Kanu Roy (9 Dec 1912 – 20 Dec 1981) was amusic composer in Hindi and Bengali films. Kanu Roy started his career as assistance to great music director Salil Chaudhry.
It’s worth noting that there’s some confusion about him being an actor. The mix-up arises because there was another accomplished character actor with the same name. This actor appeared in movies like Mahal (1949), Kismet (1943), China Town (1963), and Pagla Kahin Ka (1970). However, it’s essential to clarify that these were two distinct individuals.
Kanu Roy gave music to Basu Bhattacharya’s first movie Uski Kahani(1966), his first success as music director, which has a gem like Geeta Dutt’s ” Aaj ki kaali ghata” written by Kaifi Azmi.
Kanu Roy was regular music director of Basu Bhattcharya also gave music to Anubhav (1971), Geeta Dutt’s last film as a singer, – “Koi Chupke Se Aake”, “Mera Dil Jo Mera Hota” and “Meri Jaan Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho”. It also have a rare gem of Manna Da “Phir Koi Phool Khila”. Kanu Roy made use of just two instruments while recording the song ” Mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan” the sound of raindrops and a curious percussion called the vibraphone.
In Rajesh Kahnna, Sharmila Tagore’s Avishkaar(1973) “Hansne Ki Chaah Ne Kitna Mujhe Rulaya Hai” sung by Manna Da is a beautiful composition,
Kanu Roy used Jagjit and Chitra Singh’s voice for “Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaye” a thumri written by last Nawab of Awadh “Wajid Ali Shah” in the same film.
Very few composers have the guts to take astep back and letting the lyrics take the lead in a song Songs of Pyasa are the classic example of that where S D Burman allowed Sahir’s poetry to shine. In the song from Griha Pravesh, Kanu Roy’s restrained composition gives Gulzar the space to showcase his talent. The minimal arrangement, a trademark of Kanu’s music, enhances the impact of the song “Machal Ke Jab Bhi Aankhon Mein” by Bhupinder Singh Griha Pravesh (1979). It also songs like Boliye sureeli boliyan, Zindagi phoolon ki nahin, and Aap agar aap na hote.
“Khali Pyala Dhundhla Darpan” in National award wining Sparsh (1980) are also still remembered.
Apart from Basu Chattacharya, Kanu Roy also teamed up with a lesser-known director named Birendra (Mohanty?) for film titled “Mayuri”, released in 1985, the film is untraceable today. The film holds significance due to its special album featuring four songs by Nutan, the veteran actress. Nutan contributed three solos – Mera jeevan ek barfeeli dhara, Mera dil jawaan hai, Yeh kaisi hai khamoshi – and a duet with Amit Kumar titled Tum tum na rahe.
