Salil Chowdhury was popular for his indigenous style of music. He combined the strains of Western classical with Indian folk and classical music to give Hindi cinema some of its most popular melodies. Born in November 19, 1922, Salil Chowdhury spent much of his early childhood days in Assam. His father was a medical doctor. In 1944 Salil Chowdhury came to Kolkata to complete his graduation from Bangabasi College under Calcutta University. Salil Chowdhury did not receive formal training in music. Instead he grew up listening to Bach, Mozart, and Chopin, as well as eastern Indian folk music. As a young man he was drawn by the communist ideology and he joined the leftist Indian Peoples` Theatre Association (IPTA). It was here that he began composing music for plays.

Career of Salil Chowdhury
Salil Chowdhury made his foray into Indian film music with Satyen Bose`s Bengali feature `Paribartan.` He co-wrote the lyrics for Bose`s next film too. His first Hindi assignment came with Bimal Roy`s `Do Bigha Zameen` for which he also wrote the story. His extensive use of chorus in the song `Hariyala Sawan Dhol Bajaata Aaya` and `Bhai Re, Ganga Aur Jamuna Ki Dharti` were reminiscent of his earlier work for IPTA.

Salil Chowdhury`s music for subsequent film such as `Biraj Bahu`, `Naukri`, and `Jagte Raho` became extremely popular. His biggest success, however, once again came with Bimal Roy`s `Madhumati.` The film`s songs, from the romantic `Dil Tadap Tadap Ke` to the cheerful `Jungle Mein Mor Naacha` to the haunting `Aaja Re Pardesi`, prove the composer`s versatility. The film`s music regarded as one of Hindi cinema`s classics, won Salil Choudhury the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in 1958.

One of the characteristic features of Salil Chowdhury`s music was his adaptation of the Western classical music. For instance, the Talat Mahmood`s hit `Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Kar` (Chhaya) is said to be based on a well-known Mozart composition. Later, in the 1970s, he adapted the jazz structure to come up with such touching numbers as `Zindagi Kaisi Hain Paheli` (Anand) and Na Jaane Kyon (Chhoti Si Baat).

Due to Salil Chowdhury`s expertise in orchestration and mood music, directors often called upon him to compose the background score for films without songs, such as Ittefaq. Chowdhury was also the only major Hindi film composer to have worked in several languages, including Assamese, Tamil, Telugu, and most importantly, Malayalam, with Chemmeen being a remarkable success. He also directed Pinjre Ka Panchi in 1966.

Salil Chowdhury had married Smt. Sabita Chowdhury. He has two daughters and two sons. He died in September 5, 1995(1995-09-05).

Music Compositions of Salil Chowdhury

Year	Films	Year	Films
1953	Do Bigha Zameen	1972	Annadata, Anokha Daan, Anokha Milan, Mere Bhaiya, Subse Bada Sukh
1954	Biraj Bahu, Naukri	1974	Rajanigandha
1955	Amanat, Tangewali	1975	Chhoti Si Baat, Saagar
1956	Awaaz, Pariwar, Jagte Raho	1976	Jeevan Jyoti, Mrigaya, VOTl, Minoo
1957	Aparadhi Kaun, Ek Gaon Ki Kahani, Lai Batti, Musafir, Zamana	1978	Naukri
1958	Madhumati	1979	Kala Patthar, Jeena Yahan
1960	Sunehri Raatein, Jawahar, Kanoon, Parakh, Usne Kaha Tha	1980	Chehre Pe Chehra, Room No 203, Nani Maa
1961	Char Deeware, Chhaya, Kabuliwala, Maya, Memdidi, Sapan Suhana	1981	Plot No 5, Agni Pareeksha
1962	Half Ticket, Jhoola, Prem Patra	1982	Dil Ka Saathi Dil
1965	Chand Aur Suraj	1984	Kanoon Kya Karega
1966	Netaji Subhashchandra Bose	1988	Trishagni
1968	Jawab Ayega	1989	Swarna Trishna, Kamala Ki Maut
1969	Ittefaq, Sara Akash	1990	Triyatri
1970	Anand	1991	Netraheen Sakshi
1971	Gehra Raaz, Mere Apne	-	-