Hemanta Kumar Biography: Parents, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Songs, Children, Cause Of Death

Hemanta Kumar, also known as Hemant Kumar and Hemanta Mukherjee, was a legendary Indian music director and playback singer who drew people’s attention with his soulful voice and mesmerizing compositions.

He was renowned for his contributions to Bengali and Hindi film music and his expertise in Rabindra Sangeet and various other genres.

Hemanta Kumar, often called the “voice of God,” was a true icon in the Indian music industry.

Profile

• Full Name: Hemanta Mukhopadhyay
• Date of Birth: June 16, 1920
• Age: 103 (as of 2023)
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Varanasi, Benares State, British India
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Singer, music director, producer
• Height: N/A
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: Three brothers and a sister
• Spouse: Bela Mukherjee
• Children: Jayant (son), Ranu (daughter)
• Relationship Status: Married
• Net Worth: $3 million

Early Life & Education

Hemanta Kumar was born on June 16, 1920, in Varanasi, Benares State, British India. He grew up in a household of cultural significance, with his maternal grandfather being a physician and his paternal family originating from Jaynagar Majilpur.

According to reports, he was raised in a family of five children: four brothers and a sister. Not much is known about his biological family.

Hemanta attended the Nasiruddin School and later the Mitra Institution School in the Bhowanipore area of Kolkata.

During his time at school, he developed friendships with Subhas Mukhopadhyay, a Bengali poet, and Santosh Kumar Ghosh, a renowned writer.

Despite initial objections from his father, Hemanta pursued a career in music after quitting academics due to health problems.

His passion for music began to overshadow his interest in literature, and he published a short story in a Bengali magazine called Desh.

Personal Life

In 1945, Hemanta Kumar married Bela Mukherjee, a singer from Bengal. Although Bela had a successful singing career in the movie Kashinath, she chose to focus on her family after marriage.

Hemanta and Bela had two children, Jayant and Ranu.

Jayant went on to marry Moushumi Chatterjee, a Bengali film actress, continuing the family’s connection to the entertainment industry.

Ranu also pursued a music career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, albeit with limited success.

Career

Hemanta Kumar’s career in music began in the 1940s when he recorded his first song for the Bengali film Rajkumarer Nirbbasan.

He went on to work with various composers and directors, including S.D. Burman and Hemen Gupta. Hemanta’s breakthrough as a music director came with the Bengali film Abhiyatri in 1947.

Although his compositions received critical acclaim, commercial success eluded him until 1947. He gained popularity as a playback singer in Hindi films, lending his soulful voice to iconic songs for actors like Dev Anand and Sunil Dutt.

Hemanta Kumar’s talent also extended to Rabindra Sangeet, and he became one of the foremost exponents of this genre.

Throughout his career, he composed music for numerous Bengali and Hindi films, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

Net Worth

Hemanta Kumar’s net worth at the time of his death is estimated to be around $20 million.

His contributions to the music industry and his successful career as a singer, music director, and producer contributed to his financial success.

Death

On September 26, 1989, Hemant’s health deteriorated upon his return from a concert in Dhaka, leaving him to pass away shortly after from a severe cardiac arrest.

Moushumi Chatterjee, his daughter-in-law, recollects his final words as “Such agony, such agony.”

Even after his departure, Hemant’s influence remains undying, preserved through the melodies and the compositions he has crafted.

The Gramophone Company of India (also known as Saregama) continues to honor his musical contributions by annually releasing an album that features his timeless songs, artfully repackaged to cater to the ever-evolving commercial landscape.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: N/A
• Twitter handle: N/A

Discography

• Nagin
• Bees Saal Baad
• Anand Math
• Siddhartha
• Kohraa
• Palatak
• Raag Anurag
• Phuleshwari
• Swaralipi
• Duti Mon