Hemant Kumar’s 105th birth anniversary: how the been tune of Nagin made him immortal

When the been cast its spell: Hemant Da and the immortal tune of Nagin

(Birth centenary-year tribute | June 16, 1920 – September 26, 1989)

“I wanted to go back to Calcutta, but then a tune stopped me — and stilled the whole world!”

— Hemant Kumar

In Hindi cinema, some names became not just a voice but a soul. Hemant Kumar was one of those rare names. As singer, composer and producer, he not only impressed his contemporaries but set a high standard for generations to come.

None of this happened by chance. Hemant Da’s journey was full of struggle, and the biggest turning point came in 1954, when he composed the music for the film Nagin.

From Calcutta to Bombay: a reluctant journey

Hemant Kumar Mukhopadhyay was born on June 16, 1920 in Varanasi but raised in Calcutta. A deep affinity for classical music and a special love for Rabindra Sangeet drew him into the finer points of music. He had already made his name as a singer in Bengali films, but for Hindi cinema it was a challenging time.

He came to Bombay with hope, but soon felt stifled. “Staying here, I felt cut off from my roots,” he later admitted.

In 1952, however, his music for Anandmath, based on Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, brought the song “Vande Mataram” echoing with the spirit of freedom. It brought him attention, but Hemant Kumar himself was not satisfied.

Sashadhar Mukherjee’s insistence and a promise

Sashadhar Mukherjee, founder of Filmistan Studio, had unwavering faith in Hemant Da’s talent. When Hemant Kumar was ready to return to Calcutta, Mukherjee told him plainly: “Hemant, give me one hit film. Then, if you want to go, by all means go.”

Hemant Da stayed. He composed music for two more films, Sharada and Rahi, but neither did well commercially. Hemant Kumar was somewhat disheartened, but Mukherjee’s promise was still unfulfilled.

Nagin: a miracle of music

Then came the 1954 black-and-white film Nagin. Directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal, the folklore-based romantic drama told the love story of Pritam (Premnath) and Nagin (Vyjayanthimala).

But the real hero of the film was its music.

Hemant Kumar knew the story needed an otherworldly quality, a tribal mystery and music that touched the spirit of India’s snake-worship tradition. It was then that he imagined the tune of the been — a tune that would not merely be heard but seep into the audience’s veins.

When no been could be had, innovation followed

Hemant Da wanted the tune played on the traditional snake charmer’s been (pungi). He searched for several snake charmers, but bringing them to the studio and fitting their been to an orchestra became a logistical nightmare.

So he took another route: an artificial instrument arrangement.

He remembered a unique sound he had heard a few years earlier in the film Nagpanchami, composed by Chitragupt. The instrument that produced it was the Clavioline, an electronic keyboard instrument that could produce violin- and been-like tones.

It was played by a young, emerging musician, Kalyanji Veerji Shah, who later became part of the famous duo Kalyanji-Anandji.

Hemant Da called him and said: “I want the tune of the been, one that becomes the cry of Nagin’s love.”

The tune that became immortal

Then the magic happened.

Kalyanji played the Clavioline while Hemant Da directed it, blending it with the harmonium.

The been tune became so powerful that even 70 years later, whenever snakes or a nagin were mentioned, this was the tune that echoed in the mind.

The film featured the voices of singers including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Hemant Kumar and Mohammed Rafi.

Songs such as “Man Dole Mera Tan Dole”, “Tere Dwar Khada Ek Jogi” and “Nazar Lagi Raja Tore Bungle Par” remained a treasure for music lovers.

Hemant Da: a legacy

After the success of Nagin, Hemant Kumar never looked back.

He composed music for films such as Bees Saal Baad, Khamoshi, Anupama, Biwi Aur Makaan, Bisvin Sadi and Jagriti that remained timeless.

In the 1950s to 1970s he was the voice that turned even sadness into sweetness.

Remembering him

June 16 was Hemant Da’s 105th birth anniversary.

The Nagin tune he created became not only a symbol of film music but a cultural memory. His music taught us that when there is dedication in devotion, limits break — then even instruments begin to speak, and voices become immortal.

Heartfelt tributes were paid to Hemant Da, whose voice, the tribute said, would forever echo in our hearts.