Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (1920 – 1989)
Legendary Indian Singer and Composer

Artist Bikash Bhattacharjee (1940 – 2006)

dated 1979, Watercolor on paper
18 x 13.5 in. (45.7 x 34.3 cm.)

Hemanta was one of the most influential cultural figures in 20thcentury India, best known as a playback singer and music director in both Bengali and Hindi cinema. A stalwart of the golden age of Indian music, Mukhopadhyay was instrumental in shaping the musical and emotional landscape of several generations. His distinctively deep, rich baritone voice, coupled with his masterful compositions, earned him respect and adoration across linguistic boundaries. Hemanta Mukhopadhyay symbolized melody, nostalgia, and the refined voice of mid-century Indian culture.

This striking portrait of Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, painted in 1979 by Bikash Bhattacharjee, captures not just the likeness but also the gravity of his artistic persona. Bhattacharjee was a renowned Indian painter from Kolkata, known for his extraordinary realism infused with psychological depth. His works often portrayed the unseen emotional landscapes of his subjects. In this watercolor painting, Bhattacharjee’s characteristic use of light and shadow brings a dynamic intensity to Mukhopadhyay’s stern expression, emphasizing his thoughtful and profound artistic nature. The soft diffusion of colors, particularly in the later, more abstract portrait, creates an almost ethereal atmosphere, blending the physical and the melodic. The portrait becomes a powerful homage to a cultural giant who profoundly impacted Indian and Bengali arts.

(This painting was acquired from an auction house, where it was mistakenly listed in the catalogue as a
portrait of Jyoti Basu; we have since corrected the attribution.)