When Tagore allowed Mullick to add new lines to his songs

Some such hitherto unheard renditions by Mullick have now been made available from the family's private collection in the form of a ten song album titled 'Pran Chaay'.

Published by Pankaj Mullick Music and Art Foundation, the album has the Dadasaheb Phalke awardee giving voice to Tagore's songs after altering the lyrics and tunes, which were approved by the poet himself.

The songs include 'Gogone Gogone', 'Emono Dine Tare Bola Jaay' and 'Pran Chaay Chokkhu Na Chaay'.

"Tagore personally approved of several alterations to his songs. Mullick had released many of them but some couldn't be released for various reasons despite being recorded or written. We are now trying to restore and release all of them," Jhinuk Gupta, spokesperson of the foundation, told PTI.

It is said that when Tagore heard Mullick crooning one of his songs 'Diner Sheshey Ghumer Deshey', the Nobel laureate hugged him and said that he was free to set tune to those writings of his which he would not be able to accomplish during his lifetime.

Mullick was once also asked by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to set the singing style for National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.

He was the first music director who introduced Rabindrasangeet successfully in films like 'Mukti' by unleashing the magic of Tagore's songs amongst the masses.

Trained by Tagore's grand-nephew Dinendranath Tagore, the 1905-born music composer, singer, music director and teacher had composed over 5,000 songs in his 50-year-old illustrious career.

Besides composing and singing the unforgettable 'Piya Milan Ko Jaana', he is known for hits like 'Chale Pawan Ki Chaal', 'Yeh Kaun Aaj Aaya', 'Kaun Desh Hai Jana' and 'Pran Chahe Naina Na Chahe'.

Among Bengalis, he is still revered for composing the radio musical
'Mahishasuramardini', which has an uninterrupted run on Mahalaya since its beginning in 1931.

In the new album, his family has given the rare repertoire a contemporary feel to please the ears of the modern generation by giving Mullick's notations a touch of modern musical instruments.

"We have added contemporary background music to the songs," said Jhinuk, who is also the musician's granddaughter-in-law.

Till tomorrow, the family is also hosting a three-day exhibition of rare photographs at Gorky Sadan documenting his musical journey.

Besides, some of Mullick's personal belongings including old LP records, dairies and other used articles are also on display.