindi | Dulal Guha | |
| 1957 | Gotoma the Buddha | Hindi | A documentary film | |
| 1957 | Lal Batti | Hindi | ||
| 1957 | Musafir | Hindi | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | |
| 1957 | Zamaana | Hindi | ||
| 1958 | Bari Theke Paliye | Bengali | ||
| 1958 | Madhumati | Hindi | Won – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director | Bimal Roy |
| 1959 | Heeramoti | Hindi | ||
| 1959 | The River | Hindi | ||
| 1960 | Jawaahar | Hindi | ||
| 1960 | Gangaa | Bengali | Rajen Tarafdar | |
| 1960 | Parakh | Hindi | ||
| 1960 | Honeymoon | Hindi | ||
| 1960 | Kanoon | Hindi | Background Score only. | B. R. Chopra |
| 1960 | Usne Kaha Tha | Hindi | Moni Bhattacharjee | |
| 1961 | Rai Bahadur | Bengali | ||
| 1961 | Kabuliwala | Hindi | From – Tagore's story Kabuliwala in Bengali film 1960 | |
| 1961 | Char Diwari | Hindi | ||
| 1961 | Chhaya | Hindi | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | |
| 1961 | Maya | Hindi | ||
| 1961 | Mem-Didi | Hindi | ||
| 1961 | Sapne Suhane | Hindi | ||
| 1962 | Half Ticket | Hindi | ||
| 1962 | Sunbai | Marathi | ||
| 1962 | Jhoola | Hindi | ||
| 1962 | Prem Patra | Hindi | – From a Bengali film " Sagarika" | |
| 1964 | Kinu Goaalaar Goli | Bengali | ||
| 1964 | Ayanaanto | Bengali | ||
| 1964 | Lal Pathore | Bengali | ||
| 1965 | Chand Aur Suraj | Hindi | ||
| 1965 | Poonam Ki Raat | Hindi | ||
| 1966 | Paari | Bengali | ||
| 1966 | Pinjre Ke Panchhi | Hindi | ||
| 1966 | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose | Hindi | ||
| 1966 | Jawaab Aayega | Hindi | ||
| 1965 | Chemmeen | Malayalam | ||
| 1968 | Mitti Ka Dev | Hindi | ||
| 1968 | Anokhi Raat | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1968 | Chehere | Hindi | TV series | |
| 1968 | Ezhu Rathrikal | Malayalam | ||
| 1969 | Ittefaq | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1969 | Sara Akash | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1970 | Abhayam | Malayalam | Background Score only | |
| 1970 | Aparajeyo | Assamese | CHATURANGA – Phani Talukdar, Munin Bayan, Atul Bardaloi & Gauri Barman | |
| 1971 | Anand | Hindi | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | |
| 1971 | Samshaya Phala | Kannada | Won – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director | |
| 1971 | Uyir | Tamil | Background Score only | |
| 1971 | Gehraa Raaz | Hindi | ||
| 1971 | Mere Apne | Hindi | ||
| 1971 | Ghar Sansaar | Gujarati | ||
| 1972 | Marjina Aabdullah | Bengali | ||
| 1972 | Raktaakto Banglaa | Bengali | ||
| 1972 | Anokha Milan | Hindi | ||
| 1972 | Mere Bhaiya | Hindi | ||
| 1972 | Sabse Bada Sukh | Hindi | ||
| 1972 | Annadata | Hindi | ||
| 1972 | Anokha Daan | Hindi | ||
| 1973 | Swapnam | Malayalam | ||
| 1973 | Achanak | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1973 | Karumbu | Tamil | ||
| 1974 | Nellu | Malayalam | ||
| 1974 | Chairman Chalamayya | Telugu | ||
| 1974 | Rajnigandha | Hindi | ||
| 1975 | Rasaleela | Malayalam | ||
| 1975 | Sangat | Hindi | ||
| 1975 | Mausam | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1975 | Chhoti Si Baat | Hindi | ||
| 1979 | Pratheeksha | Malayalam | ||
| 1975 | Neela Ponman | Malayalam | ||
| 1975 | Onde Roopa Eradu Guna | Kannada | ||
| 1975 | Raagam | Malayalam | ||
| 1975 | Thomasleeha | Malayalam | ||
| 1976 | Jeevan Jyoti | Hindi | ||
| 1976 | Udaan Chhoo | Hindi | ||
| 1976 | Thulavarsham | Malayalam | ||
| 1977 | Kobita | Bengali | Bharat Shamsher | |
| 1977 | Minoo | Hindi | ||
| 1977 | Sister | Bengali | ||
| 1977 | Mrigayaa | Hindi | ||
| 1977 | Anand Mahal | Hindi | ||
| 1977 | Aparadhi | Malayalam | ||
| 1977 | Chinna Ninna Muddaduve | Kannada | ||
| 1977 | Dweep | Malayalam | Background score only | |
| 1977 | Vishukkani | Malayalam | ||
| 1977 | Kokila | Kannada | ||
| 1978 | Ee Ganam Marakkumo | Malayalam | ||
| 1978 | Madanolsavam | Malayalam | ||
| 1978 | Naukri | Hindi | Background Score. Also Story Writer | |
| 1978 | Samayamayilla Polum | Malayalam | ||
| 1978 | Etho Oru Swapnam | Malayalam | ||
| 1979 | Jibon Je Rakam | Bengali | ||
