Daniel B. George
Daniel B. George (born 5 January 1968) is an Indian film composer, arranger, and pianist, best known for his background scores in Hindi cinema and advertising. He received widespread acclaim and awards for his score for *Andhadhun* (2018).[1]
Early life
George was born in Hyderabad, Telangana. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised at The Faith Centre, a Christian shelter home, where he first engaged with gospel music. He studied at Methodist School, Abids, and moved to New Delhi in 1990, where he performed jazz in clubs and hotels, and founded the band *Whimsy Logic*.
Career
In the 1990s, George composed over 300 commercial jingles for advertising directors such as Dibakar Banerjee and Pradeep Sarkar.[2] He transitioned into film as an arranger for *Parineeta* (2005) and arranger/orchestrator for films including *Lage Raho Munna Bhai* (2006), *3 Idiots* (2009), *PK* (2014), and *Pink* (2016).
He made his debut as lead composer with *Johnny Gaddaar* (2007) for director Sriram Raghavan. The collaboration continued with *Agent Vinod* (2012), *Andhadhun* (2018), and *Merry Christmas* (2024).[3]
In 2022, he scored Ashutosh Gowariker's *Toolsidas Junior* and the film *Tikdam*, incorporating retro tones, classical orchestration, and folk influences. A 2022 feature highlighted how he "spent time crafting earthy folk tunes with a contemporary genre" for Toolsidas Junior and Tikdam.[4]
He has composed music for Bengali films *Antaheen* (2009) and *Aparajita Tumi* (2012), mainstream features like *Bypass Road* (2019), *Bell Bottom* (2021), and *Bawaal* (2023), and web series such as *Grahan* (2021) and Sultan of Delhi (2023). Upcoming projects include the Malaysian film *Memori* (2025) and India's first AI-generated feature, *Naisha* (2025).
Musical style
George's scoring style blends retro Hindi and Telugu cinema, jazz, classical, and gospel. As an organist at All Saints Church, Malabar Hill, he is recognized for orchestral and analog-rich compositions. In an interview, George explained that he "has generously used the ambience of Kolkata in [his] recent background score ... [including] nuances from the baul folk instruments."[5]
Media & outreach
He conducted a masterclass at MAHE, Dubai in 2021. His Christmas music video *What Man Santa* gained media coverage for blending Koli rhythms and Mumbai cultural themes.[6]
Personal life
George is married to Pori Bhuyan.
Selected works
Films
- *Seher* (2005)
- *Parineeta* (2005) – arranger
- *Lage Raho Munna Bhai* (2006) – arranger/orchestrator
- *Johnny Gaddaar* (2007) – score
- *Eklavya* (2007)
- *Chandni Chowk to China* (2009)
- *Antaheen* (2009)
- *Aparajita Tumi* (2012)
- *Agent Vinod* (2012)
- *Andhadhun* (2018)
- *Bypass Road* (2019)
- *Toolsidas Junior* (2022)
- *Tikdam* (2022)
- *Bell Bottom* (2021)
- *Bawaal* (2023)
- *Merry Christmas* (2024)
- *Naisha* (2025)
- *Memori* (2025)
Web series
- *Grahan* (2021)
- *Sultan of Delhi* (2023)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | *Andhadhun* | Filmfare Award | Best Background Score | **Won** |
| 2019 | *Andhadhun* | IIFA Award | Best Background Score | **Won** |
| 2019 | *Andhadhun* | Zee Cine Award | Best Background Score | **Won** |
| 2019 | *Andhadhun* | CNN‑IBN Reel Award | Best Background Score | **Won** |
| 2019 | *Andhadhun* | Mirchi Music Award | Best Background Score | Nominated |
| 2020 | *Judgemental Hai Kya* | Filmfare Award | Best Background Score | Nominated |
| 2021 | *Grahan* | Filmfare OTT Award | Best Background Score | Nominated |
| 2022 | *Bell Bottom* | Mirchi Music Award | Best Background Score | Nominated |
| 2023 | *Bawaal* | Filmfare OTT Award | Best Background Score | Nominated |
| 2024 | *Merry Christmas* | FOI Online Award | Best Background Score | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "Andhadhun review: Sriram Raghavan's thriller keeps you on your toes". India Today. 5 October 2018.
- ↑ "Sriram Raghavan music composer Daniel B. George on baul-folk nuances in his music". The Times of India. 17 May 2022.
- ↑ "Review: Agent Vinod". The Telegraph India. 2012.
- ↑ "Composer Daniel B George is set to spill magic with his tunes in Toolsidas Junior and Tikdam". Indulge Express. 5 June 2022.
- ↑ Sen, Debolina (19 May 2022). "Andhadhun music composer Daniel B George on baul‑folk nuances in his music". The Times of India.
- ↑ "From Mumbai's Bandra Neighborhood, a Santa Song Goes Viral". New York Times (Archive). 19 December 2012.
External links
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