# Pulak Banerjee (Assamese singer)

Pulak Banerjee (Assamese: পুলক বেনাৰ্জী) is a singer from Assam. He gained popularity with the audio cassette 'Sowarni'. He has sung as a background singer. Pulak Banerjee was awarded the Best Background Singer Award by the Government of Assam in 1999. He has done playback singing for 20 Assamese films which includes Mon, Konikar Ramdhenu, Duranir Rang and Srimati Mahimamoyee.

## Early life

Pulak Banerjee was born on 1 October 1950 in Guwahati. His parents were Prabhat and Durgarani Banerjee. His father was from Barpeta and his mother was from Kolkata. His uncle was the Officer-in-Charge of Barpeta police station. His sister-in-law Dipti Chakraborty was a well-known singer. Banerjee was attracted to music by listening to his mother and sister's songs. His sister took him to her concerts. In 1969, at age nineteen, Banerjee began singing on Guwahati Radio Station. Banerjee attended Paltan Bazar Bengali School. He graduated from B. Barua College with degrees in Economics and Political Science. While in school, he participated in inter-district music competitions and won many awards. While studying for his undergraduate degree, he met college seniors Subir Mukherjee and Satish Goswami, both of whom played an important role in Banerjee's life. Subir Mukherjee was the first to push him to sing on the radio.

## Career

His first public performance came at age seven at Geetar Bitan.He won first prize. His passion for singing widened when he came into contact with doyens of Assamese music such as Birendranath Datta and Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi. Gradually, Banerjee became a household name. In 1969, at nineteen, Banerjee began performing at Guwahati Radio Station.
Banerjee began his professional life in the banking sector when he joined UCO bank in the 1970s. During this time his first Short Play record was released by the Hindustan Musical Company. Assamese Author and lyricist Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi described working with Banerjee in her autobiography Jeevan-Jeevan Bar Anupam. Banerjee sang in films such as Doornir Rang, Srimati Mahimamayi, Kanikar Ramdhenu, and Shesh Upahar. Lyrics for most of his songs were written by Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi, Hiren Bhattacharya and Keshab Mahanta.
He is mainly popular for his melody songs. His first solo album was Suwaroni, which released in two volumes and remained a hit. He has 30 to 35 albums to his credit, including Shilpi, Boyoti Noi, Kothare Geetare, Bondi Pokhilar Gaan, and Pathor Simona. During his banking career, he transferred to Kolkata for four-and-a-half years. In Kolkata, he sang for Bengali film Ajob Ganyer Ajob Katha. His Popular songs include Moi aji shangi bihin, Paar hoi gol dhumuha ejaak, and Phulore Melate.

## Recognition

* Playback singer of the year award by Assam government’(1999).
He represented Assam at the international trade fair in Delhi. He performed in the US on an invitation by the Assamese Association of America, 2000. He directed music for TV serials such as Ritu Aye Ritu Jaye, Bijoya and a television documentary on Lakshminath Bezbarua. Pulak Banerjee performed at the B Barua Cancer Institute, Guwahati as the host of a program working for cancer patients and the homeless.