Susmit Bose

Susmit Bose began singing in 1971 with the release of his single, Winter Baby by HMV (EMI) India. Not satisfied with singing just pop songs in nightclubs in deluxe hotels, the only stage in those days for a western music performer, he discontinued professional performance in 1980.

Since then he has performed only in concerts for advocacy campaigns. His last album, Man of Conscience, was released by CBS (India) in 1990. He returned to the stage after almost fifteen years with his fourth album, Public Issue, which was followed by Be the Change.

Susmit was the first to write record and perform original songs in English in India at a time when only songs by other popular singers from the west were accepted by the audience.

He was also the first to write songs on issues that were till then considered “private” and not to be talked about—let alone sing about. Winter Baby was a song about child sexual abuse which put him on the UK top ten lists.

He is the first and only one to sing songs on social justice in English and perhaps only singer in India who has relentlessly stuck to his genre, which he calls urban folk music.