Shantanu Moitra

Early life and education

Shantanu was born in Lucknow, where his father came from a Bengali Brahmin musical family. He was very young when he moved to Delhi with his family, where initially he lived in Patel Nagar in West Delhi, and studied at Springdales School, Pusa Road. There, he was the leader and singer of a band, and in 1982, the band hosted the school's first rock show. "What was even better was receiving an award in school for my contribution to music at a time when my school, Springdales in Delhi, didn't usually give awards for music. When I look back now, I think the award instilled huge confidence in me," he said.

They also received musical training from urban-folk singer, Sushmit Bose, a Springdales alumnus, who would occasionally drop in and teach them. Later he moved to Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi.

He studied at Deshbandhu College, Kalkaji, Delhi University and has a degree in Economics.

Career

Moitra started his career as a client servicing executive at an ad agency, while music remained a hobby. He started composing music for advertising jingles accidentally, when he was asked to compose a jingle at the last minute by Pradeep Sarkar, then the Creative Head of the agency. The jingle was "Bole mere lips. I love Uncle Chipps" for the chips brand Uncle Chipps, which became an instant hit. He later composed several jingles for Pradeep Sarkar, and several advertising brands.

This led to composing music for Indipop albums that were hits including Ab ke Saawan, Mann ke Manjeere: an album of women's dreams for Breakthrough, and Sapna Dekha Hai Maine (2003) for Shubha Mudgal.

Moitra moved to Mumbai in 2002, when he started working for Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, his first signed film. He soon formed a team with lyricist Swanand Kirkire, starting with the song "Bawara Mann..". Even before Parineeta was made, he had created a song called Raath Hamari To, sung by Chitra, which Vidhu Vinod Chopra the producer of Parineeta heard, and subsequently on his recommendation, he went on do his first Bollywood project- Parineeta (2005), directed by Pradeep Sarkar.

Moitra gained recognition with his music in Parineeta (2005). His music was critically acclaimed and he received a nomination for the Filmfare Best Music Director Award. That same year he won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. In 2009, he composed the score for his first Bengali film, Antaheen.

He was also a judge for two seasons of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla, a regional spinoff of the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

He also wrote the book Ferari Mon - Memories by Santanu Moitra in Bengali, published by Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, Dey's Publishing.

Shantanu also undertook a 100-day journey across the Himalayas in 2016 along with Dhritiman Mukherjee which was documented and published on YouTube called “100 days in Himalayas” produced by Roundglass.

Discography

As a music director

As a playback singer

As a background score composer

Awards

;National Film Awards

• National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) -Na Bangaaru Talli (2013)

;Filmfare Awards

• Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – Parineeta(2006)
• Filmfare Award for Best Background Score - Sardar Udham (2022)

;Filmfare Awards Bangla

• Best Music Director- Projapoti Biskut (2018)
• Best Music Director- Prem Tame (2022)

;Mirchi Music Awards

• Background Score of the Year - Madras Cafe (2013)

;International Indian Film Academy Awards

• Background Score of the Year - 3 Idiots (2009)

References

References

1. ''Hindustan Times'', Brunch, 5 August 2012, p. 22.
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150627220424/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/106280.html "Naa Bangaru Talli" wins three national awards – Telugu Movie News]
3. "A musical high".
4. (February 2023)
5. [http://in.rediff.com/movies/2007/sep/03readers.htm Shantanu Moitra, before Parineeta] [[Rediff.com]], 3 September 2007.
6. [http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/09shan.htm Thank an ad crisis for Parineeta's music] [[Rediff.com]], 9 June 2005.
7. link. (19 October 2007 [[IndiaFM]], 10 August 2006.)
8. (November 2024). Screen]], 2005.
9. [https://archive.today/20140201212324/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=142774 Bohemian Rhapsody: Parineeta's success hasn't changed music composer Shantanu Moitra's pace or lifestyle] [[Indian Express]], 7 August 2005.
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012092535/http://hindu.com/fr/2007/10/05/stories/2007100550930100.htm The man and his music: Shantanu Moitra talks about composing music for the upcoming film, “Laga Chunari Mein Daag”] [[The Hindu]], 5 October 2007.
11. [http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/7875/3/music_director/291/ ...But for everything I had to impress Vidhu Vinod Chopra first...] {{webarchive. link. (27 March 2008 musicindiaonline.com.)
12. [http://buzz18.in.com/interviews/music/its-a-dream-debut-shantanu-moitra/109172/0 It's a dream debut: Shantanu Moitra: The Parineeta composer talks about his first Bengali film] {{Webarchive. link. (26 February 2009 Buzz18, 12 January 2009.)
13. "In Photos: The Second Dispatch From Project #100DaysInHimalayas".
14. (16 April 2014). "61st National Film Awards". [[Directorate of Film Festivals]].
15. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150627220424/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/106280.html "Naa Bangaru Talli" wins three national awards – Telugu Movie News]
16. Parande, Shweta. (2014-02-28). "Mirchi Music Awards 2014 winners: Shahrukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar honoured; Aashiqui 2 wins 7 trophies". India.com.