PM Modi says cultural world a lot poorer after Sandhya Mukherjee's death, Mamata Banerjee calls it a personal loss

Bengali semi-classical singer Sandhya Mukherjee passed away on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 91 and had been unwell for the past few days.

Paying tributes to legendary singer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that her demise has left the cultural world a lot poorer, but her melodious renditions will continue to enthral the coming generations.

PM Modi tweeted, "The passing away of Gitashree Sandhya Mukhopadhyay Ji leaves us all extremely saddened. My thoughts are with her family and admirers in this sad hour," he wrote.



West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called Mukhopadhyay's demise a void in our world of music.


Banerjee said that she used to look up to Mukherjee as an elder sister. She called it a grave personal loss. "She used to be the moving spirit in our Sangeet Akademi and we had conferred upon her Bangabibhushan (2011) & Sangeet Mahasamman ( 2012)," she shared.


Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee expressed condolences to Mukherjee's family.


Bengali actor Jeet called it an 'end of an era'.


Author Taslima Nasreen said that she grew up listening to Mukherjee's songs. She spent the evening listening to her mother's favourite song by the legendary singer 'Ghum Ghum Chand' from 1955 film 'Sabar Oparey'.


Actress Saayoni Ghosh shared a 35-second video of Mukherjee singing, as Banerjee sat next to her. "Rest in Music," she wrote.


Film-maker Sulagna Chatterjee said Mukherjee was her introduction to Bengali modern music. She first heard the singer's songs when she was going through her uncle's wedding film. She grew up singing her songs during Durga Pujo festivities.

She spent Tuesday night listening to 'E Gaane Prajapati', 'E Sudhu Gaaner Din', 'Aakasher Astaraage' and more.


Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said Mukherjee's death is a huge loss to the world of music.


MLA Raj Chakrabarty said Mukherjee's demise is a 'dark day in Bengal'. "She'll forever be treasured in the hearts of her admirers," he wrote.


Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim expressed grief that Bengal's queen of melody passed away. "We lost a star from the world of music. Her melodies have mesmerised the hearts of millions across generations," he wrote.


International Women's Media Foundation member Sohini Chattopadhyay, who won the National Award for Film Criticism in 2019, called Mukherjee's death a huge loss. "She also playbacked for 17-odd films in Hindi. Trained under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan," she wrote.


The late 91-year-old had worked with leading music directors such as S D Burman, Naushad and Salil Chaudhury.