Geetashree Sandhya Mukherjee (; 4 October 1931 – 15 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and musician, specialising in Bengali music. She received Banga Bibhushan, the highest civilian honour of the Indian state of West Bengal in 2011. State honours nine with Banga-Vibhushan. The Times of India. She also won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her songs in the films Jay Jayanti and Nishi Padma in the year 1970.
Early and personal life Mukherjee was born in Dhakuria, Calcutta, on 4 October 1931 to Narendranath Mukherjee, a railway official, and Hemprova Devi. She was the youngest of six children. Her grandfather was a police officer, and the family had lived in Dhakuria since 1911. She was married to noted lyrist Shyamal Gupta, until his death in 2010. She has a daughter named Soumi Sengupta.
Training and career Sandhya started her music training under the direction of Pandit Santosh Kumar Basu, Professor A T Kannan, and Professor Chinmoy Lahiri. However, her guru was Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, followed by his son Ustad Munawar Ali Khan, under whom she mastered Indian classical music. According to Manorma Sharma, "Sandhya has been able to maintain her popularity as a classical vocalist even after acquiring the gloss and the glow of playback singing ..."
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 Taarana in 1950. She sang, as a playback singer, in 17 Hindi films. She decided to come back to and settle in her home city Kolkata in 1952 for personal reasons. She married Bengali poet Shyamal Gupta in 1966. Gupta went on to write the lyrics for many of her songs.
Her best known collaboration is arguably with the Bengali singer Hemanta Mukherjee with whom she sang numerous duets, primarily as playback for Bengali films. Hemanta and Sandhya became known as the voices behind the pairings of the Bengali superstar Uttam Kumar and his numerous heroines, most notably being the actress Suchitra Sen, whose singing voice she became. Besides Hemanta Mukherjee's compositions, her largest body of work is with Robin Chattopadhyay and Nachiketa Ghosh.
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 Kendra, 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 song Bangabandhu Tumi Phirey Ele. She later became one of the first foreign artists to visit Dhaka, performing at an open-air concert in Paltan Maidan in Dhaka to celebrate the first Ekushey February after Bangladeshi independence in 1971.
On 26 January 2022, on the Republic Day and a few days before testing positive for COVID-19, Mukherjee was awarded the Padma Shri for her performance in music. However, she refused the award, labelling it "disparaging and degrading". Mukherjee died of cardiac arrest and COVID-19 complications at a private hospital in Kolkata on 15 February 2022, at the age of 90.
Songs Year Film Song(s) Music director Lyrics Language Co-singer(s) 1945Non FilmGirin Chakrabarti"Tumi firaye diyachho", "Tomar akashe jhilmil kore" Bengali 1948 Anjangarh "Ab Nahi Dharat Dheer Dheer" R C Boral Hindi1948AnjangarhR C Boral "Ramdhun", "Gun gun mor gaan" Bengali1948SabyasachiRobin Chattopadhyay Bengali1948Samapika"Manusher mone bhor holo aj", "Protima goriya debota cheyechhi", "Amare loye je", "Ami shudhu bangi"Robin Chattopadhyay Bengali 1948AbhimanRamchandra Pal 1949Bidushi Bharja 1949Chota Bhai"Ramdhun"Pankaj MullickHindi1949SwamiHemanta Mukherjee Bengali1950Pehla AdmiR C Boral Hindi1950Non FilmShyamal Mitra"Ogo mor geetimoy"Bengali 1951 Sazaa S D Burman "Aa Gupchup Gupchup Pyar Karen" "Ye Baat Koi Samjhaye Re" Hindi 1951 Taraana Anil Biswas "Bol Papihe Bol Kaun Hai Tera Chitchor" Hindi 1952 Izzat Bulo C Rani "Ishq Me Ho Jao Barbaad" "Kya Kya Sitam Sahe Hain Do Din Ki Zindagi Me" "Tera Jhoomta Shabaab Jaise" Hindi 1953 Baaghi Madan Mohan "Jungle Mangal" Hindi 1953 Ek Do Teen Vinod "Aa Jaa Re