Annada Munshi

Munshi playing violin

Annada Munshi (1905-1985) was an Indian artist who is widely considered to promote the Indian Commercial Art on the platform of world Fine arts. He was born in Chowgachhi Zamindar family (now in Shivnagar, Pabna, Bangladesh). He is regarded by many as the 'Father of Indian Commercial Art'. Munshi holds the credit to draw a beautiful conjunction between Fine Arts and Commercialisation. Satyajit Ray himself was trained the commercial art by Annada Munshi when Munshi was holding the post of Art Director in DJ Keymar and Co. Not only in fine arts, Munshi was extensively talented in music too. He possessed a soulful melodious voice and was efficient to play a handsome number of musical instruments, especially violin. 'Crucified India' is one of his notable literary works. In 1985, he breathed his last at his own residence at Talapark, Kolkata.

Annada Munshi
Born	(1905-11-27) 27 November 1905 Pabna, Bengal, British India
Died	13 January 1985(1985-01-13) (aged 79)
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Jayati Munshi

Career

Munshi started his career as a Shepherd Designer at Army Navy Stores in Kolkata. Then he moved to Mumbai . There he worked as an advertiser in the office of the Times of India. With this work, he performed Rabindra Sangeet every month at Akashvani's Mumbai Center and used to sing Swadeshi Jagaran on Prabhat Ferry. As a successful artist, Munshi mastered the art of sketching scenes in film projects also. As a result, he returned to Calcutta with a job as the art director of the international advertising agency DJ Keymar.  His work in advertising gives special fame in the field of the railway and tea board. In 1946, he wrote the script for an outstanding film, along with details and sketches of each scene, in a new way of thinking about his whole life. Eminent Bengali graphic designers Raghunath Goswami, Ranen Ayan Dutta and many others came in contact with Annada Munshi.