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Antara Chowdhury
Antara Chowdhury
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Key Information

Antara Chowdhury (born 2 June 1970, in Mumbai, India) is an Indian singer and composer. She is the daughter of the late renowned Composer and Poet Salil Chowdhury and the famous singer Late Sabita Chowdhury.[1] She started singing at the age of 7. Her first playback was in the Hindi film 'Minoo' along with greats like Manna Dey and Asha Bhonsle. Songs like 'Teri galiyon mein hum aaye', a duet with Manna Dey, and a solo 'O Kali Re Kali Re' became very popular.

She is trained in both Indian and Western Classical music and has assisted her father in many Hindi TV serials, including Charitraheen, Kurukshetra and Daraar.

Antara has sung numerous children's songs in Bengali to her credit namely 'Bulbul Pakhi Moyena Tiye','O Shona Bang,'O Ayere Chhute Aaye','Ek Je Chhilo Machhi' and many, others all composed and written by her legendary father which created a history in the field of children's songs in Bengal in the late 70's.

Antara has released 2 Hindi albums namely 'Madhur Smriti' from Times Music (solo) and 'Man Ke Manjeere' from Virgin Music (duet with Shubha Mudgal). Her last solo Bengali album 'Generations' released in 2007 by Times Music was highly appreciated. This album consisted of songs by her late father Salil Chowdhury, and her brother Sanjoy Chowdhury's new compositions.

She has also sung a duet with Sonu Nigam in the Hindi film 'Khoya Khoya Chand' called 'Ye Nigahen' composed by Shantanu Moitra which has become very popular. A few years back, her duet with famous Bengali singer, Srikanto Acharya called 'Muthor Rumaal' for the Bengali film 'Antoheen' was widely appreciated.

Antara has sung a solo in the Golden Peacock Award-winning film 'Moner Manush' directed by Gautam Ghose. Her song 'Shopto Tala Bhed Korile' has been written by the legendary Lalon Fakir and composed by Gautam Ghosh himself.

Antara aims to preserve her father's legacy through the Salil Chowdhury Foundation of Music Trust and has published a book called 'Salil Rachana Shangraha' along with her mother Late Sabita Chowdhury and music collector Ranabir Neogi from Dey's publishing in 2013. This is a total compilation of Salil Chowdhury's Bengali songs.

Recently, Antara sung a beautiful song in the award-winning film 'Shankhachil' directed by Gautam Ghose based on Jibonananda Das's famous poem 'Shankhachil'. The song is 'Abar Ashibo Phire'.

She has also recorded a children's song for the upcoming Bengali animation film 'Budhhu Bhutum' directed by Nitish Roy and music composed by Surojit Chatterjee, which is yet to be release.

Antara has performed extensively in many parts of the world, like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Bangladesh and all over India.

At present, she has opened her own music school called 'Surodhwoni' in Kolkata which aims at teaching her father's music to the next generation.[2]

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Bengali Nursery Songs (1976[3][4]
  • Surjer Khonje (2000)[5]
  • Kitty and Cat (2006)[6]
  • Generations: Esho Boshona (2009)[7]
  • Miti Miti Tarara
  • Esho Boshona
  • Chale Ayona / So Far Away
  • Kyon Beheke Hain / Stranger – Hindi Single

