Binota Chakravarty

When one hears the name Binota Chakravarty, it reminds all music lovers of the song Preet karna chaahi ri manwa from the film Yatrik (1952). Born on 9 August 1928 in Bombay, Binota’s real name was Vinata Raghavendra Amladi. Brought up in a family of four sisters and three brothers, Binota was introduced to music at a very early age. Her elder sister, Hemlata Amladi was a classical singer and used to teach Binota as well. While their father Raghavendra, also known as A V R Rao, was an established tabla and sitar player, their grandfather used to play veena.

Binota’s father was a music lover but kept distance from the glamourous world of films. He used to take Binota to New Theatres to watch films, but when opportunities came to their doors to sing in films, he used to decline. One day, Binota was asked to sing a song in a birthday party. Present in the party was the acclaimed composer of that time, Sardar Malik. Impressed with Binota’s singing, he offered her to sing in his film. Initially, both Binota and her father declined the offer. But after persistent persuasion from film producer C N Dhir, they accepted the offer and Binota made her debut as a singer in the film Rain Basera (1947). Apart from Binota, the other singer who was signed for this film was famous director Raj Khosla, who initially came to Bombay to become a singer. When she went to record songs with Sardar Malik, she also met her future husband Krishna Chakraborty, who worked as a pianist in the orchestra.
After Rain Basera, Binota worked in C N Dhir’s Renuka (1947), where again Sardar Malik was the composer. Under his direction, Binota sang Main dil ki baat suna lu toh chale jaana. While recording for this film Binota met a sound recordist from Shorey Pictures at the song and dance meeting, who further introduced her to the composer Vinod. 

Vinod offered her to sing in the chorus along with Lata Mangeshkar in the song Lara Lappa Lai Rakhada from the film Ek Thi Larki (1949).

Shubha Khote’s mother was Binota’s elder sister’s classmate. Through this connection, Binota got the chance to sing in Shubha Khote’s father, Nandu Khote’s Marathi film Ti Ani Te (1948) under the direction of composer Vasant Eric. 

In 1950 she married pianist Krishna Chakravarty without his father’s blessings. After her marriage, Binota moved to Calcutta with her husband where she lived till 1953. Also, formerly known as Vinata, her name was changed to ‘Binota’ when she moved to Calcutta. 

It was in Calcutta she got the chance to sing in the film Yatrik (1952) with composer Pankaj Mullick. Pankaj was quite impressed with Binota and made her his disciple, giving her daily training in New Theatres. Her song Preet karna chahi ri manwa remained as it is in both Hindi and Bengali versions. When Yatrik was released in Bombay, Binota’s father was happy that her daughter got the chance to sing for a New Theatres production.

Apart from Pankaj Mullick, Kamal Dasgupta also offered her to sing in films where he was composing music. She also sang 5 songs in Nachiketa Ghosh’s Hindi film 25 July (1951). 
When Shanu Bannerjee, director and Krishna Chakravarty’s friend, came to Calcutta he offered Binota to sing in the film Kasturi (1954). Binota, under the direction of Pankaj Mullick, sang Main toh haar gayi mann, ja re ja phagun. She also sang version songs for His Master’s Voice during her stay in Calcutta. In 1953 she left Calcutta and came back to Bombay after her husband’s untimely death, and to look after her ailing father. While in Bombay, she sang for R C Boral in the film Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1954). 

After this film, she took voluntary retirement. Limited exposure in films and the changing music scene kept Binota away from the limelight, unlike her contemporaries. But that never disappointed her. She currently resides in Goregaon, Mumbai.