‘O Dayal Bichar Koro’ was written by Pulak Bandopadhyay, and sung by Akhil Bandhu Ghosh in 1961. Pulak Bandopadhyay was born and brought up in Salkia, Howrah in a family that had close acquaintances with art circles. He experimented with several genres, contributing immensely to the evolution of the rich oeuvre of musical compositions in Bengali cinema during the 1960s and 70s.

He wrote two evergreen songs “Ke Prothom Kachhe Esechhi” sung by Lata Mageshkar and Manna Dey, and “Aaj Mon Cheyechhe” rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, for the 1966 film Sankhabela. He also composed songs like “Ami Shri Shri Bhojo Hori Manna” for the 1969 film Prothom Kadam Phool, and “O Shyam Jokhon Tokhon, Khelo Na Khela Emon” used in the 1972 Soumitra Chatterjee film Basanta Bilap.

Akhil Bondhu Ghosh is considered to be one of the most remarkable exponents of Bengali vocal music. In a career spanning over four decades, he produced a vast array of famous songs used in Bengali films. Listen to song here

The song ‘O Dayal Bichar Koro’ shows how the poet-lover is tormented by the music of the flute. Though he has ordered the flute to not play, for it distracts him, and calls upon the lord to prosecute it for its crimes against his heart, he secretly confesses that he is in love with the flute Despite all his complaints, in the end, he submits himself at its feet. The listener is instantly reminded of Radha and her agony for Krishna’s flute upon hearing this mellifluous song which brings together the subtlety of Pulak’s composition and sweetness of Akhil Bandhu’s voice.

You can read the Bengali lyrics here. Its English translation is produced below:

O kind one,
now decide–
O benevolent one,
reach a conclusion soon –
O merciful,
it is time you pass your judgement–
Order his execution.

I have been swayed,
I have been murdered–
The flute has numbed my senses,
I have been murdered.
I lie paralysed, I have been murdered
by that notorious flute.

He is my love,
The fire of passion torments me.
He is my heart’s confidant,
For him I have burned endlessly.
Now summon me, I would be the witness
and testify the end.

I have been swayed,
I have been murdered–
The flute has numbed my senses,
I have been murdered.
I lie paralysed, I have been murdered
by that notorious flute.

Don’t play it, now and then,
I had pleaded him.
Had he thought that was the truth,
so he gifted me this profound pain ?
Don’t play it, so often, now and then,
I had pleaded him.
Had he thought that was the truth,
so he gifted me this profound pain ?

Although I have refused him,
But deep within I long for him still.
I say I do not love him,

But my heart longs for him still.
O kind, O most merciful
Listen, I will tell you a secret
I have fallen in love with the flute.

Though
I have been swayed,
I have been murdered–
The flute has numbed my senses,
I have been murdered.
I lie paralysed, I have been murdered
by that notorious flute.

O kind one,
now pass your judgement–

We shall leave you with a beautiful cover of the song by Taalpatar Shepai. Happy listening!