Collaboration albums

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Background Score Composer

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Composer

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Antara Chowdhury (born 2 June 1970) is an Indian playback singer, , and music educator renowned for her contributions to Bengali and music, particularly in preserving and performing her father 's compositions. As the daughter of acclaimed and poet Salil Chowdhury and singer , she began her professional singing career at the age of seven, recording her first notable track, "Bulbul Pakhi," under her father's direction. Trained in both Hindustani classical and Western classical music traditions, Chowdhury has released several solo and collaborative albums, including the album Madhur Smriti and the Bengali album Generations (2007), which highlight her versatile vocal style blending folk, classical, and contemporary elements. Her filmography includes playback singing in and Bengali cinema, such as the duet "Yeh Nigahein" in Khoya Khoya Chand (2007) with , and solos in films like (2010) and Shankhachil (2016). She also assisted her father in composing for television serials, including Charitraheen and , and has performed extensively across , the , the , , , and . In addition to her performing career, Chowdhury has focused on legacy preservation and ; she edited and published Salil Rachana Sangraha (), a collection of her father's works, and founded the Surodhwoni Music School in in 2017 to teach Salil Chowdhury's compositions to younger generations. Her recent projects include tributes like the 2024 music video "Tumi Biplab Tumi Anuvab" with singer , and collaborations such as the Bengali original "Dur Ajanay" (), underscoring her ongoing role in bridging musical traditions.

Early life and family

Birth and upbringing

Antara Chowdhury was born on June 2, 1970, in , . Although raised in the bustling urban environment of , Chowdhury's family preserved their rich Bengali cultural roots, stemming from her father's origins in , which influenced her exposure to , poetry, and folk traditions amidst the city's cosmopolitan setting. Her parents, composer and singer , had relocated from to in the 1950s for professional opportunities in the film industry, embedding Bengali heritage into their household life in the city. From her earliest years, Chowdhury's childhood was immersed in a music-filled home environment, where melodies and compositions echoed daily due to her parents' artistic pursuits. This atmosphere fostered her initial fascination with music, as she recalls the constant presence of instruments, rehearsals, and her father's creative process shaping her formative experiences.

Parental influence

Antara Chowdhury's musical journey was profoundly shaped by her father, , a renowned , , and playback singer whose innovative blending of Indian and Western musical elements left an indelible mark on her early development. From a young age, Salil composed children's songs specifically for Antara, such as those featured in Bengali recordings from the late 1970s, introducing her to complex harmonies and orchestration techniques that became foundational to her style. During her childhood, she assisted him in various musical projects, including providing vocals for his scores in TV serials like Charitraheen and , fostering her practical understanding of composition and performance. Salil's sudden death on September 5, 1995, marked a poignant loss, yet his legacy continued to guide Antara's artistic path. Her mother, , a legendary known for her versatile renditions in Bengali and , exerted a significant influence on Antara's vocal technique and expressive delivery. Sabita's emotive style, evident in landmark tracks like "Surero Ei Jhar Jhar Jharna" with its three-part harmonies, inspired Antara to emulate a similar depth and clarity in her own performances, often drawing from family sessions that emphasized precision and emotional resonance. Sabita's inspirational presence in music extended to family efforts in preserving their heritage, such as Antara's editing and publication of the compilation Salil Rachana Sangraha in 2013. Sabita passed away on June 29, 2017, after battling cancer, leaving Antara to carry forward her mother's influence in music education. Antara is the eldest of four siblings, including sister and brothers Sanjoy (a specializing in film scores) and Aparajito (also known as Bobby). Within the family, Antara collaborated closely with her brother Sanjoy on projects that bridged generations of their musical lineage. Their joint efforts included the 2007 album Generations, which featured reinterpreted songs by Salil alongside Sanjoy's original compositions, highlighting themes of continuity and innovation in the Chowdhury family tradition. These collaborations not only strengthened familial bonds but also reinforced Antara's commitment to collective creativity, echoing the supportive dynamics nurtured by her parents throughout her formative years.

Education and training

Formal musical education

Antara Chowdhury underwent formal training in both Indian and Western classical music traditions, which formed the foundation of her vocal and compositional skills. She studied at Bengal Music College, affiliated with the , for her Indian classical training. Her studies in emphasized the Hindustani style, providing her with a deep understanding of ragas, talas, and improvisational techniques essential for playback and devotional singing. In parallel, her Western classical education honed her proficiency in and , enabling her to blend diverse musical idioms in her performances. Complementing this structured learning, Chowdhury incorporated self-taught elements drawn from her family's musical resources, particularly by internalizing her Salil Chowdhury's original compositions for children, which she began rendering from a young age under parental guidance. This familial immersion allowed her to adapt and interpret his works with personal nuance while building on her formal foundations.

