Aarti Mukherjee, also known as Aarti Mukherji or Arati Mukhopadhyay (born 18 July 1943), is an Indian playback singer who has sung in Hindi films such as Geet Gata Chal (1975), Tapasya (1976), Manokamana, Masoom (1983), and Sooraj Mukhi (1992).
Early life Mukherjee was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, to a Bengali family with a rich cultural and musical heritage. She was introduced to music by her mother. She studied under Shri Susheel Banerjee, Ustaad Mohammed Sagiruddin Khan, Acharya Chinmoy Lahiri, Pandit Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale, and Pandit Ramesh Nadkarni.
She was married to lyricist Subir Hazra, who also assisted Satyajit Ray. Their marriage did not last long and they divorced later. 5 years after the divorce, she remarried a Gujarati businessman from Munim family. She has a son named Soham Munim, who is a talented Sitar player.
Career She was trained in Indian Classical Music from a young age. She sang primarily for Bengali films. In Bangla TV show Dadagiri she reflected on her early days. She stated that she sang on the All India Music Talent Programme in 1955 at age 14 or 15. She won the music contest, "Metro-Murphy Contest" whose judges were music directors including Anil Biswas, Naushad, Vasant Desai and C. Ramchandra. This enabled her career as a playback singer. She got her first break in 1958 Hindi film Sahara, but the music of that film was limited.
After a string of flops like Boy Friend, she decided to open herself to Bengali films. She sang for the first time in a Bengali film called Kanya in 1962. Her versatility and voice infatuated audiences so much that they started losing affection for erstwhile leading singer Sandhya Mukherjee and Pratima Banerjee . In the late 1960s, her voice was used as the on-screen voice of leading actress Suchitra Sen.
In 1966, she sang in the film Golpo Holeo Sotyi, which earned her BFJA Award for Best Female Playback Singer. In 1976, she won again for Chhutir Phande. She lent her voice for leading actresses of the late sixties till eighties, such as Madhabi Mukherji, Sharmila Tagore, Aparna Sen, Debashri Roy and Tanuja. She, along with Asha Bhosle, took the leading spot in the 1970s.
She sang 'Bacche ho tum khel khilone' and in a duet with Kishore Kumar titled 'Do panchi do tinke'. She is said to have sung 15,000 songs in Bengali and Hindi. She had success in the 1970s, that inspired her to return to Bollywood. In 1983, R. D. Burman, who was the mentor of Bengali singers Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet and Andrew Kishore, gave her "Do Naina Ek Kahani" in the film Masoom voicing Shabana Azmi. The song was a chartbuster and is still popular today. It earned her the Filmfare award for best female playback singer in 1983. Her popular repertoire includes 'Radha Banshi Chara Janena', 'Ek Boishakhe Dekha Holo Dujonar', 'Ei Mom Jochonay Ongo Bhijiye', 'Ja Ja Behaya Pakhi Jana', 'Tokhon Tomar Ekush Bochor Bodhoy.' She also has several non-film songs to her credit.
Arati commenced her musical journey in films with Bengali film Subarna Rekha and Hindi film Angulimaal and has, since then, sung thousands of songs in Bengali, Oriya, Manipuri, Assamese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and other languages.
Apart from films, Arati has engaged audiences with albums and live performances on television and stage of Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti. Her versatility can be seen in diverse genres of music like Thumri, Bhajan, Tappa, Tarana, and Ghazal. She performed extensively in India and throughout the world.