| 1979 | Rupaali Soikate | Bengali | Alamgir Kabir | |
| 1979 | Srikaanter Will | Bengali | ||
| 1979 | Azhiyadha Kolangal | Tamil | ||
| 1979 | Chuvanna Chirakukal | Malayalam | ||
| 1979 | Kaala Patthar | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1979 | Jeena Yahan | Hindi | ||
| 1979 | Puthiya Velicham | Malayalam | ||
| 1980 | Byapika Bidaay | Bengali | ||
| 1980 | Parabesh | Bengali | ||
| 1980 | Antarghaat | Bengali | ||
| 1980 | Air Hostess | Malayalam | ||
| 1980 | Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam | Tamil | ||
| 1981 | Agni Pareeksha | Hindi | ||
| 1981 | Akaler Sandhaney | Bengali | Mrinal Sen | |
| 1981 | Chehre Pe Chehra | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1981 | Batasi Jhada | Odia | ||
| 1981 | Plot No. 5 | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1982 | Artap | Bengali | ||
| 1982 | Anthiveyilile Ponnu | Malayalam | ||
| 1984 | Kanoon Kya Karega | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1984 | Vellam | Malayalam | Background Score only | |
| 1985 | Protiggya | Bengali | ||
| 1985 | Debikaa | Bengali | ||
| 1985 | Mowchor | Bengali | ||
| 1985 | Manas Kanya | Assamese | Phani Talukdar | |
| 1986 | Jibon | Bengali | ||
| 1987 | Zevar | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1988 | Trishagni | Hindi | ||
| 1989 | Swarnatrishaa | Bengali | ||
| 1989 | Aakhri Badla | Hindi | ||
| 1989 | Kamla Ki Maut | Hindi | Background Score only | |
| 1990 | Nehru: The Jewel of India | Hindi | ||
| 1990/91 | Aashrita | Bengali | Background Score only | |
| 1991 | Haaraaner Naatjamaai | Bengali | ||
| 1991/92 | Thamburan | Malayalam | ||
| 1991 | Vasthuhara | Malayalam | ||
| 1994 | Mahabharoti | Bengali | ||
| 1994 | Sei Somoy | Bengali | ||
| 1994 | Triyacharitra | Hindi | ||
| 1994 | Swami Vivekananda | Hindi | G. V. Iyer | |
| 1995 | Thumboli Kadappuram | Malayalam | ||
| 1995 | Mera Damad | Hindi | ||
| 1995 | Agar Aisa Ho Toh | Hindi | Television series |
Bengali
| Year | Film |
| 1949 | Poribartan |
| 1951 | Barjaatri |
| 1952 | Paasher Baadi |
| 1953 | Baansher Kella |
| 1953 | Bhor Hoye Elo |
| 1954 | Aaj Sondhaay |
| 1954 | Mohila Mahal |
| 1955 | Rickshawaala |
| 1956 | Raat Bhore |
| 1956 | Ak din Raatre |
| 1959 | Baadi Thekey Paaliye |
| 1960 | Gangaa |
| 1961 | Rai Bahadur |
| 1964 | Kinu Goaalaar Goli |
| 1964 | Ayanaanto |
| 1964 | Laal Paathor |
| 1966 | Paari |
| 1972 | Marjina Aabdullah |
| 1972 | Raktaakto Banglaa |
| 1977 | Kobita |
| 1977 | Sister |
| 1979 | Jibon Je Rakam;Rupaali Soikate |
| 1979 | Srikaanter Will |
| 1980 | Byapika Bidaay |
| 1980 | Parabesh |
| 1980 | Akaler Sandhaney |
| 1980 | Antarghaat |
| 1982 | Artap |
| 1985 | Protiggya |
| 1985 | Debikaa |
| 1985 | Mowchor |
| 1986 | Jibon |
| 1989 | Swarnatrishaa |
| 1990/91 | Aashrita ** |
| 1991 | Haaraaner Naatjamaai |
| 1994 | Mahabharoti |
| 1994 | Sei Somoy |
| 1961 | Komol Gandhaar |
| 1981 | Aswamedher Ghoraa |
Malayalam
| Year | Film |
| 1965 | Chemmeen |
| 1968 | Ezhuraathrikal |
| 1970 | Abhayam |
| 1973 | Swapnam |
| 1974 | Nellu |
| 1975 | Neelaponman |
| 1975 | Raagam |
| 1975 | Rasaleela |
| 1975 | Thomasleeha / St. Thomas) |
| 1976 | Aparadhi |
| 1976 | Thulavarsham |
| 1977 | Dweepu |
| 1977 | Vishukkanni |
| 1978 | Samayamayilla polum |
| 1978 | Etho Oru Swapnam |
| 1978 | Madanolsavam |
| 1978 | Devdasi |
| 1978 | Ee Ganam Marakkumo |
| 1978 | Chuvanna Chirakukal |
| 1979 | Pratheeksha |
| 1979 | Puthiya Velicham |
| 1980 | Air Hostess |
| 1982 | Anthiveyilile Ponnu |
| 1985 | Vellam |
| 1991 | Vasthuhara |
| 1992 | Thamburan |
| 1995 | Thumboli Kadappuram |
Others
| Language | Year | Film |
| Tamil | 1971 | Uyir |
| Tamil | 1973 | Karumbu |
| Tamil | 1978 | Paruvamazhai |
| Tamil | 1979 | Azhiyatha Kolangal |
| Tamil | 1980 | Thooraththu Idimuzhakkam |
| Telugu | 1974 | Chairman Chalamayya |
| Telugu | 1978 | Amara Prema |
| Kannada | 1971 | Samsayaphala |
| Kannada | 1975 | Onde Rupa Eradu Guna |
| Kannada | 1977 | Chinna Ninna Muddaduve & Kokila |
| Gujarati | 1978 | Ghar Sansaar |
| Assamese | 1970 | Aparajeyo |
