Born in Calcutta in 1903, Rai Chand Boral was a well-known music director of the nation. His father, Lalchaiul Boral, was an eminent classical musician. He received rigorous training in Indian classical music and R.C. Boral began to produce music programmes for Calcutta`s Indian Broadcasting Co. Consequently, he joined New Theatres and went on to become one of the studio`s leading composers in the 1930s and the 1940s.
Boral worked with New Theatres, composed some of the classic hits of Hindi cinema, several of which were made by his protege K.L. Saigal. His works include Baalam aaye baso morey maun meiii (Devdas), Prem nagar mein banaoongi ghar main (Chandidas), and Ek bangla baney nyaara (President). Boral`s other chief compositions include those for the films Street Singer, Sapera, Vidyapati, Lagan, and Dhoop Chhat. RC Boral introduced the systematic use of playback singini or `duet` into Indian cinema.
In 1978, Dadasaheb Phalke Award was awarded to Boral for his contribution to Indian film music. He was an expertise in the use of various musical forms such as
Thumri and
keertan in popular film music. Instruments as the sitar and the violin characterized his music. He also adapted the
ghazal style into light classical music and this was best articulated in Saigal`s singing. Boral also directed a short animation feature - Pear Brothers (1934).
