’Geetashri’ Sandhya Mukherjee

		Sandhya Mukherjee was born on 4th of October 1931 in Calcutta, India. After her matriculation she started learning classical music under Shri Santosh Basu. Later on she took her training under Shri Gemini Ganguly, Prof. A Kannan and Prof. Chinmaya Lahiri. In 1950 she became a disciple of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan followed by his son Ustad Munavvar Ali Khan. R C Boral, the music director of New Theaters gave her a song "Ha Ha Ha Hans Ke Jiye Ja" in a film called "Anjaan Garh". She later sang "Ashkon Me Chhipi Mohabbat Ki Kahani" in Pehla Aadmi, which gave her immense popularity in Calcutta. Then she moved to Bombay where she earned fame with a duet with Hemant Kumar "Aa Gupchup Gupchup Pyar Karen" in Sazaa. Later, she sang for Anil Biswas in "Taraana" a duet with Lata "Bol Papiha Bol Re" which was an instant hit. She got films like Ratnadeep, Husn Ka Chor, Fareb etc, but she could not sing for a long time because of her training in classical, her voice was best suited for that. Her voice had the same Bengali touch as that of Geeta Dutt. In 1966, she married poet Shyamal Gupta and settled with her husband in Calcutta.

Sandhya Mukherjee

It was the beginning of '50s when Salil wrote those unforgettable songs, such as 'Shyamal Baroni ogo kanya'. 'Prantarero Gaan amaar' and in 1953 came Sandhya's 'Ujjal Ek jhank paayra'. A very unusual composition for early '50s.
I just don't understand why Salil wrote so few songs for such a talented singer such as Sandhya Mukherjee. She had a superb and well-trained voice and at one time she became the most popular female playback singer in the Bengali films during the famous Uttam-Suchitra era ! She sang numerous popular songs for other composers but very few for Salil. One of her most memorable Salil songs 'Shrabon ajhore jharey' in the film 'Kinu Goalaar Goli' is just spell-binding. Another beautiful song of Sandhya, which was never released commercially was in fact recorded for All India Radio, Calcutta. Few people have heard this beautiful song 'Godhulir shaanto chhayaay'.

Hnd = Hindi; Mal = Malayalam; Tam = Tamil; Tel = Telegu; Kan = Kannada; Bng = Bengali; Oth = Other

Nr	Song	Year	Any other variations
Hnd	Mal	Tam	Tel	Kan	Bng	Oth
SM1	Ujjal Ak jhaank paayra Lyric:Bimalchandra Ghosh	1953	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
SM2	Aay brishti Jhempey	1953	MB4	-	TI3	-	-	-	-
SM3	Jare jaa phirey jaa	1966	JJ5	SW5	-	-	-	-	-
SM4	Gun gun goon bhromora	1966	-	NP3	-	-	-	RB4	-
SM5	Jiboney ja kichhu chhilo	1967	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
SM6	Jodi naam dhorey taarey daaki	1967	DY3	CC4	-	-	SP6	-	-
SM7	Godhulir shaanto chhayaay (AIR)	19	OB3	-	-	-	-	SC14	-
SM8	Key jano pather maajhey (AIR)	19	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
SM9	Guru guru guru megh garojey (AIR)	19	AN6	-	-	-	-	LM33 SC32	-
SM10	Sajoni go kathaa shono	1969	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-
SM11	Gaa gaa re paakhi gaa	1969	AM1	-	-	-	-	-	-
SM12	Gahano raati ghanaay	1971	AN3	-	-	-	-	-	-
SM13	Sajoni go sajoni din rajoni	1971	-	NL2	-	-	-	-	-
SM14	Kichhu aar kohibo na	1973	-	-	-	-	-	LM36
SM15	O neel neel paakhi	1973	-	NL3	-	-	-	-	GS2/BJ2

The songs numbered SM#7,SM#8 and SM#9 were broadcast in the All India Radio, Calcutta as part of 'E Maasher Gaan', literally meaning 'Song of the month'. These songs were never released commercialy. Which is a pity.
Song# SM9 was later recorded by Sabita and Lata with completely different lyrics in both cases. The version of Sabita (SC32 -Tumi ki kakhano) was first recorded and then came Lata's version in 1988. I still consider Mukesh version of this song ('Nain hamaare' -AN6) in the film Annadata as the best.
The song#SM4 is really another version of that beautiful Sabita song (RB4) from the film 'Rai Bahadur'. Sandhya's version is faster with a completely different rhythm and character to it, but the melody is same. Both songs are wonderful.
Song#SM15 has two 'other' versions. The first one is from a Gujrati Film called 'Ghar Sansaar (GS2)' and the second one is from an Oriya Film called 'Batashi Jhara' (BJ2).

Barnalidi,

i was waiting for the day when someone would put an article on Sandhya Mukherjee.😛

There is a song of hers I really like but cannot get hold of; it is I think based on desh raag and the song is "potho chharo ogo shyam..kotha rakho mor".

Any idea where i can get it from???

Shandhya Mukherjee is one of my most favorite Bangla singers. Amar ekhoni ei gaan ta shunte ichha hochhe: 'Gaane mor kon indradhanu' 😊 .

I haven't really heard her Hindi songs or may be do not remember, but her bengali numbers were very popular in our house.

songs like - "Jaare ja phire ja"," Ujjwal ek jhak payra", "Ai brishti jhepe",

"Jibone ja kichu chilo", "Shojoni go kotha shono" and of course "potho ccharo". are some of the songs I can think about at this time. But it sure is nostalgic..

Adi, do you remember 'Ami tar chholonai bhulbona....., Kaaj nei, aar amar bhalobeshe'?

Originally posted by: Kanta80

Adi, do you remember 'Ami tar chholonai bhulbona....., Kaaj nei, aar amar bhalobeshe'?

Yeah this one too.. My mom just adores her

And how about 'ga ga re pakhi ga', Salil Choudhury composition that was also sung in Hindi by Yasudas ji 'Ni sa ga ma pa ni'.. just love the song 😳

Personally though - I have preferred Arati over Sandhya Mukherjee, but maintain that she is the greatest 😊

Adi I am jst nw luking fr some of her songs and trying to upload thm here.
jst wait fr sometime.

Originally posted by: Barnali

Adi I am jst nw luking fr some of her songs and trying to upload thm here.
jst wait fr sometime.

Done !!👍🏼