| Assamese | 1985 1989 | Manas Kanya Bangshadhar |
Odia | 1981 | Batasi Jhada |
| Marathi | 1962 | Sunbai |
Discography
List of some songs for which music or lyrics were composed by Salil Chowdhury| Year | Song | Singer | Language | Film/album | Lyrics | Versions |
| 1955 | Ab machal utha hain dariya | Chorus | Hindi | Non-Film 78 rpm record | Govind Munshi | |
| 1949 | Abujh mon re bol more | Chorus | Bangla | Poribartan | Bimal Ghosh | |
| 1946 | Aage chalo aage chalo | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1963 | Aaji soroter akaashey | Madhuri Chattopadhyay | Bangla | Puja album | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1958 | Aaja Re Pardesi | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | |
| 1953 | Aaja tu aa | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Do Bigha Zameen | Shailendra | |
| 1953 | Aajab teri duniya | Md Rafi with Chorus | Hindi | Do Bigha Zameen | Shailendra | |
| 1954 | Aaji shunye gagan pothe | – | Bangla | Mohila Mahal | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1961 | Aakela tujhe jaane na du | Lata | Hindi | Chaar Deewaari | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Aankho mein masti sharaab ki | Talat Mahmood | Hindi | Chhayaa | Rajinder Krishan | |
| 1962 | Aankhon mein tum dil mein tum ho | Gita and Kishore | Hindi | Half Ticket | Shailendra | Bengali: Ei haashi ei gaan by Usha Utthup |
| 1945 | Aalor desh thekey aandhaar paar hoyee | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1962 | Aamar e jibone shudhu | Jatileswar Mukhopadhyay | Bangla | |||
| 1953 | Aamar kichhu moner asha | Utpala Sen | Bangla | - | Hindi: Chale thumak thumak - Hindi Lata Mangeskar | |
| 1953 | Aamay kichhu khete dao ma | Mahananda Baul | Bangla | Bhor Hoye Elo | ||
| 1969 | Aamay Proshno Kore Neel Dhrubotara | Hemanta Mukherjee | Bangla | Puja album | Salil Chowdhury | Hindi: Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye from Anand (1971 film) by Mukesh |
| 1962 | Aami paarini bujhite paarini | Manobendra Mukhopadhyay | Bangla | - | - | Hindi: Teri yaad na dil se jaa saki by Lata in Chaand Aur Sooraj |
| 1949 | Aamra kishore dal | Chorus | Bangla | Poribartan | Bimal Ghosh | |
| 1954 | Aarzi hamari | Kishore Kumar | Hindi | Naukri | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Aanshu samajhke kyun mujhe | Talat Mahmood | Hindi | Chhayaa | Rajinder Krishan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1980 | Alaiyendi Kollvom | S. P. Balasubramaniam, P. Susheela | Tamil | Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Ay dil kahan teri manjil | Dwijen Mukherjee & Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Ay dil kahan teri manjil | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Ay mere pyaare watan | Manna Dey | Hindi | Kaabuliwaalaa | Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1946 | Ay re o ay re | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Ay re o paushali batase | Chorus | Bangla | Rikshawala | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1995 | Aaye naa aisaa waqt kisi pe | Kavita Krisnhamurthy | Hindi | Mera Damaad | Yogesh and Prem | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Baa.nki adaayei.n dekhnaa ji dekhnaa | Geeta Dutt | Hindi | Amaanat | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Baat koi matlab ki hai zaroor | Asha Vonsle | Hindi | Aparadhi Kaun | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1972 | Baaje Go Beena | Manna Dey | Bangla | Marjina Abdulla | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1969 | Baaje jhanana jhanan | Biswajit | Bangla | Kannada: Kuniyutha jhanana jhana P. Susheela | ||
| 1982 | Beeti dino ki sapne | Arundhati Home Chowdhury | Hindi | Non-Film | Yogesh | Hindi: Kayse manaao by Mukesh] Begali: Chanchal sonali pakhnay by Arundhati |
