New Delhi, August 9: In the 1930s, when the music industry in films was dominated by men, Saraswati Devi played a pivotal role in shaping Indian film music. She is recognized as the first female music composer in Indian cinema.
Born in 1912 into a Parsi family, Saraswati Devi’s original name was Khorshed Minocher-Homji. Her passion for music was evident from a young age, prompting her father to enroll her in Hindustani classical music under Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. She later pursued her music education at Maris College in Lucknow.
Saraswati Devi passed away on August 9, 1980, but she left behind a rich legacy, having composed music for several popular Hindi films in the 1930s and 40s. She is well-known for her musical score in Bombay Talkies’ “Achyut Kanya” and for the famous song “Main Ban Ke Chidiya Bolu Re.”
Her career began in 1920 when she started singing for All India Radio in Mumbai. Alongside her sister Manek, she regularly performed music, gaining popularity as the Homeji Sisters. Saraswati Devi was also skilled in playing the sitar, mandolin, and dilruba.
During this time, she met Himanshu Rai, the founder of Bombay Talkies, who was searching for someone trained in classical music for his films. He invited Saraswati Devi to work in the film industry, a field that was frowned upon for women at the time. Those who ventured into it often faced societal backlash.
In 1935, she got her first opportunity at Bombay Talkies with the film “Jawani Ki Hawa.” Following this, her first hit film was “Achyut Kanya” (1936). In the same year, she composed music for “Janmabhoomi,” released during the Indian independence movement. She created the first patriotic song in Hindi cinema, “Jai Jai Janani Janmabhoomi,” written by J.S. Kashyap.
Saraswati Devi and her sister faced significant opposition from the Parsi community for their work. To avoid backlash, she worked under a pseudonym. Himanshu Rai renamed her Saraswati Devi, while her sister was given the name Chandraprabha.
She continued composing music for films until 1961. Known for her dedication, Saraswati Devi spent hours rehearsing songs. She trained non-singing actors and actresses meticulously to ensure their performances were top-notch.
From the popular song “Ban Ke Chidiya” in “Achyut Kanya” to other notable works, she contributed to many films. In 1939, she recorded four songs for the renowned singer and actor Hansa Wadkar for the film “Navjeevan.” By 1941, she had worked extensively with Bombay Talkies and later began composing for Minerva Movietone after Himanshu Rai’s death, eventually establishing herself as an independent composer.
Saraswati Devi never married and lived alone in her apartment. A tragic incident occurred when she fell off a bus and broke her hip. Unfortunately, no one from the film industry came forward to help her. She passed away at the age of 68 on August 9, 1980.
Leave a Comment