Sandhya Mukhopadhyay

Sandhya Mukhopadhyay (Bengali: সন্ধ্যা মুখোপাধ্যায়) (1931-)is a famous Indian singer and musician, specialising in Bengali music. She was born in Kolkata, India. She is also known as Sandhya Mukherjee.

Training and career

Sandhya started her music training under the direction of Pandit Santosh Kumar Basu, Professor A Kannan and Professor Chinmay Lahiri. However, her "guru" was Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan under whom she mastered Indian classical music.

Though classically trained, the bulk of her work consists of Bengali modern songs. She began her career in Mumbai singing Hindi songs, starting with a song in the film "Anjan Garh" at the age of 17. Following her marriage to the Bengali poet Shyamal Gupta she settled in her home city of Kolkata. Gupta went on to write the lyrics for many of her famous songs.

Her most famous collaboration is arguably with the Bengali singer Hemanta Mukherjee with whom she sang numerous duets, primarily as playback for Bengali films produced from Kolkata. Hemanta and Sandhya became known as the voices behind the pairings of the Bengali superstar Uttam Kumar and his numerous heroines. She also sang several of Salil Chowdhury's hit Bengali songs, such as "Ujjwal Ek Jhank Payra", regarded as a classic.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War she joined the mass movement among Indian Bengali artistes to raise money for the millions of refugees who had poured into Kolkata and West Bengal to escape the fighting, and to raise global awareness for the cause of Bangladesh. She assisted Bangladeshi musician Samar Das as he set up the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro, the clandestine radio station broadcasting to Bangladesh and recorded several patriotic songs for him. On the occasion of the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the imprisoned leader of the new country of Bangladesh, she released a famous song "Bangabandhu Tumi Phirey Ele". She later became one of the first foreign artistes to visit Dhaka, performing at an open-air concert in Paltan Maidan in Dhaka to celebrate the first Ekushey February after Bangladeshi independence in 1972. She also recorded several songs for Samar Das's film "Dhirey Bohey Meghna" and Salil Chowdhury's "Raktakta Bangla".

Famous Songs (Bengali)

* Ujjwal Ek Jhank Payra
* E Path Jadi Na Shesh Hoy (duet with Hemanta Mukherjee)
* Ami Tar Cholonay
* Ghum Ghum Chad
* Dhirey Bohey Meghna
* Ay Brishti Jhenpey
* Ki Mishthi Dakho Mishthi
* Aami Je Jalshaghore
* Tonhu Momo Mono Praan He
* Sonkho Baajiye Maa Ke Ghore
* Guru Guru Guru Megh Gorojey
* Jaa Re Jaa Phire Jaa
* Gohono Raatri Ghoney
* Mayaboti Megher O Tondro
* Aami Shudhu Banghi Jaani Naa To Goritae

Hindi Songs (from Hindi/Bollywood Films) [2]

* Anjangahr (1948) - Ab Nahin Dharat Dheer Dheer
* Sabya Sachi (1948) - Aayi Meri Jawaani Ki Sanjh Suhani , Dil Bhi Udaas Udaas Chaman Bhi Udaas
* Taraana (1951) - Bol Papihe Bol Re Tu Hai Kaun Mera Chitchor (with Lata Mangeshkar)
* Mamta (1966) - Tose Naina Laage Re Sanwariya
* Chimni Ka Dhuan (1973) - Beet Jayegi Umariya Ye Phir Na Milegi

Hindi Songs (from Bengali Films)

* Uttar Falguni (1963) - Kaun Taraje Tum Khelat Holi Dekho Lala
* Alor Pipasa (1965) - Aaja Piya Mohe Nindiya Na Aaye

Other references

Online [http://www.downmelodylane.com/sandhyam.html biography]

External links

* [http://music.evergreenbangla.com/music/index.php?action=artist&id=66 Bengali Songs of Sandhya Mukherjee ]
* [http://www.downmelodylane.com/sandhyam.html Sandhya Mukherjee - Contribution to Hindi Films (2) ]