| 1953 | Bhaai re.. Dharti kahe pukar ke | Lata Manna Chorus | Hindi | Do Bigha Zameen | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1944 | Bhango bhango bhango bhango bhango kaaraa | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1947 | Bichaarpoti tomaar bichaar korbey jaaraa | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Bodhua lagiya basraso sajanu | – | Bangla | Aaj Sandhyay | – | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Bole pihu pihu pi papiharaa | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1956 | Bone noy mone aaj ronger mela | Sandhya Mukhopadhyay | Bangla | Raat Bhore | Gouriprasanna Mazumdar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Bristi pare tapur tupur | Hiralal Sarkhel | Bangla | IPTA | Bhaskar Bose | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Chadh Gayo Papi Bichhua | Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Chale thumak thumak taare | Lata Mangeskar | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | Bengali: Amaar kichhu moner aasha by Utpala Sen |
| 1982 | Chanchal sonali pakhnay | Arundhati Home Chowdhury | Bangla | Non-Film | – | Hindi: Kayse maano piyawa by Mukesh |
| 1955 | Chet re moorakh..re moorakh tu kyaa | Asha & Manna Dey | Hindi | Amaanat | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Chhal chhal paani hamaari zindagaani | Asha & Manna Dey | Hindi | Amaanat | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Chham chham naachata aayee bahaar | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Chhayaa | Rajinder Krishan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Chhotasa ghar hoga | Kishorekumar & Shaila Belle | Hindi | Naukri | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Chhotasa ghar hoga | Hemanta Mukherjee | Hindi | – | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Chuk chuk chhaiya chhaiya | Manna Dey, Chorus | Hindi | Lal Batti | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Dekho tangaa mera nirala | Md. Rafi | Hindi | Taangewaali | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Desi kyaa bidesi, goraa bhi kitnaa | Shamshad Begum, Manna Dey | Hindi | Lal Batti | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1946 | Dheu uthchhey karaa tutchhey | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Dil mera | Shamshad Begam | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Bengali: Na jani re Gayatri Basu |
| 1958 | Dil Tadap Tadap Ke | Mukesh, Lata | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Tune influenced by a Hungarian folk song |
| 1961 | Dil se dil ki Dor baandhe | Lata, Mukesh | Hindi | Chhayaa | Rajinder Krishan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Do matwale do dilwale | Samshad Begum, Chorus | Hindi | Manohar | V.M.Adil and J.S. Kashyap | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Dol gayee dharti | Md Rafi | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1956 | Dukher simaa naai | Satinath Mukherjee | Bangla | Raat Bhore | Gouriprasanna Mazumdar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Duru duru duru guru guru guru | – | Bangla | Mohila Mahal | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1956 | E maajhi re | Shyamal Mitra | Bangla | Raat Bhore | Gouriprasanna Mazumdar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1960 | Ebar Amar Somoy Holo | Madhuri Chattopadhyay | Bangla | Puja Album | ||
| 1961 | Ebar aami aamar theke | Sachin Gupta | Bangla | |||
| 1956 | Ei duniyay bhai sob i hoy | Manna Dey | Bangla | Ak Din Raatre | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1995 | Ei haansi ei gaan | Usha Utthup | Bangla | Hindi: Aankhon mein tum dil mein tum ho by Gita, Kishore | ||
| 1954 | Ek chhotisi naukri ka talabgaar hoon | Kishore, Shyamal Mitra, Shankar Dasgupta | Hindi | Naukri | Shailendra | |
| 1991 | Ek dapha ki baat hai | Mahendra Kapoor | Hindi | Raat Ki Uljhan | Gulzar | |
| 1961 | Gangaa aaye kahaa.n se | Hemant Kumar | Hindi | Kaabuliwaalaa | Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar | Bengali: Uthaali paathaali amaar buuk Manna Dey in Ganga |
