Nirmala Mishra: Internal politics didn’t let Subir Sen rise in Bollywood

It’s an association that dates back to the time when singer Nirmala Mishra was in her teens. The camaraderie with singer Subir Sen grew in strength over the years. When the news of the demise of Sen reached Mishra on Tuesday morning, she was very depressed. Mishra talks to TOI about her association with the singer of ‘Dharoniro pathey pathey’, ‘Eto sur aar eto gaan’, ‘Saradin tomae bhebe’, ‘Manzil wohi hai pyar ki’, ‘Main rangeela pyar ka rahi’ and ‘Dil leke jate ho kaha’.
It must be very difficult for you today…
Yes, it is.So many thoughts shroud my mind today. You know, we had a very curious way of addressing each other. While he would call me pishima (aunt), I would address him as pishemoshai (aunt’s husband).
Why was that?
I don’t exactly remember when we had decided on that. As far as I can remember, I think one day I was speaking to him in a certain tone and he told me: ‘You are talking like a pishima!’ That’s how I got my name. Hearing that, I told him that if he addressed me this way, I should have the liberty of calling him ‘pishemoshai’.
It’s been a very long association with him…
Yes. Apart from being such a good singer, Pishemoshai was such a well-behaved man. He was an epitome of good behaviour. Never once did I see him behaving indecently with anyone.
Do you have any favourite song of his?
There are too many of them to point at one. Today, it’s difficult for me to choose one.
Despite the association, why is it that you never sang a duet with him?
I don’t know. It just didn’t happen. So many times over, we have done programmes together. I remember one programme in Tollygunje. I had reached the venue in advance. Pishemoshai came later. The moment he came, some boys at the venue said, “Guru, you have come. Let’s take you to the stage immediately.” Pishemoshai was reluctant and tried to pacify them. He knew how angry I was since it was my turn to go up on stage and perform. He tried everything so that the boys didn’t do anything indecent. But these young boys were insistent.
How old were you then?
I must have been 16/17 then. I was very upset and I openly announced that I challenge anyone to come up on stage and perform before me. By then, the boys had already announced Pishemoshai’s name. But I went on stage and said there has been a mistake in the announcement and it is me who will perform now. Pishemoshai understood my sentiments only too well. Today, when I sit back and think about those days, so many such memories come to mind.
Despite having such so many hit songs in Bollywood, do you think he got due recognition?
No, he didn’t. He deserved a lot more. Internal politics didn’t let him rise in Bollywood. All I can say is that he was subject to politics.
Can you elaborate?
No, I won’t elaborate further. This is the first time I am actually saying this. I had often asked him why he came back from Mumbai to Kolkata despite being so successful there. But he would always brush that question aside and say he was happy returning to Bengal and singing Bengali songs. But one day, he told me the whole story. Nobody else but me knows about it. I guess, he thought I was very close to him and hence could share this detail. But I have never seen him crib about this in public.
When was the last time you met him?
That was a while ago. It was at some programme organized by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. He was given an award there. He saw me from a distance and shouted at me. The warmth in the way he addressed was so palpable. He told me he had a very nice shawl at home and wanted to gift it to my husband. Unfortunately, the visit is still pending and the shawl remains at his residence. I feel terrible when I think that I will not hear his voice calling me aloud that way. But the only consolation was that he has got relief from the pain of suffering that malignancy was inflicting on him.