Datta Naik Biography 
Datta Naik, also known as N. Datta was a music director belonging to Hindi cinema. He was active in the industry since mid-1950s to 1980. Thus he completed 35 years in Bollywood music, and has given a few memorable compositions to leading singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor etc. He started off as an assistant music director under legendary S. D. Burman. Perhaps Naik’s most successful film as a music director was 1959 social drama, Dhool Ka Phool, directed by Yash Chopra. Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega – pictured on Manmohan Krishna was a huge chartbuster. The movie also included popular duets like Tere pyar ka aasra, Jhukti Ghata Gaati Hawa, Jo Tum Muskura Do etc. Saadhna, Light House, Mr.X, Didi, Dharamputra, Black cat etc are other noted works. Naik regularly worked with Sahir Ludhianvi and the duo was very successful.
Datta Naik was born into a poor family in Goa. Datta was born in 1930 in Oroba, a small village in Goa. He lost his mother at the age of 2. He ran away from his home at the age of 12 and reached Mumbai. He learnt classical music and later worked as an assistant to Ghulam Haider. He used to participate in street music programs, and in one such occasion he was spotted by famous music director S. D. Burman, who took him as assistant. Bahar, Sazaa, Ek Nazar, Jaal, Jeevan Jyoti and Angarey are some of the movies in which he worked as Burman’s assistant. In 1955 he made started his journey as an independent music director with Raj Khosla’s Milaap. Marine Drive, Chandrakanta, Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke, Saadhna etc.
'Sitare Raah Takte Hai..' and 'Main Tumhi Se Poochhti Hoon..' from Black Cat, 'Aurat Ne Janm Diya Mardon Ko..' and 'Sambhal-e-Dil..’ from Sadhana, 'Kitna haseen hai jahan jaadu bhara hai sama...' from Mr. X, 'Maine Chaand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamnna Ki Thi..' from Chandrakanta etc are some of his early noted compositions. He shot to fame with 1959 film, Dhool Ka Phool, which is regarded as his most popular film. Lata’s emotional title song ‘Too Mere Pyaar Kaa Phool Hai’ is the best instance for the great impressions he made on each knot of a composition. Waltz based club song ‘Aye Dil Zubaan Naa Khol’ from Naach Ghar was also a noted song. Despite being talented, he struggled to get works towards the end of his career. His last film Chehre Pe Chehra was released in 1980. He died shortly after his 60th birthday.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 20, 2016