| 1958 | Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadke | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Gori babul ka | Lata, chorus | Hindi | Chaar Deewaari | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1946 | Gowrisringa tulechhe sheer | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Ghoom Aay Re Aay | Pratima Bandyopadhyay | Bangla | Puja album | Mangala Charan Chattopadhyay | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1979 | Habuchandra Raja from "Chhotasa ghar hoga" | Antara Chowdhury | Bangla | – | – | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Hai Bichhua Hai Re Hai | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | |
| 1957 | Hain pyaar ke do matwaale | Geeta Dutt, Manna Dey | Hindi | Aparadhi Kaun | Majrooh Sultanpuri | |
| 1957 | Hay jhilmil jhilmil ye shaam ke saaye | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Lal Batti | Majrooh Sultanpuri | |
| 1957 | Hay koi dekh lega | Lata Mangeskar, Talat Mahmood | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | |
| 1955 | Halke halke chalo saa.nware | Lata Mangeskar, Hemant Mukherjee | Hindi | Taangewaali | Prem Dhawan | |
| 1953 | Hariyaala sawaan dhol bajaata aaya | Lata Manna Chorus | Hindi | Do Bigha Zameen | Shailendra | Bengali: Uru taka taka taghina taghina |
| 1948 | Hei samaalo dhaan ho, kasteyta dao shaan ho | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1961 | Ho ya qurbaan.. o sabaa kehnaa mere dildaar ko | Mohammed Rafi | Hindi | Kaabuliwaalaa | Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar | |
| 1957 | Holi Hain.... | Lata Mangskar, Manna Dey | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | Bengali: O kanai paar karo amare - by Nirmalendu Choudhury |
| 1958 | Hum Haal-e-Dil Sunaenge | Mubarak Begum | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Hum to ghar mein choolha phoonke | Lata, Mahendra Kapoor,chorus | Hindi | Memdidi | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Humko samajh baiThi hai, ye duniyaa | Mukesh | Hindi | Chaar Deewaari | Shailendra | Bengali: Ei duniyay bhai sob i hoy Manna dey |
| 1991 | In bahaaron ki kasam | Hemant Kumar, Krishna Kalle | Hindi | Raat Ki Uljhan | Gulzar | |
| 1980 | Indro Manam kalangi | K. J. Yesudas | Tamil | Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Iskaboner deshe | Bani Ghoshal | Bangla | - | ||
| 1961 | Itnaa na mujhse tu pyaar baDhaa | Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood | Hindi | Chhayaa | Rajinder Krishan | Inspired by Mozart's Symphony number 40 in G minor |
| 1995 | Itharo chembaruntho | - | Malayalam | Thumboli Kadappuram | - | Hindi: Machalti Aarzoo from Usne Kaha Tha |
| 1959 | Jaa re ure jare pakhi | Lata Mangeshkar | Bangla | Puja Album | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Jaa re ur jare panchhi | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1995 | jab main bhaiyaa sharaab hun peeta | Jolly Mukherjee | Hindi | Mera Damaad | Yogesh and Prem | |
| 1956 | Jaago mohan pritam | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Ak Din Raatre | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1955 | Jab tumne mohabaat chheen lee | Asha Bhonsle | Hindi | Amaanat | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Jaani na jaani na kon | Sachin Giupta | Bangla | |||
| 1969 | Jaay jaay din | Biswajit | Bangla | Hindi: baat koi matlab ki hai zaroor Asha | ||
| 1995 | Jhir jhir barse aaj gagan se | Anuradha Paudwal, Sabita Chowdhury, Amit Kumar and Shailendra Singh | Hindi | Mera Damaad | Yogesh and Prem | Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu |
| 1952 | Jhir jhir jhir jhir jhiri barosa | Dhananjay Bhattacharya | Bangla | Pasher Bari | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1967 | Jhir jhir jhir jhir jhare | Biswajit | Bangla | |||
| 1967 | Jhor jhor more | Biswajit | Bangla | |||
| 1954 | Jhoom re | Geeta Dutta | Hindi | Naukri | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | jhoome re neela ambar jhoome | Talat Mahmood | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Jhuk jhuk jhuk jhoom ghaTaa aayee re | Lata | Hindi | Chaar Deewaari | Shailendra | |
| 1968 | Jhunjhun moinaa naacho na | Mukesh | Bangla | |||
| 1954 | Jibano mono charane tomar | Gayatri Basu | Bangla | Aaj Sandhyay | Salil Chowdhury | - |
| 1962 | Jodi jaante, O tumi jaante | Manobendra Mukhopadhyay | Bangla | - | - | - |