Recognition
Bengal Film Journalists Association Award (1965) for Best Female Singer and earned it repeatedly thereafter "Miyan Tansen award" of Sur Singar Samsad for her performance in Geet Gata Chal Gujarat State Government Awards for three consecutive years for her Gujarati film songs. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orissa Government (2015) Lifetime Achievement Award from Times of India Group (2016) National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Do Naina" in Shekhar Kapur's Masoom. Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Female Playback Award – 1976 for Chhutir Phande Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Female Playback Award- 1967 for Golpo Holeo Satyi
Filmography Year Film Language Notes 1958 Sahara Hindi 1960 Angulimaal Hindi 1961 Boy Friend Hindi 1962 Kanna Bengali 1963 Deya NeyaBengali 1965 Subernarekha Bengali 1965 Do Dil Hindi 1965 Abhaya O Srikanta Bengali 1966 Joradighir Chowdhury Paribar Bengali 1967 Badhu Bharan Bengali 1968 Gar Nasimpur Bengali 1969 The Fiancee Bengali 1969 Teen Bhubaner Pare Bengali 1969 Khamoshi Hindi 1970 Bilambita Lay Bengali 1970 Samantaral Bengali 1970 Manjari Opera Bengali 1971Aranya Assamese 1971Manab aru Danab Assamese 1971 Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli Hindi 1971 Dhanyee Meye Bengali 1971 Ghorer Moddhye GhorBengali 1971 Kokhono MeghBengali 1971 Fariad Bengali 1972 Haar Maana Haar Bengali 1972 Brojendrogi Luhongba Manipuri 1972 Bhaiti Assamese 1972 Morichika Assamese 1972 Ajker Nayak Bengali 1972 Andha Atit Bengali 1973 Sriman Prithviraj Bengali 1973 Basanata Bilap Bengali 1974 Alor Thikana Bengali 1974 Bikele Bhorer Phul Bengali 1975 Chhutir Phande Bengali 1976 Tapasya Hindi 1976 Harmonium Bengali 1976 Hangsaraj Bengali 1976 Nidhiram Sardar Bengali 1977 Solah Shukrawar Hindi 1977 Phir Janam Lenge Hum/Janam Janam Na Saathi (1977) Hindi/Gujarati 1977 Anand Ashram Bengali 1977 Baba Taraknath Bengali 1978 Ganga Ki Saugand Hindi 1978 Saajan Bina Suhagan Hindi 1979 Nagin Aur Suhagan Hindi 1979 Ashaati Beej Gujrati 1979 Ganadevata Bengali 1979 Taraana Hindi 1980 Megha Mukti Oriya 1980 Baata Abaata Oriya 1980Manokaamnaa Hindi 1976 Geet Gaata Chal Hindi 1980 Ek Baar Kaho Hindi 1980 Dadar Kirti Bengali 1981 Dustu Misti Bengali 1981 Ulka Oriya 1981 Tike Hasa Tike Luha Oriya 1981 Surya Sakshi Bengali 1982 Rajbadhu Bengali 1983 Masoom Hindi Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer 1983 Desire Oriya 1983 Aashar Akash Oriya 1983 Amar Geeti Bengali 1983 Rang Birangi Hindi 1983 Indira Bengali 1984 Shatru Bengali 1985 Ram Tere Kitne Nam Hindi 1985 Rusvai Hindi 1985 Lallu Ram Hindi 1991Pyaar Ka SaawanHindi1992Sooraj MukhiHindi
