Sandhya Mukhopadhyay is a famous Indian singer and musician, specializing in Bengali music. She mastered Indian classical music. Although classically trained, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay has sung countless Bengali modern songs. She received Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal in 2011.

Early Life of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Sandhya was born in Kolkata. She started her music training under the direction of Pandit Santosh Kumar Basu, Professor A Kannan and Professor Chinmay Lahiri. Sandhya Mukhopadhyay`s guru was Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan.

Singing Career of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay began her career in Mumbai singing Hindi songs as a playback singer with a song in the film Anjan Garh at the age of 17. After her marriage to the Bengali poet Shyamal Gupta she settled in her home city of Kolkata, while her husband went on to write the lyrics for many of her famous songs, she was to first singer to sing them in her harmonious voice. Her most famous collaboration is probably with the Bengali singer Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay with whom she sang countless duets, primarily as playback for Bengali films produced from Kolkata. Hemanta and Sandhya became known as the voices made for each other and their duets were often paired behind the Bengali superstar Uttam Kumar and his numerous heroines. She also sang several of Salil Chowdhury`s hit Bengali songs, including Ujjwal Ek Jhank Payra, regarded as a classic.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay joined the mass movement among Indian Bengali artists in order to raise money for the millions of refugees who had come to Kolkata and West Bengal to escape the fighting. She tried hard to raise global awareness for the cause of Bangladesh. She assisted Bangladeshi musician Samar Das when he was trying to set up the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro, the clandestine radio station broadcasting to Bangladesh and recorded several patriotic songs for him. Sandhya Mukhopadhyay released a famous song Bangabandhu Tumi Phirey Ele on the occasion of the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the imprisoned leader of the new country of Bangladesh.

Later Sandhya Mukhopadhyay became one of the first foreign artists to visit Dhaka to perform at an open-air concert in Paltan Maidan in Dhaka to celebrate the occasion of first Ekushey February after Bangladeshi independence in 1972. Sandhya Mukhopadhyay also recorded several songs for Samar Das`s film Dhirey Bohey Meghna and Salil Chowdhury`s Raktakta Bangla.

Famous Bengali Songs by Sandhya Mukhopadhyay

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

Hindi Songs by Sandhya Mukhopadhyay

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 by Sandhya Mukhopadhyay

Uttar Falguni in 1963 - Kaun Taraje Tum Khelat Holi Dekho Lala

Alor Pipasa in 1965 - Aaja Piya Mohe Nindiya Na Aaye