Author: Dr. Rupa Sinha & Ramen Sarkar
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/PP/030300002
Abstract: Music serves as a powerful medium for the expression of emotions, cultural values, and literary consciousness. In South Asia, vocal traditions have historically functioned as important vehicles through which artistic and emotional experiences are communicated. Great Maestro Manobendra Mukhopadhyay and Ustad Mehdi Hassan represent two distinguished musical personalities whose performances transcended linguistic and regional boundaries. While Manobendra Mukhopadhyay enriched Bengali semi-classical music through emotionally expressive renditions rooted in Bengali literary culture, Mehdi Hassan elevated the Urdu ghazal through profound interpretation and aesthetic refinement. This study examines their artistry from the perspective of emotional expression, cultural aesthetics, and literary interpretation. Employing qualitative analysis of selected performances and scholarly literature, the research explores how both artists transformed poetic texts into meaningful musical experiences. The study reveals that despite differences in language and repertoire, both singers shared a commitment to emotional authenticity and artistic integrity. Their work demonstrates the enduring relationship between music, poetry, and culture in South Asian artistic traditions.
Keywords: Emotional Expression, Musical Aesthetics, Bengali Music, Urdu Ghazal, Cultural Identity, Manobendra Mukhopadhyay, Mehdi Hassan.
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