| 1958 | Jungle Mein Mor Naacha | Md Rafi | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | |
| 1961 | Kaabuliwaalaa.. nanhi munni kyo.n kumhalaaya | Hemant, Usha, Sabita Chowdhury, Ranu Mukherj | Hindi | Kaabuliwaalaa | Prem Dhawan, Gulzaar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Kaancha Le Kanchi Lai Lajo | Asha Bhonsle, Sabita Chowdhury & Ghulam Mohammad | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Kaanha khubDa langDa loolaa, buDDhaa | Asha Bhonsle | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1944 | Karaar duaar bhaango bhaango oikker bajra kothin hathey | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1995 | Kaathil Thenmazhayaay | K.J Yesudas | Malayalam | Thumboli Kadappuram | O.N.V Kurupp | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Kayse maano piyawaa | Mukesh | Hindi | Chaar Deewaari | Shailendra | |
| 1953 | Ke jaabi ay | Geeta Mukherjee | Bangla | Bhor Hoye Elo | ||
| 1963 | Ki aar kohibo balo | Madhuri Chattopadhyay | Bangla | Puja album | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1961 | Ki je kori, durey jetey hoi taai | Lata Mangeshkar | Bangla | - | Hindi:Aanshu samajhke kyun mujhe Talat Mahmood | |
| 1952 | Klaanti naame go | Dwijen Mukherjee | Bangla | - | - | |
| 1957 | Koi dekhe to kahey tujhko | Asha Vonsle | Hindi | Aparadhi Kaun | Majrooh | |
| 1991 | Koi pukaare kahise | Krishna Kalle | Hindi | Raat Ki Uljhan | Gulzar | Bengali: Jibone jaa kichhu chhilo Sandhya Mukherjee |
| 1961 | Koi sone ki dil wala | Md Rafi | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh Sultanpuri | |
| 1957 | Kyaa se kyaa ho gayaa re | Nirmalendu Chowdhury, Chorus | Hindi | Lal Batti | Majrooh Sultanpuri | |
| 1956 | Lo se wai wai | Sandhya Mukherjee and others | Hindi | Ak Din Raatre | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Maajhi re chal naiya, raam karega paar | Nirmalendu Chowdhury | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1960 | Machalti aarjoo | - | Hindi | Usne Kaha Tha | - | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Maharaja jaago ji | Asha Bhonsle & Chorus | Hindi | Manohar | V.M.Adil and J.S. Kashyap | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Main lut gayee duniyaa waalon | Lata Mangeskar | Hindi | Taangewaali | Prem Dhawan | |
| 1966 | Manzil teri khoj mein | Lata Mangeskar | Hindi | Pinjre Ki Panchhi | Shailendra | Bengali: O aamaar joto saadh Arati Mukherjee Gun gun phaagun shesh holey Madhuri Chattopadhyay |
| 1954 | Meghe meghe rim jhim | Alpana Banerjee | Bangla | Aaj Sandhyay | Anil Chatterjee | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Mera dil dil dil dil dil laa... | Asha Vonsle | Hindi | Aparadhi Kaun | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Mere man bhula bhula kahe dole | Hemanta Mukherjee | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Meri wafaaei.n tumhaari jafaaei.n | Asha Bhonsle | Hindi | Amaanat | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1968 | Mon maataal saanjh sakaal | Mukesh | Bangla | Hindi: Shaam se Mukesh Malayalam: Yaathrayay Unni Menon Bengali: Ei pather sesh kothaay Gautam Dasgupta | ||
| 1980 | Mone pore sei sob din | Kishore Kumar | Bangla | Antarghaat Released as Swarnatrishaa in 1990 | Salil Chowdhury | Hindi: Man kare yaad wo din by Kishore Kumar in Aakhiri Badlaa Malayalam: Parannupoy nee by Jesudas in Chuvanna Chirakkukal |
| 1975 | Na jaane kyun | Lata Mangeskar | Hindi | Chaand Aur Sooraj | Shailendra | Bengali: Pagol Hawa |
| 1954 | Na jani re | Gayatri Basu | Bangla | Aaj Sandhyay | Salil Chowdhury | Hindi: Dil mera by Shamshad Begam in Biraj Bahu |
| 1959 | Na jeo na | Lata Mangeshkar | Bangla | Puja Album | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Nao gaan bhorey | Pratima Bandopadhyay | Bangla | Puja Album | ||
| 1959 | Naach re dharti ke pyaare | – | Hindi | Heera Moti | Shailendra | Bengali: Aay re o pousaali bataasey |
| 1961 | Nind pari lori gaayi | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Chaar Deewaari | Shailendra | Bengali: Prantorer gaan by Utpala Sen, |
