Skip to content Skip to navigation

Eminent Personalities from Northeast: Jitu-Tapan

Way back in the late 1960s, there were two individuals in the then sleepy town of Jorhat who were making and dreaming music in the confines of their homes. The young boys used to go to the local music school, perform in programmes in Assam and create music with rich melodies. Gradually they started capturing the heart and soul of Assam and came to be known as Jitu-Tapan.

It so happened that one day the great Mohammad Rafi visited Jorhat in Assam for a show and on the same show there was an orchestra that was presented by the young duo of Assam. Rafi was more than impressed. He called both of them the next day and requested them to teach and compose Assamese songs for him. And “Asomir sutalata”, a trendsetter was composed. Rafi gave lips to the song and the rest is history.

Jitu- Tapan moved to Mumbai in 1972. They were the first Assamese representatives in the real sense who moved into Bollywood.

The duo has composed music for 34 Hindi Feature Films till date, by far the highest by any Music Director from the Northeast.

With the foray of television into India, Bollywood personalities moved into the Television arena. Jitu – Tapan gave some blistering title tracks and music to serials like Air Hostess (remember Kitu Gidwani and the fabulous title track), Reporter (which made Shekhar Suman the first Telly Star) and many others like Ajooba, Choti Badi Baaten, Kal aur aaj, Ehsas to name just a few. Telefilms like Guru, Aarti, Gumrah and numerous others were centered on their music.

 At around the same time, the Indian Album music came of age with the advent of T series and the foray of other small time players. The duo delivered the smash Ghazal hits Nasha, Nazrana and Nasheela with Kumar Sanu and Pt Razdan. The other top albums are the assorted pop hits in the album - O jaaana and various devotional albums like Sai Samran, Sai Ka Darbar with singers like Anuradha Paudwal and Anup Jalota.

The most noteworthy aspect of Jitu-Tapan's musical career has been the variety in music and the different mediums in which they have given music. From Ghazals, Bhajans to Dance Ballets and Pop they have covered all aspects of modern music. They have composed music in a variety of regional languages across India like Bengali, Bhojpuri, Dogri, Gujrati and various South Indian languages. The focus of their music has always been on melody and they have never compromised on originality.

People from Assam would remember them for their music in movies like Manab Aru Danab, Adalat , Megh, Anutap, Nayanmoni, Manchghar etc. Though based out of Mumbai, they never lost touch base with Assam and their music continued to flow to Assam through Movies and Albums like Tyaag, Deuta Diya Bidai, Bohagota Nahila etc.

The most significant aspect of Jitu Tapans contribution is their role in bringing Bollywoods attention to Assam. They have worked with legends like Subhash Ghai, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar etc. They are widely respected in Mumbai by the Bollywood fraternity.

In the recent National Games held at Guwahati, Jitu- Tapan presented a live orchestra the first musical programme of the widely acclaimed musical show which set the right tempo for making the games in Assam a grand success.

 As I sat with them in Tapans residence at Andheri in Mumbai, I asked them two questions which I thought would be the most important for the readers of AssamTimes, reproduced below.


Their message for the young generation of Musicians:

Hard work and creativity are the keys to success. Being sincere in your work is important. Music has to be original and not copies. Copies are a temporary formula which may pay dividends in the short run but in the long run to succeed you need your own style and originality in music.

Their message for the Assamese and the Northeast people

We should be proud of our heritage. It is a great culture. We are second to none. In our work we have always tried to portray the Northeast in the best way without loosing touch of realities. We are living in trying times but it is important to believe in yourself in these times and success is bound to come. Our success means success for our motherland.

Arindam Garg

(In this section we salute the great contributors from Northeast who have made a significant contribution or impact in any field)

Comments

mitu's picture

Great. I didnt know so many of these things. 34 hindi feature films. Zubeen is a kid in comparision.
jonathan's picture

Great Going keep it up
manoj's picture

jitu tapan are an inseparable duo. it's a marvel of understanding that both could forge such a life long partnership, much to the chagrin of their wives, probably. once in mr bijay chaudhury's house at chembur, another legendary film editor, jituda's wife was complaining that quite a few introduced her as 'jitu-tapan's' wife..
Mainu's picture

I have known Jitu-Tapan ( uncle) as they are my dad`s friend since my childhood. They are really inseparable and they love music from their heart. Inspite of it they are wonderful,simple and very loving human beings. Mainu.
charlie's picture

Its grt acheivement to them and also we as assamese people proud for their hard working and make our society to be proud as called their name in lips god bless them
Subhojit's picture

Great ! They are an inspiration for all . Hope more such personalities come from North East.
pradip prakash's picture

Brilliant music director team from North East,good human beings. Their best is yet to come.Time is not far when they will be amongst the Top Music Director bracket. BEST OF LUCK AND BEST WISHES to them
rajeshghayal's picture

Meri najar me jitutapan ji ek best musicdayrector hai.inki duno me desikusabu ki mahak milati hai.nasha.najarana.nashila.enke sadabahaar gazals hai.jitutapanji aapko,karata hu mai salam,kushiyo se mahake aapki har subah harek sham. ghayal

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

25 Assam child scientists to attend national level NCSC in Jaipur

23 Dec 2011 - 1:02pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
25 child scientists from Assam will attend the 19th National Children's Science Congress to be held in Jaipur National University campus (Rajasthan) from December 27 to 31.The child scientists had...

