'Banashree left us to attend guru Sudhin Dasgupta's music classes in heaven'

KOLKATA: The golden era of Bengali music lost yet another jewel as noted singer Banashree Sengupta breathed her last on Sunday morning. The music fraternity lost a rare artiste who had set an example by creating a niche for herself without relying only on playback assignments in projects like Tapan Sinha’s “Harmonium” and Yatrik’s ‘Chhinapatra’.
Well-known for songs like “Aaj bikeler daake”, “Chi chi chi”, “Amar onge jwale rongmashal”, “Moynamotir pother dhare”, “Dur akashe tomar sur”, “Andhakarke bhoy kori”, “Sundorboner sundori gaach”, the 73-year-old singer had worked with greats like Sudhin Dasgupta, Nachiketa Ghosh, Salil Chowdhury, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit Bandopadhyay, Prabir Mazumdar and Ajoy Das.
Sengupta, who was born in Chinsurah, was undergoing treatment for lung infection at the SSKM Hospital for some time. According to veteran composer Abhijit Bandopadhyay, the noted singer has always remained a “surprise” for him. “She was like a student who later went on to work with me. Among the students of Bani Chakra, she was the one who stood out. I remember Renubala Das, the founder of Bani Chakra, would ask Sudhin-da (Sudhin Dasgupta) to get her to record songs with her,” he said.
Her simplicity was infectious, Bandopadhyay said. “Till the last days of her life, her voice quality remained the same. Despite being a simple person, she would properly express matured thoughts through her songs,” he said, before recalling a recording experience with her. “It was a song called ‘Chhaila chhapila’ for the film ‘Haraye Khunji’. What a terrific duet Banashree and Sabita Chowdhury had sung! Even Salil Chowdhury had come to the floors then. None of the singers wanted to give away one inch to the other while recording. What’s best about Banashree was that she was equally good in singing sentimental, folk and even cabaret numbers,” said Bandopadhyay, who had recorded a populat non-film song called “Er beshi kichhu chai na”.
Veteran singer Arati Mukherjee thanked the state government and the music fraternity of Kolkata for taking care of Sengupta when she was ailing. “In an age when so many artistes often remain so unsung once they are past their prime, it is so good to see the government and musicians taking so much of care for her,” she said. Describing Sengupta as a “talented, caring and a simple-hearted person”, Mukherjee said she had enjoyed singing duets with her. “She joined the industry a few years after me. I loved her songs and must say that she was very popular at shows too. She would often come down to my house. I too would visit her. I think, the death of her husband, Shanti Dasgupta, took a huge toll on her. He used to take meticulous care of her. She’d cry whenever I met her in recent times while I’d ask her to take recourse in music. I had even suggested that she come and stay with me in Mumbai to come to terms with grief,” said Mukherjee, adding how years back Sengupta had also sung a Ravindra Jain composed Hindi song (“Khushiya Hi Khushiya”) for “Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye” with Yesudas and Hemalata.
Describing Sengupta as a “versatile singer, composer Suparnakanti Ghosh said, “My father, Nachiketa Ghosh, had recorded a cabaret number called ‘Dhu Dhu Ei Sahara’ from Uttam Kumar’s ‘Chhinapatra’. I had played the bongo and Banashree-di had modulated her voice so expressively for the number that was picturised on Supriya Devi.” Some years back, Sengupta had recorded two rhymes set to music by Ghosh for an album titled “Chhorar Desher Khonje”.
Veteran singer Haimanti Shukla, who rushed to Rabindra Sadan to pay respect to the departed singer, recounted how Sengupta had joined the Saraswati Puja celebrations at her residence on January 26. “It was a long association. I remember having first met her when I had gone to record a song at a studio in Dharamtala. She had just come from Chinsurah. I was young and she had appreciated my voice even then. She was very fond of me and we would tease each other quite often,” Shukla said. On being asked how she would like to remember the singer, Shukla said, “For me, she was a simple-hearted soul who had a soulful voice.”
For singers who were junior to her, Sengupta was a big inspiration. Said Subhamita, “During her heydays, both film songs and basic numbers were equally appreciated. She showed us how to leave behind an impression by singing basic numbers. From her, I learnt that if we can sing a good song from the heart, it will connect with the audience. Through her rendition, she showed the power of music's emotional connect.”
One of Sengupta’s famous songs was “Ekdin sheidin songibiheen pothe chole jete hobe” that was composed by her guru – Sudhin Dasgupta. Many believe that it was the rigorous training under her guru that had helped Sengupta scale such great heights. Through her death, however, Sengupta will perhaps be reunited with her soulmates, hoped the late composer’s wife, Manjusree Dasgupta. “Banasree was part of my family. I loved her so much and even scolded her a lot too. At one point in time, we were in the same hospital. I just can’t believe that she has left me behind this way,” Dasgupta said. Then, on second thoughts, she referred to her husband and said, “Banashree left us behind to attend the music school of her dada (Sudhin Dasgupta) in heaven. I’m sure a gala concert is happening there. Hope she finds peace there."