Early life
Pritam was born in Kolkata into a Bengali family to Prabodh Chakraborty, who runs a music school for children. He gained his early training in music from his father and learned to play the guitar in school. After completing his schooling at St. James' School and college education at Presidency College, he went to a music school. At Presidency he was the Social Services Secretary of the Students Union run by the Independents' Consolidation (IC). Pritam joined a Bangla band, Chandrabindoo. Before that he formed another band with his Presidency batchmates, called "Jotugriher Pakhi". They even have a cassette released to their credit at that time. In January 1993, Pritam joined the Film and Television Institute in Pune to undertake a course in sound recording and sound engineering. During this time, he was offered a chance to compose background music for a film[which?] by Hungarian filmmaker Istvan Gaal.[citation needed] He learned music theory, harmony and composition from ethnomusicologist and khyal singer Warren Senders, as well as briefly encountering principles of African Music from Senders and musicologist Kedar Avati.
Career
Having completed his education, Pritam Chakraborty moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in Bollywood. During his stay in Mumbai, he began composing ad jingles, and became friendly with a number of other young men struggling to make it big, like Shantanu Moitra, Rajkumar Hirani, Sanjay Gadhvi and Chandrajeet Ganguly, also known as Jeet, who played the guitar with Anup Jalota.
Pritam got his first break when Gadhvi was signed on to direct Tere Liye and he, in turn, signed on his friends Jeet and Pritam as music composers. Though the music was well received, the film sank at the box office. However, in 2002 Yashraj Films signed Gadhvi up to direct Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, for which the Jeet-Pritam duo once again composed the music. All the songs from that movie were chartbusters, and the duo had hit the big time. His music comprises various kinds including Indian classical music and western influences. Pritam was then actively involved in mentoring and judging new talent on Zee TV's singing competition show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009.
Solo career
Jeet and Pritam worked together for only one more film which was Mudda-The Issue, before amicably parting. After the separation, Pritam's career as a solo musician stalled as he signed a series of flops like Fun2shh - Dudes In The 10th Century and Agnipankh. The films sank at the box office and with them, Pritam’s music too. However, in 2004, Pritam composed the music for Sanjay Gadhvi's second film, Dhoom, which was a runaway success. The film did well and the music topped the charts. Pritam has done music for serials such as Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani, Kavyanjali.
Pritam followed up the success of Dhoom with a string of successful numbers after a year for Chocolate, Garam Masala and Gangster. Also he composed the music for Dhoom 2, the sequel to Dhoom and Life in a Metro. He composed the music for Singh Is Kinng and Kismat Konnection and formed a band named Metro.
His most top rated musics are from the movies Dhoom, Dhoom 2, Gangster, Garam Masala, Chocolate, Life in a metro, Ankahee, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiya, Awarapan, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Jab We Met, Race, Woh Lamhe, Jannat, Singh Is Kinng, Billu, Love Aaj Kal, Golmaal Returns, Tum Mile, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, De Dana Dan, Toh Baat Pakki, Badmaash Company, Rajneeti, Khatta Meetha, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, Aashayein, Crook, Action Replayy, Golmaal 3, Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji, Dum Maro Dum, Ready and more.
He also composed the track for Hrithik Roshan's TV debut, Just Dance.
Accusations of plagiarism
Pritam has been accused of plagiarism on several occasions, wherein he has copied the music for a number of his most popular Hindi film songs from various artists from around the world (especially Asia), without giving credit to the original artists themselves.[1][2][3] In one case he bought the copyright and gave credit too.[4] In 2009, producer Vipul Shah made Pritam sign an anti-plagiarism indemnity for his film Action Replayy.[5]
Awards and nominations
He was nominated several times for Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, Star Screen Award for Best Music Director and IIFA Best Music Director Award in the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2010 He won the IIFA Award and the Apsara Producer's Guild Award for his music in Love Aaj Kal.[6] He also won the Radio Mirchi "composer of the year award" for his music in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. In 2011 he won the Big Star Award for his song "Pee Loon" in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. He also won The Global Indian Film and Television Honours award for Special Music Director for his music in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and Mirchi Music Listeners' Choice Album Of The Year for the same. He also won Most Popular Music in Star Screen Award 2011 for Once Upon a Time in Mumbai.