Balam Tujhe Meri Kasam" Hindi 1953 Fareb Anil Biswas "Udaasiyon Me Nazar Kho Gai" Hindi 1953 Husn Ka Chor Bulo C Rani "Dheere Dheere Dil Me Samaa" "Dil Lagaane Wale Apne Se Hazaaron Hain" "O Jaane Waale Kisi Ka Salaam Leta Jaa" "O Sangdil Zamaane Mujkhe Kyun Rulaata Hai" Hindi 1954 Manohar S Venkat Raman "Aayee Basant Ritu Aayee Bahaar Leke" "Doob Gaye Sab Aas Ke Taare" "Rut Hai Suhaani Raat Jawan Hai" "Sukh Bhari Duniya Meri Barbaad Jo" Hindi 1956 Jaagte Raho Salil Choudhary "Maine Jo Lee Angrayee Teri Mehfil" Hindi 1966 Mamta Roshan "Tose Naina Laage Re Saanwariya" Hindi 1970 Jai jayanti "Jhana jhanana Sur jhankare" Bengali "Mone Mone Gatha Mala" "Shaon Elo Oi Thoi Thoi" "Projapoti Mon Amar" "Tumi Nahoy Rahite Kachhe" "Mor Bhiru Se Krishnakali" "Madhumaloti Dake Aay" "Polash Amar Krishnachura" "Bashi Go Bole Papiya" "Lalita Go Bole Di" "Holud Gandar Phool" "Ei Sanjhjhara Lagane" "Dhanya Hobo Je Ami" "Ebare Bujjechi Ami" "Ami Tomare Bhalobesechi" "Mayabati Meghe Elo Tandra" Non film "O Re Jeenewale" "Ogu Sindur Ranga Megh" "Shankha Bajiye Make" "Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa" "Piya Piya Piya Ke Dake Amare" "O Bak Bakum Paira" "Badho Jhulona" "E Je Bangla" "Tumi Je Amar Pratham Rater" "Aha Ki Misti" 1961 Saptapadi Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay"Ei Path Jadi Na Sesh Hoy" "He Sagar Keno Tomay Nil Dekhi" "Aaj Keno O Chokh Lal" "Ke Tumi Amare Dako" "Gane Mor Kon Indradhanu" "Boro Derite Tumi" "Tumi To Janona" "Champa Chameli" "Se Gan Jai Je Bhule" "Boro Derite Tumi Bujhle" "Ogo Momo Prano Hay" "Ore O Bijan Baner Pakhi" E Shudhu Ganer Din" "Kichhu Khushi Kichhu Nesha" "Moner Madhuri Mishaye" "Shuno Shuno Ei Raat" "Aar Dekona Ei Modhu Name" "Tari Bhese Jay" "Na Jani Kon Chhande" "Sharame Jorano Akhi" "E Sundar Ratri" "Ekti Sukher Neer" "Prabhat Surja" "Aaj Holi Khelbo Shyam" "Ore Sokal Sona" "Bah Chharata To Besh" "Shyamal Barani Ogo Kanya" "Prantateri Gaan Amar" Salil Chowdhury "Ujjal Ekjhak Payra" "Shraban Ajhare Jhare" "Aay Bristy Jhepe" "Jare Ja Phire Ja" "Gungun Mon Bhomra" "Jibone Ja Kichu Chilo" "Jodi Naam Dhore Take Daaki" "Godhulir Shanto Chhayay" "Ke Jeno Pother Majhe" "Guru Guru" "Sajani Go Kotha Shono" "Sajani Go Sajani" "Kichu Aar Kahibo Na" "O Neel Neel Payra" 1965 Saiyan Se Bhaile Milanwa "Dhire Dhire Bole" Robin Chatterjee P. L. Santoshi Bhojpuri Mohammed Rafi
Bengali film songs YearFilm Song Composer(s) Lyricist Co-singer 1950 Se Nilo Biday "Tobo Moner Modhubone" Subal Dasgupta solo "Amar Surer Dheu Legechhe" 1955Hrad "Chand Dube Gele" Manabendra Mukhopadhyay solo Sabar Uparey "Ghum Ghum Chand" Robin Chatterjee Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo "Janina Phurabe Kobe" 1956 Asamapta "Bauri Hoyeche Aaj Sreeradha" Nachiketa Ghosh solo "Monobeena Baaje" "Eto Bhabini Konodin" Ekti Raat "Kakon Bole Shrimoti Tobe" Anupam Ghatak solo "O Bashi Daake" "Prodiper Shikha Keno Kaape"Ek Din Ratre "Se Gaan Ami" Salil Chowdhury soloShankar Narayan Bank "Etodin Pore Tomaro Poth" Anupam Ghatak solo Trijama "Pakhir Kujon Kunje" Hemanta Mukherjee solo "Dhup Chirodin" "Jhiri Jhiri Piyaler" "Matite Chandramallika" Raat Bhore "Bone Noy Mone Aaj" Satinath Mukherjee solo "Rimjhim Jhim Taale" Shilpi "Tumi Je Amar" Robin Chatterjee Pranab Raha solo "Nupurer Gunjone" 1957Chandranath "Mor Bheeru Se Krishnokoli" Robin Chatterjee Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo Jatra Holo Shuru "E Gaan Gaoa Mor" solo "Jadubhare Naina Tore" Pathe Holo Deri "Polash Aar Krishnachura" Robin Chatterjee Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo "Ei Sajhero Logone" "Tumi Nahoy Rohite Kachhe" "E Shudhu Gaaner Din" 1959Sonar Harin "Ei Je Chander Alo" Hemanta Mukherjee Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo 1961 Saptapadi "Ei Poth Jodi Na Shesh Hoy" Hemanta Mukherjee Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Hemanta Mukherjee "Ei Poth