| 1960 | Nijere Haraye KhNuji | Madhuri Chattopadhyay | Bangla | Puja Album | Salil Chowdhury | |
| 1948 | Nondito nondito desh aamaar | Geeta Mukherjee & Salil Chowdhury | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1947 | Nobaaruno raage raange re | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Nao Gaan Bhore Naoy | Pratima Bandyopadhyay | Bangla | Puja album | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1979 | O amaar joto saadh | Arati Mukherjee | Bangla | Srikaanter Will | Salil Chowdhury | Bengali: Gun gun phaagun shesh holey by Madhuri Chattopadhyay Hindi: Manzil teri khoj mein Lata |
| 1959 | O banshi hay | Lata Mangeshkar | Bangla | Puja Album | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | O jab se milee.n to se ankhiyaa.n | Geeta Dutt & Hemant Mukherjee | Hindi | Amaanat | Shailendra | Bengali: Dola o dola |
| 1995 | O maajhi bhaiyo | Usha Utthup | Bangla | - | - | - |
| 1954 | O man re | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Naukri | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1960 | O sajna barkha bahar ayi | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Parakh | Shailendra | |
| 1967 | Oi je sobuj bono beethika | Madhuri Chattopadhaay | Bangla | Puja Album | Salil Chowdhury | Hindi: Ek dapha ki baat hai Mahendra Kapoor Lyrics Gulzar |
| 1954 | Om namo namo | Hemanta Mukherjee | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1980 | Onnam kunnin from "Chhotasa ghar hoga" | K.J.Yesudas | Malayalam | Air Hostess | ONV Kurup | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1960 | Ogo ar kichu to nai | Lata Mangeshkar | Bangla | Puja Album | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1962 | Pagol hawa | Jatileshwar Mukhopadhyay | Bangla | Salil Chowdhury | Hindi: Na jaane kiyun by Lata in ChhoTi si Baat | |
| 1954 | Patthar se badle huye | – | Hindi | Mohila Mahal | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Phir ekbar kaho | Dwijen Mukherjee & Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Phir wohi dard hai phir wohi jigar | Manna Dey | Hindi | Aparadhi Kaun | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1953 | Prantorer gaan | Utpala Sen | Bangla | - | Hindi: Neend pari lori gaaye Lata Mangeskar | |
| 1977 | Ponnushassin | P. Jayachandran | Malayalam | Vishukkani | SreeKumaran Thampi | Hindi: Jhuk jhuk jhuk - by Lata Mangeskar; Bengali: Monobinaay akhoni boojhi by Sabita |
| 1951 | Puntimachh dangay uithya foot katey | Tarja Gaan | Bangla | Barjatri | Gurudas Pal | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1965 | Puthan valakkaare | Manna Dey | Malayalam | Chemmeen | Vayalar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1957 | Raat ne kyaa kyaa khwaab dikhaaye | Talat Mahmood | Hindi | Ek Gaaon Ki Kahaani | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1956 | Rim jhim jhim | Sandhya Mukhopadhyay | Bangla | Raat Bhore | Gouriprasanna Mazumdar | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Rimjhim jhim jhim badarvaa barse | Lata Mangeskar | Hindi | Taangewaali | Prem Dhawan | Bengali: Jhir jhir jhir jhiir jhiri barosa by Dhananjoy Bhattyacharya in the movie Pasher Bari Malayalam: Jil jil jil by Jayachandran, P.Susheela in the movie- Puthiya Velicham |
| 1951 | Roop nagarer pothik ogo | Supriti Ghosh | Bangla | Barjatri | Bimal Ghosh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Sanam tu chal | Md Rafi | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1956 | Se gaan ami jai je bhule | Sandhya Mukherjee | Bangla | Ak Din Raatre | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1980 | Sevvali Poove | P. Susheela | Tamil | Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Shyam re | Hemanta Mukherjee | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1952 | Shyamal baroni ogo kanya | Dwijen Mukherjee | Bangla | - | - | Hindi: Aankhon mein masti sharaab ki - Talat Mahmood |
