Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Indian Singer
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay is a legendary singer. She made her career in Bengali and Hindi music. She was awarded Banga Bibhushan, National Film Award, and Nishi Padma for her contributions to the music industry in India.
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay was a renowned Indian singer and musician, specializing in Bengali 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. In the year 1970, she won National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her songs in the films "Jay Jayanti" and "Nishi Padma".
Early Life of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay was born in Kolkata, West Bengal on 4th October 1931 to Narendranath Mukhopadhyay and Hemprova Devi. 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 in the film "Anjaan Garh" at the age of 17 years. After her marriage to the Bengali poet Shyamal Gupta she settled in her home city of Kolkata. Her husband went on to write the lyrics for many of her famous songs. Her most famous collaboration is with the Bengali singer Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay with whom she sang countless duets, primarily as playback for Bengali films produced from Kolkata. Their duets were often picturized for 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".
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay"s initiation for Bangladesh Liberation War
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".
Popular Bengali Songs of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Some of the popular Bengali songs of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay are "Ujjwal Ek Jhank Payra", "Dhirey Bohey Meghna", "Aami Je Jalshaghore", "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" etc.
Popular Hindi Songs of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Some of the popular Hindi songs of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay are "Ab Nahin Dharat Dheer Dheer", "Aayi Meri Jawaani Ki Sanjh Suhani" , "Dil Bhi Udaas Udaas Chaman Bhi Udaas", "Bol Papihe Bol Re Tu Hai Kaun Mera Chitchor (with Lata Mangeshkar), "Tose Naina Laage Re Sanwariya", "Beet Jayegi Umariya Ye Phir Na Milegi" etc.
Personal Life of Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay married acclaimed lyricist Shyamal Gupta in 1966. The couple remained married until the death of Shyamal Gupta in 2010. on 27th February 2022, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay was hospitalized on account of her Covid positive report. The legendary singer was suffering from lung infections, hypotension, ischemic heart disease, and other health issues. On 15th February 2022 breathed her last after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