Sensation in Chaparmukh

28 Dec 2017 - 1:15pm | AT News
NAGAON: An unidentified body struck no less sensation in Chaparmukh in Nagaon district on Thursday. Local residents in the area spotted the body floating over the river Kopili which bore injury...

Crisis Of Leadership

19 Aug 2008 - 1:55pm | Nazrul Haque
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. - Theodore Hesburgh What ails Assam? This will...

Indian Online Gaming Sector Waits for Government to Make its Move

25 Jun 2022 - 8:47am | Suhail Tak
Despite the recent positive wave of news stories surrounding the possibility of gambling regulation across India, there continues to be nervousness within a conservative national government to take...

Other Contents by Author

Assam defeated Tripura by 10 wickets in their opening group league match in Ronji trophy at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Monday. The victory gave the host team a bonus point as they got seven points from the encounter. Ratra from Tripura gleaned 124 run before he was adjudged leg before wicket off pacer Arup Das and any hopes of saving the match was gone for Tripura. Ratra hit 18 boundaries during his 255-ball stay at the crease. He added 77 runs to his overnight score before becoming the ninth wicket to fall.
Encouraging news. A huge fund is in the pipeline to uplift the state’s roads and bridges. Courtesy World Bank. The Centre has signed the Loan and Project Agreements in New Delhi on Monday. The agreement was signed Prabodh Saxena, Joint Secretary with economic affairs department and Onno Ruhl, Country Director of World Bank. The Project Agreement was signed by Mohan Chandra Boro, Commissioner & Special Secretary, Public Works Road Department on behalf of the Government of Assam. The objective of the project is to enhance the road connectivity in Assam by assisting the Public Works Road Department to improve and effectively manage its road network.
Bhupen Hazarika's song is out in English and Bengali translation. This was what the maestro’s younger brother Bolen Hazarika in Shillong on Monday. Hazarika said that the last song of his life had been translated into English by his UK-based brother Probin Hazarika. The song is yet to be out in the market.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that Bhupen Hazarika's music will keep living as long as the mighty Brahmaputra flows. In a brief address at a function in Latasheel playground organize to remember the cultural doyen, Gogoi said that his works would inspire the youths to come through his rich legacy. Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury recited a poem in presence of Dr Hazarika’s estrange wife Priyam and his son Tez.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika is still living in the hearts of millions of people across the north east if the rich tributes paid to the maestro on Monday is any indication. The Asom Ratna was remembered in the state on his first death anniversary with all-religion prayers, cultural shows and processions. From early in the morning his evergreen songs started filling the air. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi led the state to pay tribute to the legendary musician in several functions after he arrived in Guwahati from Delhi. Dr Hazarika’s family members organised a day-long event at their Nizarapar residence. The main function took place at Jalukbari. The All Assam Students' Union held lit 10,000...
Good news for Assam cricketers. Captain Dheeraj Jadhav led from the front with an unbeaten ton taking the host to 220 for five at stumps on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group C match against Tripura in Guwahati on Friday. Jadhav held Assam`s innings together with a patient 127 off 280 balls. He claimed 17 boundaries during his knock. Assam: 220 for five in 90 overs.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika Cultural and Literary Forum is organizing a human chain and pledge t mark the first death anniversary of the music maestro in presence of Tez Hazarika. Tez will lead the human chain with members of the forum and people on November 5. The mother will also accompany him. The event will be led by Amarjyoti Choudhury, who is the president of the forum. The human chain will commence at Latasil.
In a major relief for the tourists, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary opened on Friday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain flagged off the first batch of more than 100 tourists, including nine foreigners for the jeep and elephant safari. Hussain said the state government was committed to providing improved facilities in the sanctuary in Morigaon district three months are it was severely affected by flood waves. Hussian further launched the eco-friendly solar cycle to enable people to move around the sanctuary. Manas National Park will open on November four.
Yet another blow awaits the common people. The state’s power distribution company is preparing to levy an extra charge of 27 paise per unit for the next three months. The new tariff has come into force from Thursday and it is expected to stay till January 31. The additional burden will be levied as Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment will by Rs 1.03 per unit. The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had wanted a hike of 36 paise per unit in FPPA, which was rejected by Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission and settled at 27 paise per unit.
Tension is simmering along the Assam-Bangladesh border in Cachar district following reports of entering extremists from entering the district for creating law and order problem. The district administration has promulgated prohibitory orders to restrict extremist elements. The prohibitory orders have been enforced as a preventive measure. The district magistrate has directed that no person shall move within one km radius of the Indo-Bangladesh border between 8 pm and 5 in the morning.