Bengali songs Film songs + Year FilmSongComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-artist(s) 1963Deya Neya "Madhobi Modhupe" Shyamal Mitra Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo 1966Sankha Bela "Aji Jhoro Jhoro Mukhoro" Rabindranath Tagore, Sudhin Dasgupta solo 1967 Ajana Shapath "Mone Rekhe More" Hemanta Mukherjee Pulak Banerjee, Miltoo Ghosh solo "Ogo Bondhu Amar" Miltoo Ghosh Miss Priyambada "Se Ki Tobe Tumi Ogo" Azad Rahman and Subir Sen Shankar Bhattacharya Manabendra Mukherjee "O Shalik Amay De Nare" solo 1968 Gar Nasimpur "Ogo Sundor" Shyamal Mitra solo "Borsha Je Elo" "Tuhun Chandra Mor" Shyamal Mitra Kokhono Megh "Sob Dushtu Chhelerai" Sudhin Dasgupta solo "Hariye Jete Jete" "Tomay Dekhe Chhobi Enke" 1969Duti Mon "Ore O Jharna" Hemanta Mukherjee Pulak Banerjee solo Teen Bhubaner Pare "Dure Dure Kachhe Kachhe" solo "Keno Ek Chena Pothe" 1970 Bilambita Loy "Ek Boishakhe Dekha Holo Dujonay" Nachiketa Ghosh Pulak Banerjee solo "Anka Banka Pathe Jodi "Sona Roder Gaan" "Bendhona Phulomala Dore" Manna Dey" "Taap Chare To" Ruposhi "Kheli Je Lukochuri" Shyamal Mitra solo "Kokila Re O Tui Emon Kore" "Namo Namo Sabbojan" "O Sujyi Alo De" Shyamal Mitra, chorus Sagina Mahato "Bhalobeshe Bhashore Bhalo" Tapan Sinha Shyamal Gupta, Hemen Ganguly Anup Ghoshal, Pintoo Bhattacharya "Chhoti Si Panchhi" Anup Ghoshal 1971Dhanyi Meye "Bou Kotha Kou" Nachiketa Ghosh Pulak Banerjee solo Shakuntala "Jaage Chand Jaage Go" Kalipada Sen Saral Guha Manabendra Mukherjee "Modhur Modhur Baaje Beena" chorus 1972Andha Atit "Aha Neel Neel Taragulo" Shyamal Mitra Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Shyamal Mitra 1973 Basanta Bilap "Ami Miss Calcutta" Sudhin Dasgupta Pulak Banerjee solo "Ek Choretei Thanda" "O Shyam Jokhon Tokhon" Sujata Banerjee 1974 Fuleswari "Shunun Shunun Babumoshai" Hemanta Mukherjee Pulak Banerjee solo "Hay Hay Hay Hay" Sandhya Mukherjee 1975Aparajita "Ekti Mayer Shopno Chhilo" Sudhin Dasgupta solo Hongsoraaj "O Babumoshai" Sudhin Dasgupta solo "Are Bahare Baha" "O Didimoni" "Chol Apon Mone" "O Shamu Shyam Re" "O Boro Koshto Ami Pelam" "Om Namah Shibay" Sandhya Mukherjee, Tarun Banerjee Shubho Songbad "Ami Mori Laaje" Sudhin Dasgupta solo "Jetuku Chai" "Tomate Amate" (part 1) "Tomate Amate" (part 2) 1976Anandamela "Bish Koutoy Bish Chhilona" Nachiketa Ghosh solo Shubho Songbad "Aaj Akash Paare" Nachiketa Ghosh solo "Sob Bhalo Jar" "Ja Gechhe Ta Jaak" "Bashite Bahar Chhilo"Sudur Niharika "Jekhanei Tumi Thako" Manabendra Mukhopadhyay Shyamal Gupta solo "Jibon Moroner Sathi" Manna Dey 1977Baba Taraknath "Poncho Prodeepe Dhupe" Neeta Sen Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Banasree Sengupta, Dinendra Chowdhury Padma Nadir Majhi "Padma Nadir Majhi" Dinendra Chowdhury Manik Bandyopadhyay Hemanta Mukherjee, Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Anup Ghoshal and othersProxy "Jodi Tomar Chokher Akash" Hemanta Mukherjee Hemanta Mukherjee 1978 Bansari "Nhoromer Gaan Shune