मित्रमंडळ बेंगळुरू कट्टा - ಮಿತ್ರ ಮಂಡಳ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕಟ್ಟೆ: स्वरानंद

Born in 1914, at Barisal (now B’desh) Anil’s mother was musically inclined and arranged for his basic music training at a very young age. However, in school he immersed himself into the freedom struggle and was involved in a series of bombings and on six occasions was sent to jail. His involvement in revolutionary activities, disrupted his schooling and when his father died in 1930, the young Anil was forced to leave for Calcutta in disguise to evade arrest. He did a series of small jobs in recordings and as private music teacher, but this was interrupted when his past caught up with him. The police came and arrested him and he was again sent to jail.

After his release in 1934, he moved to Bombay. Hiren Bose, who knew him from his Calcutta days managed to get him some assignments in Bombay. And slowly Anil established himself as a composer to recon with.

During this early period, Anil Biswas is said to have influenced a number of singers of the day. He had the biggest influence on Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, and Lata Mangeshkar.

Singer Mukesh and Talat Mehmood

Anil Biswass introduced Mukesh, in "Pehli Nazar" (1945), with 'Dil Jalta Hai to Jalane De'. It was Anil Biswas who persuaded Mukesh to stop imitating K.L. Saigal and to develop his own style.

Anil Biswas also gave Talat Mahmood his first break, in 1949 for Arzoo. Talat had a characteristic quiver in his voice, which he was trying to overcome and it was Anil Biswas who persuaded him to keep this, and develop this into his own personal trademark.

Anil Biswas is also said to have influenced the style of Lata Mangeshkar. He coached her and helped her improve her breath control.

He composed music for over 100 movies from the late 30s to the late 60s and while being on top of his carrier, gave it all up and shifted base to Delhi, as he didn’t approve of the way film music was transforming in Bollywood. Much of the time that he was in Delhi, he was associated with All India Radio, and to a lesser extent with Doordarshan. With a two year break when he was the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, he served with AIR (Delhi) from 1963 to 1975. He did the music for Doordarshan's "Hum Log" (1984), "Baisakhi" and "Phir Wohi Talaash".