| 1951 | Shimul shimul shimulti | Bharati Basu | Bangla | Barjatri | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1977 | Shuno Shuno Go Sabe | Kishore Kumar | Bangla | Kabita | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Siaram Siaram | Dhananjay Bhattacharya and Chorus | Bangla | Rikshawala | Govind Munshi | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam | Mukesh | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Taare udaas | Gayatri Basu | Hindi | Aaj Sandhyay | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Tan Jale Man Jalta Rahe | Dwijen Mukherjee | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Tasbeer teri dil me | Lata Mangeshkar & Md. Rafi | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh Sultanpuri | - |
| 1954 | Teler shishi bhaanglo boley | Bani Ghoshal | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Annada Shankar Roy | - |
| 1954 | Tera ghar aabad rahe | Lata Mangeshkar & Shyamal Mitra | Hindi | Biraj Bahoo | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1955 | Tere nayno ne | Lata Mangeshkar and Md. Rafi | Hindi | Taangewaali | Prem Dhawan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Tomra kebal moner sukhe | – | Bangla | Mohila Mahal | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Toote Huye Khwabon Ne | Md. Rafi | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1954 | Tore tokka tokka tore | – | Bangla | Mohila Mahal | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1980 | Ullam Ellam Thalladuthe | K. J. Yesudas & S. Janaki | Tamil | Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1944 | Uru taka taka taghina taghina | Chorus | Bangla | IPTA | Salil Chowdhury | Hindi: Hariyaali sawaan dhol bajaata aaya in Do Bigha Zameen |
| 1960 | Uthaali paathaali amaar buuk | Manna Dey | Bangla | Ganga | Salil Chowdhury | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1960 | Ye banshi kiun gay | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Parakh | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Ye kahde hum insaan nahi | Md. Rafi | Hindi | Chhayaa | Rajinder Krishan | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Zadu daale hai | Asha Bhosle & Chorus | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1961 | Zindegi hai kya | Md Rafi | Hindi | Maya | Majrooh | Salil Chowdhury |
| 1958 | Zulmi Sang Aankh Ladi | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi | Madhumati | Shailendra | Salil Chowdhury |
IPTA: Indian People's Theater Association
Awards and recognitions
;1953 – Do Bigha ZaminA Hindi film directed by Bimal Roy based on a story in Bengali "Rikshawalaa" written by Salil Chowdhury.
1st Filmfare Awards
Winner – Best Film; Winner – Best Director Award|Best Director] – Bimal Roy;
1st National Film Awards
Winner – All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film
7th Cannes Film Festival
Winner – Prix International
Nominated – Grand Prize
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Winner – Prize for Social Progress
;1965 – Chemmeen
A Malayalam film directed by Ramu Kariat, based on a novel of the same name written by the renowned writer Thakazhy Shivshankar Pillai, where Music Direction was done by Salil Chowdhury.
Recipient of president's gold medal in 1965.
;1958 – Madhumati
Received Filmfare Best Music Director Award along with eight other Filmfare awards
Madhumati won the National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi
The Uttar Pradesh Film Patrakar Sangh Puraskar in 1966 for his only Hindi directorial film 'Pinjre Ke Panchhi'
The Bengal Films Journalist Award, Kolkata in 1973
The Allauddin Smriti Puraskar in 1985 from the Govt of West Bengal
;1988 – Salil Chowdhury received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
The Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar Award in 1990
Posthumously he was awarded the Mukti Judhho Maitreyi Samman Award by the Govt
Bangladesh in 2012.
Poet, Playwright, Short story writer, he also directed a film Pinjre Ke Panchhi starring Meena Kumari, Balraj Sahani and Mehmood b
The 56th [International Film Festival of India] taking place from 20 to 28 November 2025, will celebrate centenary and pay tribute to Salil Chowdhury by screening his classic films.