Phool" Hriday Kushari solo "Ke Tumi Ami Jaani" Korunamoyi "Ja Debi Sorbobhuteshu" Sudhin Dasgupta Hemanta Mukherjee Nishaan "Tumi Je Premer" Shyamal Mitra Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Kishore Kumar Tilottama "Amay Tomar Motoi" solo 1979 Krishna Sudama "Dao Likhe Dao" Neeta Sen solo "Phaguay Ke Kumari" Usha Mangeshkar, Gautam, chorus Nondon "Churi Churi Churi Amar Mon" Sudhin Dasgupta Sudhin Dasgupta "Ghore Osustho Bhai" soloSrikanter Will "O Amar Joto Sukh" Salil Chowdhury solo 1980Premer Phandey "Kotha Dilam Ei Aam Bagane" N/A N/A Anup GhoshalPutul Ghor "O Akash" soloRajnondini "Antor Jaar Athoi Sagor" (female) Abhijeet Banerjee solo Sujata "Jodi Chand Aar Surjo" Nachiketa Ghosh Aarti Mukherjee "Megher Pore Megh Jome" soloUpalabdhi "Projapoti Sethay Ghore" solo 1981Chameli Memsaheb "Asom Desher Meye Ami" Bhupen Hazarika Shibdas Banerjee soloKhelar Putul "Amar Jibon Jodi" Hemanta Mukherjee Pulak Banerjee solo 1982 Aparupa "Pelam Kothay" R. D. Burman Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Amit Kumar "Laal Neel Holde" chorus Protikkha "Ei Holo Hashi" Hemanta Mukherjee N/A solo "Seema Theke Dure" Hemanta Mukherjee Rajbodhu "Oi Neel Neel" Abhijeet Banerjee Manna Dey Sonar Bangla "Mukhei Boli Bharotbasi" Neeta Sen Gauriprasanna Mazumdar Manna Dey "Keu Jodi Nao Thake" solo "Tuturidhun" Hemanta Mukherjee, Haimanti Shukla 1983 Bonoshree "E Pathor" Sudhin Dasgupta N/A Manna Dey "Se Kotha Rakhena" "Shudhu Ekti Bhalobashar Gaan" solo Chena Achena "Koto Swapna Chhilo" Abhijeet Banerjee solo "Jouban Palashe Agun" Parabat Priya "Naa Re Naa Tumi Naa" Ajoy Das Pulak Banerjee soloRoktoraag "Aasmame Joto Roshni" Abhijeet Banerjee solo Tagari "Ami Gourharir Choron" N/A N/A solo "Tagari Naamti Amar" "Piriti Rosher Khela" Hemanta Mukherjee 1984 Rashiphal "Dhoro Dhoro Shrimatike" N/A N/A Anup Ghoshal "Ki Hobe Na Hobe" "Jokhon Tokhon Asa" soloShilalipi "Prothom Dekhar Pore" Suparnakanti Ghosh Palash Bandyopadhyay solo 1985Shatru "Bolona Gi Kar Maa Tumi" R. D. Burman Gauriprasanna Mazumdar solo 1987Radharani "Kunjokanon Ghire" solo 1992Rongin Bosonto "Abeshe Bhora Mon" solo 1995 Tarini Maa Tara "Tui Maa Tara Korunamoyi" solo "Bhim Bibhishon" 1997Banglar Bodhu "Tomake Bhalo Je Besechhi" Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, Anupam Dutta solo
Popular songs
"Shyam Teri Bansi Pukare" (with Jaspal Singh – Geet Gaata Chal) "Do Panchhi Do Tinke" "Kabhi Kuchch Pal Jeevan Ke" "Do Naina, Aur Ek Kahani" "Yadon Ko Bhool Jayen To Kaise Bhool Jayen" "Nayana Neer Na Bahao" "Bolo Na Bolo Na Soi" "Prajapati Sethay Ghore" "Kon Kule Aaj Bhirlo Tari" "Swapna Niye" "Sujyi Alo De" "Anugatajane Keno Karo Eto" "Tokhon Tomar Ekush Bosor" "Ei Mon Jochonay Ongo Vijiye" "Sara Mora Kajra Churaya Tu Ne" ( with Rafi -Do Dil – 1965) "Shile Shile Theka Khale" "O Golap O Malati"
References
External links