A singing star of the 1930s and 1940s, Pahadi Sanyal towered over Bengali cinema for over four decades. Though he starred in fewer films in Hindi, many of them are memorable for their music. Born Narendranath, Pahadi Sanyal`s interest in music led him to join the famed Morris College of Lucknow (now the Bhatkhande College of Music). In 1933, he signed up with New Theatres, Bengals leading studio of the times, and went on to become one of its earliest stats along with
K.L. Saigal.
Pahadi Sanyal found a foothold in Hindi cinema with the success of the Hindi-Bengali bilingual, Adhikar. It was followed by hits such as Badi Didi, Haar Jeet, Anban, Jagte Raho, and Mohabbat, But Pahadi Sanyal became identified more with films based on the lives of famous men. These include Kadambari, Mahakavi Kalidas, and Shravan Kumar. Pahadi Sanyal also starred in two of Satyajit Ray`s films, Kanchanjungba (1962) and Aranyer Din Ratri (1989).
A select filmography of Pahari Sanyal will include the following films:
| Rajrani Meera |
Inkaar |
Kashmir Harnara Hai |
| Yahudi Ki Ladki |
Mazaaq |
Ratnadeep |
| Chandidas |
Mohabbat |
Babla |
| Devdas |
Sharafat |
Chhoti Ma |
| Karodpati |
Anban |
Kavi |
| Mukti |
Mahakavi Kalidasa |
Amar Saigal |
| Vidyapati |
Parisian |
Gharbar |
| Adhikar |
Kadambari |
Mamata |
| Badi Didi |
Preet |
Nai Rashmi |
| Haar Jeet |
Shravan Kumar |
Saathi |
| Zindagi |
Milan |
Rahgir |
| Sabeli |
Pehla Admi |
Aradhana |