Early performances

Antara Chowdhury entered the music scene as a child through recordings of Bengali nursery songs composed by her father, . In 1976, she lent her voice to these charming tracks, which formed her debut album and introduced her innocent to Bengali audiences, emphasizing themes of nature and whimsy suitable for children. Her first foray into playback singing came at age seven in the 1977 Minoo, where she performed the duet "Dheere Dheere Haule Se" alongside , with direction by . This early collaboration highlighted her precocious ability to blend with established artists like in the 's soundtrack.

Professional career

Debut and playback singing

Antara Chowdhury marked her entry into adult professional playback singing with a solo rendition in the 2009 Bengali film Moner Manush, directed by Gautam Ghose. The song, "Shopno Tala Bhed Korile," featured lyrics by Rabindranath Tagore and music by Gautam Ghose, contributing to the film's narrative on the Baul tradition. Moner Manush received the Golden Peacock Award for Best Film at the 41st International Film Festival of India in 2010, highlighting its cultural significance as an Indo-Bangladesh production based on Sunil Gangopadhyay's novel. Throughout her career, Chowdhury has lent her voice to notable duets in films, blending classical training with emotive expression. An early collaboration came as a child artist in the 1977 Hindi film Minoo, where she duetted with on "Teri Galiyon Mein Hum Aaye," composed by her father . In more recent adult work, she paired with for "Yeh Nigahein Nigahein" in the 2007 Hindi film , a period drama set in the , with music by . Her film contributions also include the duet "Muthor Romal" with Srikanto Acharya in the 2009 Bengali film , directed by and scored by , as well as a poignant track in the 2016 Indo-Bangladesh film Shankhachil, directed by Gautam Ghose and inspired by Jibanananda Das's poem. Additionally, she sang "Tumi Hey Mata Pita" in the 1985 Bengali film Pratigna, composed by . Complementing her playback work, Chowdhury expanded her professional presence through live performances, beginning in the across international stages in the , , , , and , alongside extensive tours in . These global concerts often showcased her repertoire of Bengali folk, classical, and film songs, establishing her as a bridge between traditional and .

Album releases and compositions

Antara Chowdhury's compositional approach draws from her extensive training in and Western classical traditions, incorporating proficiency and harmonic structures alongside the folk-Bengali elements inherited from her father, Salil Chowdhury's innovative fusion of regional idioms with global influences. This synthesis results in works that bridge melodic purity with rhythmic complexity, often evoking emotional depth through layered instrumentation and lyrical introspection. As a , Chowdhury has helmed several key Bengali albums that showcase her ability to craft original soundscapes. Her debut major compositional effort, Surjer Khonje (2000), features 15 tracks blending reflective folk motifs with subtle Western harmonies, marking a milestone in her independent creative output. Later, Eka Eka Antara (2009) explores themes of and resilience across eight songs, with compositions that integrate classical ragas into contemporary Bengali narratives. Most recently, Alor Thikana (2020) presents eight original pieces emphasizing light and hope, where Chowdhury's scoring highlights acoustic textures drawn from her multifaceted training. Chowdhury holds songwriting credits for numerous original tracks in Bengali and Hindi, contributing both lyrics and melodies that reflect personal and cultural introspection. Notable among these is the Hindi single "Kyon Beheke Hain" from the 2000s, a poignant exploration of longing composed and penned under her vision. In the Hindi domain, Chowdhury's reach extends to solo and collaborative releases. Madhur Smriti (Times Music), a solo album, compiles Hindi compositions by Salil Chowdhury sung by Antara Chowdhury, evoking sweet reminiscences through a fusion of classical and folk sensibilities. Complementing this, Man Ke Manjeere (Virgin Music), a collaborative project with Shubha Mudgal, features tracks sung by Chowdhury and Mudgal that amplify women's voices via intricate rhythmic patterns inspired by her blended stylistic palette.

