Samta Prasad – The gifted tabla artist known for his association with golden era of Bollywood music

Pandit Samta Prasad (1921 – 1994) was an Indian classical musician and tabla artist who represented the Benares gharana of Hindustani music. He has worked for several Hindi movies as a tabla player, of which Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen, Basant Bahar, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen and Sholay need special mention. Famous music composers Rahul Dev Burman and Bappi Lahiri were his disciples. He was honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979 and multiple civilian awards – Padma Shri in 1972 and Padma Bhushan in 1991. He was nicknamed, Gudai Maharaj.

Pandit Samta Prasad inherited music from his ancestors

Samta Prasad was born on 20 July 1921, in Kabir chaura, Varanasi into a musical family, practising Benares tradition. His father Pandit Hari Sunder, also known as Bacha Mishra was a famous tabla artist, who followed family tradition. His grandfather was Pt. Jagannath Mishra. Samta Prasad got his initial training from his father. But his father passed away when he was just 7. Later he followed his learning under Bikku Maharaj, a disciple of Baldev Sahai. He learnt both tabla and pakhawaj, right from childhood.

Pandit Ji gave his first major performance at the Allahabad Sangeet Sammelan in 1942

Samta Prasad performed for the first time at Allahabad Sangeet Sammelan in 1942, which earned him immense love and praises. Very soon he started performing as a solo tabla artist as well as accompanist. Apart from performing in all major cities across India, Pandit Ji also performed in France, Russia and Edinburgh, representing Indian cultural team.

Samta Prasad’s association with Bollywood

He played the tabla in Hindi films since mid-1950s. He is best remembered for his association with iconic film, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, whose theme was dance. He has been associated with many classic movies belonging to that era and legendary music composers like S. D. Burman, Shankar Jaikishan, Vasant Desai and R. D. Burman. He continued his association with Bollywood until 1970s, of which Sholay needs special mention. He has worked with his disciple, R. D. Burman in his movies. Pandit Bhola Prasad Singh, Shashanka Bakshi, Nitin Chatterjee, Naba Kumar Panda and Satyanarayan Bashisht were also his noted disciples. His son, Pandit Kumar Lal Mishra is a noted tabla player belonging to present generation. He has a great musical command over the bayan and tabla which is rare – R. D. Burman remarked once.

Major honours received by Pandit Samta Prasad

He received Padma Shri in 1972, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979, President Scholarship in 1987 and Padma Bhushan in 1991. A major part of maestro’s life was spent outside Varanasi as he was constantly on concert tours.

He was on a visit to Pune to conduct a workshop organized by Naad Roop. But very soon he passed away. `The whole life of a tabla artiste is dedicated to finding a special beat with the tali and the khali. They reside in his heart, because his soul rests and throbs with the tala of measured matras’ – His last words.

Samta Prasad – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He was known for talking in Banarasi accent, and eat only his home-cooked food.

2. Samta Prasad used to wear black during concerts, believing that his great ancestor, Partappu Maharaj, received divine grace for tabla playing through the direct light of Kali Khoh in Mirzapur. In fact, his father showed him, his family of tabla doesn’t belong to Ram Sahai gharana of Banaras.

3. Music director S.D. Burman postponed a recording session to ensure Samta Prasad’s participation, and the song was “Nache mora manwa magan” whose voice was rendered by Mohammed Rafi.