Madan Gopal Singh
Biography
Madan Gopal Singh is an Indian composer, singer, lyricist, actor, screenwriter, film theorist, editor, and polyglot. He is widely respected for his contributions to music, cinema, and cultural scholarship. Singh is currently a Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi and has also taught English literature at Satyawati College (Evening Classes).
Born to the renowned Punjabi poet Harbhajan Singh, Madan Gopal Singh has performed globally as a singer with his ensemble Chaar Yaar and has written and lectured extensively on cinema, art, and cultural history.
Musical Career
Singh is an accomplished composer and singer, performing both classical and contemporary Indian music. He has contributed as a lyricist to various music projects, including:
Truth (2007) – An album of lounge music by Aman Ali Ayan Ali, produced by Times Music.
Yaara (2007) – Lyrics for compositions by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, sung by Pankaj Udhaas, produced by Music Today.
He has also adapted classical and Sufi poetry for contemporary musical interpretations, such as the Toona adaptation from Baba Bulle Shah, performed by Shubha Mudgal for Mira Nair’s Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love.
Film and Writing Career
Madan Gopal Singh has contributed as a screenwriter, lyricist, and dialogue writer to several acclaimed films:
Qissa – Wrote dialogues and lyrics for this critically acclaimed Punjabi film directed by Anup Singh.
Rasayatra – A short film on the legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur, directed by Nandan Kudhyadi; it won the National Award for Best Short Film (1995).
Ekti Nadir Naam (The Name of a River) – Co-wrote the screenplay, dialogues, and lyrics with director Anup Singh; the film is based on the life of filmmaker Ritwik Kumar Ghatak and won the G. Aravindan Award and the Silver Dhow at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (2002).
Kaya Taran – Wrote dialogues for this film about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, directed by Sashi Kumar; it received the G. Aravindan Award (2004).
Singh’s work spans both narrative and documentary cinema, combining deep cultural research with literary and musical sensibilities.
Academic and Cultural Contributions
Beyond music and cinema, Singh is a film theorist and cultural historian, lecturing extensively on the intersections of art, cinema, and society. His scholarship often bridges classical Indian arts, literature, and contemporary cinema, making him a unique figure in both academic and artistic circles.
