Nilayan Chatterjee

Nilayan Chatterjee (pronounced [nilajancʰɔtterʤeɛ]; born c.1990), also known by his stage name RJ Neil, is an Indian radio jockey, music composer, singer-songwriter, and lyricist who works in the Bengali film industry and independent music scene. He is best known for composing soundtracks for films such as Kacher Manush (2022), Bagha Jatin (2023), Dilkhush (2023), Boomerang (2024), and Khadaan (2024).

Early life and education

Chatterjee was born around 1990 in Kolkata, West Bengal. Details about his early life and formal musical training are not extensively documented. He began his career in radio in 2007.

Career

Radio career

Chatterjee began his career as a radio jockey in 2007, hosting the late-night Hindi show Masala Nights on Red FM Kolkata under the name RJ Neil. His show featured innovative segments including "Dark Hour," which allowed anonymous listener confessions, and "Instant song creation," where he would compose songs on-the-spot using random words provided by listeners.

His radio promotion performance "Dedicated to DEV & RUKMINI" in 2019 caught the attention of actor Dev, which facilitated his transition into film music composition.

Music career

Chatterjee made his film composition debut with the 2022 romantic comedy Kishmish, where he composed all the songs and also wrote lyrics. He continued his collaboration with Dev on the romance drama Kacher Manush (2022), for which he wrote and composed the lead single "Chumbak Mon", sung by Usha Uthup.

His work on the patriotic biopic Bagha Jatin (2023) included composing title tracks such as "Jago Re Bagha" and "Ei Desh Amar." During this project, Chatterjee received guidance and mentorship from composer A. R. Rahman.

In 2023, he scored the anthology romance Dilkhush, which featured the hit track "Bibagi Phone". His 2024 projects include the thriller Boomerang and the supernatural drama Khadaan, for which he also served as co-producer alongside Dev.

Following their work on Khadaan, Chatterjee collaborated again with composer–singer Rathijit Bhattacharjee on the soundtrack of the period action film Raghu Dakat, starring Dev and directed by Dhrubo Banerjee. The film's music contributed to his growing popularity, and he participated in promotional tours across several districts of West Bengal alongside actor Dev.

The collaboration followed the popularity of the song "Kishori" from Khadaan, which became widely popular among younger listeners. Bhattacharjee provided vocals for the track alongside singer Antara Mitra

In 2026, he composed five songs for Rahool Mukherjee's Mon Maaney Na (2026 Bengali Film), marking the third collaboration between the director-music director duo. This film marks the debut of Ritwik Bhowmik in Bengali cinema as well as Hiya Chatterjee.

Chatterjee has collaborated with prominent playback singers including Sonu Nigam, who reportedly returned his fee after recording a song for one of Chatterjee's projects upon learning it was for an independent film with a limited budget.

On World Music Day 2023, Chatterjee shared his perspectives on the evolving Bengali music industry and the balance between commercial success and creative expression.

Independent music

Alongside his film work, Chatterjee has released independent music including lo-fi singles and EPs. His track "Apatoto Jai" was featured in a lo-fi version by The Times of India. He also released the Kacher Manush Original Motion Picture Soundtrack EP in 2022.

Personal life

Chatterjee was previously married to radio jockey RJ Ayantika. The couple announced their separation and Ayantika's second marriage in 2023. Despite their separation, they maintained a cordial relationship and were seen together at a friend's wedding after their divorce.

Discography

Film scores

Singles and EPs

Reception

Chatterjee's score for Bagha Jatin was praised for its patriotic fervor and thematic coherence by The Times of India. His work has been recognized for blending traditional Bengali folk elements with contemporary musical arrangements.

External links

• at IMDb