Ruma Guha Thakurta
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Ruma Guha Thakurta (Bengali: রুমা গুহঠাকুরতা) is a Bengali actress and singer. She was born in 1934 as Ruma Ghosh. She hails from a distinguished Brahmo Bengali family. Her father was Satyen Ghosh (known as Montey Ghosh), her mother Sati Devi, a talented singer. Sati Devi's younger sister Bijoya is married to legendary film director Satyajit Ray. Ruma had her formal education in many places including Santineketan for a brief period. She was also one of the earliest child students of Uday Shankar Cultural Centre in Almora in its formative years where her mother had been a music teacher.Kishore Kumar married Ruma Ghosh in May 1951 in Bombay, and their son Amit Kumar was born the following year. The couple divorced in 1958. she settled in Calcutta and married Arup Guha Thakurta and had two children by him Ayan and Sromana. In the year 1958 she set up Calcutta Youth Choir with Salil Chowdhury and Satyajit Roy. Ruma Guhathakurta is a versatile genius a singer, an actress, a dancer, a choreographer, and many other characteristics in a single personality.
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[edit] Calcutta Youth Choir
Singer actress Ruma Guha Thakurata's Calcutta Youth Choir has always been known for their traditional folk song, mass song and folk dance. Several years ago, the choir had coined the song, 'Aaj joto juddhabaaj'. The lyrics were by Shibdas Bandopadhyay and the music for the song was composed by V. Balsara. HMV had come out with the soundtrack a couple of years ago. Another famous song by Ruma Guhathakurta's Calcutta Youth Choir is 'Bharatvarsh Suraj Ka Ek Naam' was regularly screened in DD Channel few years before was originally written in Bengali by Shibdas Bandopadhyay and set to tune by Y.S. Moolky (Bharatbarsho Surjer Ek Naam.....). The songs 'Bistirno Duparee...' and 'Tomar Amar Thikana....Padma Meghna Jamuna' by Calcutta Youth Choir under the direction of Ruma Guhathakurta ......No other singers have the range that Ruma Guhathakurta has in her voice for these two songs.... HMV brought out a record on the Choir where these songs were included.To make a mark of a choir worldwide is a mammoth task. But Ruma Guha Thakurta - known popularly as Rumadi - has ruling the music world for over six decades with the talent of choir conduction. She has captured the imagination of generations of music lovers and if one likes to know the choir culture of India the first and foremost thought comes in mind is Ruma Guhathakurts's Calcutta Youth Choir.
Traditional folk song and dance from the various parts of the world is also a gift of the choir to the Indian Culture. In the year, July, 1974 20-member Folk Song and Dance troupe of Calcutta Youth Choir led by Smt. Ruma Guha Thakurta, participated in the Festival and won the first prize, in the Copenhagen Youth Festival. The Choir also got opportunity to participate in the 25th Anniversary of Independence Day of India in Delhi. Opening song by Calcutta Youth Choir to welcome Nelson Mandela in India in 1990 and to honour Amarta Sen for Nobel in the year 1998 are the Laurel. More than 5000 shows are performed by the choir led by Ruma Guhathakurta.
[edit] Singing career
As a solo singer Ruma Guha Thakurta had also recorded few Rabindra sangeet like Maya Bono Biharini Harini with Kishore Kumar in Lookochuri, Sukher Majhe tomai dekhechi in Jodi Jantem and A few nos of Rabindra Sangeet in 'Bakshaw Badal' and others. HMV recorded Kotha Baire Dure, Khone Khone Mone Mone and few others. In Bangla Adunik (modern) songs Guhathakurta recorded a no of songs like Mon Je amar kemon kemon...' in Polatak, 'Ei To Hethai Kunja...' with Kishore Kumar in Lookochuri, 'Tomar Geeti with Hemant Kumar in Lookichuri, Jodi Akash Hote in Ashi te Ashio na (only used in film). In the year 1969 HMV recorded Ek Khana Megh Bheshe elo akase and Bathan Bathan by her was super hit. Few duet songs like Sajea Dopati with Bhupen Hazarika are too good. In the year 1993 after Satyajit Ray died she recorded Puroskare Sommane as a tribute to him. Guha Thakurta is having a strong voice range so the songs which the listeners are userd to listen in her voice will never like in others voice. Once hearing those songs specially Bistirno Duparee, Tomar Amar Thikana, and many more. Her tribute to Mother Teresa after Mother passed away was really sung by her from the core point of her heart. She takes music classes where it is seen that both her students and herself is really devoted in music. Most of the songs sung by her is always related for awakening the society.
[edit] Acting career
Her career started in Bollywood as a child artist. Ruma Guha Thakurta acted more than 100 movies in Bengali. Most of her hindi movies were released in Fifties. She joined Bollywood as a child artist at a remuneration of Rs 500/- at the age of thirteen in Phritvi Theatres. Acted in no of movies in hindi like Rajani, Samar, Afsar. In the year 1989 Ganashatru was nominated for oscar where she was in the main lead female character. She kept remarable performance as a successful lead actress in 'Khaneker Athithi', 'Benarasi', 'Ashi te Asio Na', 'Personal Asst.', 'Ganga', 'Abhijan', 'Nirjan Soikote', 'Ponchostor', 'Arogya Niketon' and many more and as a supporting actress in 'Gar Nasimpur', 'Bhaghini', 'Jodi Jantem', 'Hanghsa Mithun', 'Chakranto', 'Malabadal', 'Chowdury Paribar'. She won the award for best actress for her performance in "Nirjan Saikate". Her acting as a mother in 'Amar Songi', 'Anuraher Chhoya', 'Trayee', 'Dadar Kirti','Arogya Niketon', 'Papi' are really outstanding. She also played some notable characters in Mega TV Sereals also like 'Prabaho', 'Ghum Nei', 'Pritibimbo',etc. In the year 2006 she also acted in Mira Nayar's NAMESAKE.