Music education and initiatives

Founding of Surodhwoni

Surodhwoni, a dedicated to preserving the legacy of composer , was founded by his daughter, singer Antara Chowdhury, on November 19, 2017, in , . Established under the auspices of the Salil Chowdhury Foundation of Music Trust, the institution aims to impart the timeless music of to younger generations, with a particular emphasis on his children's songs composed in the late 1970s. Antara Chowdhury serves as the primary teacher and mentor, drawing from her own training to guide students in vocal techniques and musical expression rooted in her father's compositions. The school's core focus is on teaching Bengali children's songs by , fostering an appreciation for his innovative blend of folk, classical, and modern elements in music suitable for young learners. Through structured classes, Surodhwoni specializes in vocal training for children, helping them master , , and to perform these works authentically. This initiative not only builds musical skills but also instills cultural values embedded in 's repertoire, ensuring the family legacy endures. In response to evolving educational needs, Surodhwoni expanded to online classes starting October 22, 2022, broadening access beyond . Enrollment remains open to children eager to explore Salil Chowdhury's music, with programs designed to engage participants through interactive sessions. A notable initiative was a six-month certificate course that launched on April 19 and 20, 2025, centered on the magical world of Bengali , further amplifying the school's impact in preserving and disseminating this heritage.

Publications and tributes

Antara Chowdhury has played a pivotal role in preserving her father 's musical legacy through the Salil Chowdhury Foundation of Music Trust, which she co-founded with her mother in 2002. One key publication under this initiative is Salil Rachana Sangraha (2013), a comprehensive compilation of Salil Chowdhury's Bengali songs, published by Dey's Publishing. This volume serves as a vital archival resource, collecting his compositions to ensure their accessibility for future generations. In addition to written works, Chowdhury has contributed to performative tributes that honor her father's oeuvre. For the 2025 birth centenary celebrations, the foundation organized a major concert featuring 18 prominent artists performing Salil Chowdhury's iconic songs, underscoring his enduring influence on Indian music. She has also released tribute albums such as Generations (2007, Times Music), a Bengali solo collection blending her father's songs with her brother Sanjoy Chowdhury's compositions, and Madhur Smriti (Hindi, Times Music), dedicated to his Hindi works. Notable songs from these efforts include "O Mago Ma," a poignant children's piece originally composed by Salil Chowdhury, featured on the Tribute to Salil album and performed by Antara to evoke his innovative style in Bengali nursery music. Chowdhury's preservation initiatives extend to archiving and restoring Salil Chowdhury's unpublished materials, including salvaging poems from personal notes and compiling notations of his compositions for broader dissemination. These efforts include restoring background scores from his film works, such as those for (1976), which have been shared on platforms like to make rare elements of his cinematic contributions available to enthusiasts. Her work has been recognized for advancing Bengali music preservation, particularly through educational programs at Surodhwoni that teach Salil Chowdhury's techniques, fostering a new generation's appreciation of his legacy.

Discography

Solo albums

Antara Chowdhury's solo albums showcase her versatile vocal style, often blending traditional Bengali folk elements with personal and thematic depth, reflecting her training in Hindustani classical and Western music traditions. Her discography includes works focused on children's music, reflective compositions, and explorations of cultural heritage, released primarily through labels like Sony Music and Times Music. One of her earliest solo releases, Bengali Nursery Songs (1979), features 18 tracks of children's songs composed by her father, Salil Chowdhury, emphasizing playful and educational themes in Bengali. In 1996, Dighar Samudra was released, an album exploring Bengali folk themes through eight songs, highlighting rural and oceanic motifs in with reciter Pradip Chattopadhyay. Surjer Khonje (2000) presents original compositions that blend classical and modern influences, with 15 tracks capturing a search for inner light and melody. The children's album Kitty and Cat (2006) incorporates piano elements across its audio segments, drawing on Salil Chowdhury's compositions to create engaging narratives for young listeners. Eka Eka Antara (2009), a collection of eight personal reflective Bengali songs, delves into themes of and , composed and sung by herself. Also in 2007, Generations: Esho Boshona addresses multi-generational themes through 12 tracks, including reinterpreted works by , bridging familial musical legacies. Her more recent solo effort, Alor Thikana (2020), comprises eight songs centered on light and hope, offering uplifting Bengali melodies amid contemporary challenges. Additional solo releases include Miti Miti Tarara (2007), a re-recording of a classic Bengali song; Supravat (2020), an 11-track morning-themed collection; Surer Majhi (1990s), focusing on melodic boatman motifs; and Ami Kar Sathe Bhab Korilam (1994), an eight-song exploration of folk traditions. Singles such as "Chale Ayona / So Far Away" (2000s), "Dur Ajanay" (2025), and "Bhalobasha Peye" (2025) further exemplify her independent artistic vision in bilingual formats.

