In January 1972, when Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, affectionately often called ‘Bangabandhu’, returned from jail to a newly unbiased nation, his welcome music was “Bangabandhu Phir Elo Tomar, Swapnar Swadhin Bengalii… (Bangabandhu). is again).
Written by Abidur Rahman and composed by Sudhin Dasgupta, one in all West Bengal’s most prolific composers, the mild but highly effective music was made all of the extra memorable by the loud voice of Sandhya Mukherjee.
The music was a relaxed and emotional reminder of the struggling and sacrifice of numerous individuals, identical to many others sung by Mukherjee as radio music performed an vital function throughout Bangladesh’s liberation wrestle. His songs not solely impressed the troopers of Mukti Vahini (Mukti Sena) but in addition performed an important function in mobilizing the widespread man by creating a way of patriotism within the hearts and minds of the individuals.
Years later, Mukherjee is as soon as once more within the information. On the eve of India’s Republic Day this 12 months, Mukherjee, now 90, was awarded the Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth highest civilian honour, for his contribution to music. However, he refused to simply accept the glory, calling it “disrespectful and degrading”. She mentioned it was too late to present her the Padma Shri and a junior artist could be extra deserving.
Mukherjee was born and introduced up in Kolkata and discovered music from AT Kannan and Chinmoy Lahiri earlier than coaching below Patiala Gharana stalwart Utt Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. He started his musical profession in movie music in Mumbai with the Madhubala-Dilip Kumar starrer Tarana (1951) below composer Anil Biswas. He sang a duet with Lata Mangeshkar within the movie ‘Bol Papeeha Bol’.
Mukherjee sang for about 17 Hindi movies earlier than returning to Kolkata and settling down as a famend playback singer in Bengali cinema. Her most vital pairing was with Bengali singer Hemant Kumar, particularly when she did playback for actor Suchitra Sen.
In Kolkata, she was actively concerned in creating consciousness concerning the problems with the then East Pakistan individuals. He helped musician Samar Das set up the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, the radio broadcasting heart of the Bengali nationalist forces, which performed an vital function in taking the message of Bangabandhu to the plenty.
Mukherjee joined different Indian Bengali artists in elevating funds for the thousands and thousands of refugees who had come to West Bengal from erstwhile East Pakistan. After the formation of Bangladesh, she was one of many first international artists to go to the newly unbiased nation for a live performance. His 1971 efficiency at Dhaka’s Paltan Maidan to have a good time State Language Day – a tribute to Bengali, is remembered even in the present day.
He received the National Award for his songs within the 1971 Bengali drama Nishi Padma and Banga Vibhushan Samman, an honor instituted by the Government of West Bengal in 2011.
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