Jodi Na Shesh Hoy" (female) solo 1962 Bipasha "Ami Swapne Tomay Dekhechi" Robin Chatterjee Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo "Klantir Poth" "Rojoni Pohalo" 1963 Bhrantibilas "Tumi Ki Sei Tumi Nao" Shyamal Mitra Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo Deya Neya "E Gaane Projapotir" (part 1) Shyamal Mitra Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo "E Gaane Projapotir" (part 2) Uttar Falguni "Kaun Tarah Se Tum" Robin Chatterjee Traditional solo "Tum Chatur" "Zindagi Ki Ek Bhool Thi" "Tore Naina Lage" Chhaya Devi 1965 Alor Pipasa "Minoti Mor Tomar Paaye" Hemanta Mukherjee solo "Aaja Piya" 1966 Notun Jibon "Ami Tomare Bhalobeshechi" solo "Tomare Bhalobeshechi" Uttar Purush "Moner Dewale Chirodin" Manabendra Mukhopadhyay Shyamal Gupta solo 1967 Antony Firingee "Tunhu Mamo Monopran Hey" Anil Bagchi solo "Ghiri Ghiri Aai" "Ami Je Jalsaghare" (female) "Champa Chameli Golaperi Baage" Manna DeyGar Nasimpur "Je Golap Kaantar Ghaye" Shyamal Mitra solo Nayika Sangbad "Aji Chonchol Mon" Hemanta Mukherjee solo "Ki Mishti Dekho" "Keno E Hridoy" 1969 Kamallata "O Mon Kokhon Shuru" Robin Chatterjee Pranab Roy Shyamal Mitra "Se Bine Aar Janena" "Niyon Mohon Shyam" "Kohe Chondidas" Traditional "Ham Abhagini Tahe Ekakini" Chandidas "Tomar Gorobe Gorobini" Mahajan Padabali Pita Putra "Teer Bedha Pakhi" Pabitra Chattopadhyay solo "Probhuji Tumi Dao Dordhon" "Tumi Koto Sundor" "Raag Je Tomar Mishti" Hemanta Mukherjee 1970 Bhanu Goyenda Jahar Assistant "Phooler Marshum Chandni" Shyamal Mitra Pranab Roy solo "Malatir Kunjabone Bhramarer Gunjarane" "Dure Jadi Chale Jaai" Shyamal MitraNishi Padma "Ore Sokol Sona Molin Holo" Nachiketa Ghosh Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo 1971Shakuntala "Dekhogo Priya Dekhona" Kalipada Sen Saral Guha solo 1972Jiban Saikate "Keno Je Ke Jaane" Sudhin Dasgupta solo 1973Dhire Bohe Meghna "Koto Je Dhire Bohe Meghna" Samar Das, Satya Saha Mohammad Moniruzzaman Hemanta Mukherjee 1974Fuleswari "Hay Hay Hay Hay" Hemanta Mukherjee Pulak Banerjee Aarti Mukherjee 1975Hongsoraaj "Namah Mata Saraswati" Sudhin Dasgupta Aarti Mukherjee, Tarun Banerjee 1976Priyo Bandhobi "Emon Ekti Golpo Bolte Paro" Nachiketa Ghosh solo Rajbongsho "Mohuate Hoyna Nesha" (female) solo "Chol Chol Phire Chol" Arundhati Holme Chowdhury Sudur Niharika "Aaj Ei Raat Jolshar Raat" Manabendra Mukhopadhyay Shyamal Gupta solo "Ahoto Pakhi" 1977Ajasra Dhanyabad "Tumi Je Amari Gaan" Shyamal Mitra Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo Praner Thakur Ramkrishna "Ogo Nororupi Bhogoban" solo "Mon Amar Krishno" 1978Punarmilan "Ebare Bujhechhi Ami" Kalipada Sen solo 1980Priyatama "Bhaibon Dujoner Sneho" Shyamal Mitra Shyamal Mitra Putul Ghor "O Akash" solo Sujata "Jodi Chand Aar Surjo" Nachiketa Ghosh Aarti Mukherjee "Bashi Bajbena Keno" soloUpalabdhi "Golaper Ator Achhe" solo 1981 Kalankini "Payel Bedhechhi Paaye" Shyamal Mitra Gouriprasanna Mazumdar solo "Amar E Buke Kanna" 1982 Sonar Bangla "Ei Je Bangla" Neeta Sen Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Hemanta Mukherjee "Ekdin Chhilo Je Bharote" Sudhin SarkarRajbodhu "Aaju Rong Khelatu" Abhijeet Banerjee solo 1984Abhishek "Keno Mala Dile" Nachiketa Ghosh Shyamal Mitra 1993Prithibir Shesh Station "Khachar Pakhira Aaj" Rabi Bandyopadhyay solo 2000 Reenmukti "Shanto Nodita Aaj" Abhijeet Banerjee Saikat Mitra "Jokhon Brishti Ase" solo
Non-film songs Year Film Song Composer Lyrics Co-singer 1975Down Memory Lane : Music of Kamal DasguptaDown Memory Lane (1975) album songs "Mon Niye Priyo" Kamal Dasgupta Pranab Roy solo
Urdu film songs YearFilm Song Composer(s) Lyricist Co-singer 1960 Humsafar "Aankhen Chhalke Mera Dil Dhadke" Mosleh Uddin Shair Siddiqui solo "Sanwariya O Sanwariya Re"
Awards
Padma Shri in 2022 (refused) Banga Bibhushan in 2011. Bharat Nirman Award – Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.