Collaboration albums

Antara Chowdhury has engaged in several collaborative album projects that highlight her versatility in blending classical and contemporary Indian music traditions with other artists. One notable collaboration is the album Man Ke Manjeere, released by in the early 2000s, which features duets with renowned classical vocalist . The album fuses Hindustani classical elements with poetic lyrics, showcasing intricate vocal harmonies and ragas to evoke emotional depth in tracks like "Man Ke Manjeere." Another significant project, Madhur Smriti, released by in 2000, serves as a to her father Salil Chowdhury's compositions and incorporates collaborative production elements, including contributions from multiple vocalists and musicians to reinterpret his timeless melodies. This album revives classic songs through layered arrangements, emphasizing Chowdhury's role in bridging generational musical legacies. Chowdhury has also participated in duet singles and tracks outside her solo work, including partnerships with artists like in fusion pieces that blend Bengali influences with phrasing, as seen in non-album recordings that explore romantic and folk themes. The Generations series involves family collaborations, featuring songs originally composed by alongside new arrangements by her brother , with guest vocal inputs from relatives on select tracks to honor intergenerational musical bonds.

Film contributions

Antara Chowdhury began her playback singing career in films at a young age, debuting in the 1977 Hindi film Minoo, where she performed a duet with on the track "Teri Galiyon Mein Hum Aaye," composed by her father . This early collaboration marked her entry into cinematic music alongside established legends like and . In 1985, she contributed to the Bengali film Pratigna, directed by Dilip Ghosh and scored by , singing tracks such as "Tumi Hey Mata Pita" and participating in chorus elements like "Kono Ek Boner Pashur Katha." Her voice added emotional depth to the film's narrative exploring family and societal themes. Chowdhury's playback work expanded in the with notable contributions to award-winning Bengali cinema. In Gautam Ghose's (2010), a Golden Peacock winner at the , she delivered a solo rendition of "Shopno Tala Bhed Korile," penned by , which captured the film's poetic essence inspired by Lalan Fakir's life. She also sang "Muthor Romal," a duet with , in Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's (2009), composed by with lyrics by , enhancing the film's exploration of urban isolation. In Ghose's Shankhachil (2016), another National Film Award recipient based on 's poetry, Chowdhury performed "Abaar Ashibo Phire, Pt. 2," evoking themes of longing and return. Transitioning to Hindi films, Chowdhury lent her voice to "Yeh Nigahein," a popular with in Sudhir Mishra's (2007), composed by and written by , which complemented the film's nostalgic portrayal of Bollywood. More recently, in 2023, she featured on "Jeevathahu," a with in the film Kadhikan, blending her classical influences with contemporary sounds to underscore the movie's dramatic tension.
FilmYearSongRoleComposer
Minoo1977Teri Galiyon Mein Hum AayeDuet with
Pratigna1985Tumi Hey Mata PitaSolo/Chorus
2007Yeh NigaheinDuet with
2009Muthor RomalDuet with
2010Shopno Tala Bhed KorileSoloGautam Ghose
Shankhachil2016Abaar Ashibo Phire, Pt. 2SoloVarious
Kadhikan2023JeevathahuDuet with

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