Background
He was born in Lucknow, where his father came from a Bengali musical family.
He was born in Lucknow, where his father came from a Bengali musical family.
He was very young when he moved to Delhi with his family, where initially he lived in Patel Nagar in West Delhi, and studied at Springdales School, Pusa Road, where he was the leader and singer of the band, and in 1982, the band created history of sorts by hosting the school"s first rock show. He studied at Deshbandhu College, Kalkaji, Delhi University and has a degree in Economics.
When I look back now, I think the award instilled huge confidence in me," he said. Meanwhile, they also received musical training, from urban-folk singer, Sushmit Bose, a Springdales alumnus, who would occasionally drop in and teach them. Later he moved to Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi.
Moitra started his career as a client servicing executive at an ad agency, while music remained a hobby.
He started composing music for advertising jingles accidentally, when he was asked to compose a jingle at the last minute by Pradeep Sarkar, then the Creative Head of the agency, the jingle was "Bole mere lips. This led to composing music for Indipop albums that were hits including Ab ke Saawan, Mann ke Manjeere: an album of women"s dreams for Breakthrough, and Sapna Dekha Hai Maine (2003) for Shubha Mudgal.
Moitra shifted to Mumbai in 2002, when he started working for Sudhir Mishra"s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, his first signed film, and soon formed team with lyricist Swanand Kirkire, starting with the song, "Bawara Mann.". Even before Parineeta was made, he had created a song called Raath Hamari To, sung by Chitra, which Vidhu Vinod Chopra the producer of Parineeta heard, and subsequently on his recommendation, he received Parineeta (2005) directed by Pradeep Sarkar and later Eklavya: The Royal Guard directed by Chopra himself.
Moitra composed the music in a few films, but gained recognition with his music in Parineeta (2005).
In 2009, he composed score for his first Bengali film, Antaheen. In Coochbehar, a city of West Bengal there is the first "Shantanu Moitra – Our Inspiration" club/society. This club/society is maintained by some college students.