Hema Sardesai Female Playback Singer of India

Hema Sardesai also known as simply Hema, is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi songs.

During her career, Sardesai has sung playback songs for over 60 Bollywood films, has released several successful Indipop albums, and has performed numerous live stage shows in almost all the states of India and world tours in different countries around the globe.

Sardesai is the only Indian Singer to win the Grand Prix at the 16th International Pop Song Festival in Germany, and the only female singer other than Lata Mangeshkar to perform at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence day.

Background information
Genres	playback singing, Indian classical music, Folk, Indipop
Occupations	Singer, Playback singer, Composer
Instruments	Vocalist
Years active	1989-present
Website	HemaSardesai.com

Career

Born in Mumbai, India, Hema Sardesai hails from Goa.

She began singing from a very young age and made her stage debut as an eight-year-old at the Navratri Festival. As a child, teachers and friends used to call her Happy Go Lucky Girl and even today she is frequently called so by her colleagues in the Indian music industry.

She started her playback singing career in 1989 and made her debut in the film Goonj, singing for actress Juhi Chawla. Since then she has sung songs for over 60 Hindi films for many popular actresses like Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Karisma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Tabbu, Kajol, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen and Kareena Kapoor, collaborating with some of India's most prominent music directors and composers, including Anu Malik, A R Rahman, Rajesh Roshan, Nadeem-Shravan, Vishal Bhardwaj and Pritam.

Her first milestone achievement was her winning the Grand Prix at the 16th International Pop Song Festival '89 held in Germany. This gave her an opportunity to express her stage talent and, since then, she has successfully performed on TV and live stage shows in almost all the states of India and numerous world tours to places such as the USA, UK, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, West Indies, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia and so on.

On 15 August 1997 Hema performed at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence. She sang one of her own compositions, "Mere Vatan Hindustan" at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi witnessed by an audience of nearly 3 million people. The song was specially composed for the occasion.

Her 1999 album Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain won Hema an award for "The best selling album of the season".

During her years in the Indian film industry, Sardesai was widely praised for her song performances. Her performances for songs such as Awaara Bhavaren (Sapnay, 1997), Sona Sona Ye Na Hona (Soldier, 1998), Sar Sar Hawa Hai (Daman, 2001), Kitne Kisse Hain (Astitva, 2001), Hai Re Hai Re (Khushi, 2003), Sun Suniyo (Musafir, 2004), the title track of the film Asambhav (2005) among many other, were much appreciated and applauded by critics and audiences.

Hema is the only singer who sang playback duets with four superstars: Amitabh Bachchan (Baghban), Naseeruddin Shah (Asambhav), Govinda (Hum Do Hamara Do) and Shahrukh Khan (Josh).

Reviews

The Times of India wrote about her once "Hema Sardesai hit an all time high with 'Aawara Bhavaren'. A few albums which did exceedingly well on the charts followed. Hema has always been someone who needs to have her share of fun. She wants to concentrate on being the Indian girl who can get both critical and commercial acclaim. After all with a debut like 'Hindustani Gudiya' you would have expected that."

The Asian Age proclaimed that she is "A playback singer with a difference." Another critic from Record wrote, "One of the most versatile performers and singers in our industry, Hema Sardesai has over the last few years made a mark for herself in the heart of every music lover. She is versatile because she not only sings for films and Indipop, but also renders Indian Classical and Western Pop songs beautifully, besides Folk and Fusion. Her live stints in India and abroad have proved her vocal strength."

Famous songs

This is a list of Hema's Top Hit Playback Songs Sung by Hema, according to her website:

• Ishq Chandi hai - Biwi No.1
• Jaanam Samjha Karo - Jaanam Samjha Karo
• Apun Bola - Josh
• Jungle Hai Aadhi Raat Hai - Biwi No.1
• Sona Sona Ye Na Hona - Soldier
• Tere Pyaar Mein - Zor
• Mein Kudi Anjaani Ho - Zor
• Awaara Bhavaren - Sapnay
• Hulle Hulle - Aar Ya Paar
• Hai Re Hai Re - Khushi
• Kehna Hai Tumse Kehna - Mann
• Naach meri Jaan - Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao
• Na Heera Na Moti - Kunwara
• Eli Re Eli - Yaadein
• Tere Sang Ek Simple Si Coffee - Zameen
• O Maria - Josh
• Chali Chali Phir Chali Chali - Baghban
• Khalli Valli - Market
• Qayamat Qayamat - Qayamat
• Asambhav - Asambhav
• Chori Chori - Garam Masala
• Badal Pe Paon Hai - Chak De! India

Awards and honors

• 1989 - 16th International Pop Song Festival, Grand Prix in Germany
• 1999 - The best selling album of the season for the album Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain
• 2006 - All India Woman's Conference, Gomant Tejaswini Award for her outstanding achievements in the music field.

Harini Female Playback Singer of India

Harini is a South Indian film playback singer, who has worked with film composers A. R. Rahman, Ilayaraaja, Vidyasagar, Yuvan Shankar Raja and Harris Jeyaraj. She is married to another Kollywood Singer Tippu.

Filmography

Harini has sung songs for Tamil films including Indira (1995), Indian (1996), Iruvar (1997), PadayappaAlaipayuthey (2000), Dheena (2000), Thulluvadho Ilamai (2001), Dumm Dumm Dumm (2001) and Anniyan (2005)Puli (2010). Harini has also sung a number of Telugu and Kannada songs. (1999),

Harini
Born	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Genres	Playback singer
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1995-present

Geeta Dutt Female Playback Singer of India

Geetā Dutt (Bengali: গীতা দত্ত, born Geetā Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri) (23 November 1930 – 20 July 1972) was an Indian playback singer in Hindi movies in the 1950s and 60s, and also a singer of modern Bengali songs.

Geeta Dutt
Birth name	Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhury
Born	November 23, 1930(1930-11-23)
Origin	Faridpur, Bangladesh
Died	July 20, 1972 (aged 41)
Genres	playback singing
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocalist
Years active	1946–1971

Early life

Geeta Dutt was born in 1930 into a rich zamindār's family as Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri in Faridpur, (then in Bengal, India; now in Banglādesh). In 1942, her parents shifted to an apartment in Dādar, Bombay (now Mumbai) when she was twelve. There, composer/music director Hanumān Prasād once overheard her singing casually, and, feeling impressed, he offered to impart her training in singing. He launched her in a chorus song in Bhakta Prahlād (1946), where she sang only two lines. But her rendering of those two lines stood out. The following year, she got a major assignment as a playback singer for Do Bhāi, and her renderings in that movie brought Geeta to the forefront as a top playback singer.

Career

Here is an essay that Nasir Ali, a veteran music lover wrote about Geeta Roy: Even when we restrict ourselves to Geeta Roy of the Nineteen Forties we cannot but marvel at her transformation from the unknown child to the idol of the millions when she had not even crossed her teens.

We do know that she belonged to the rich Zamindar family of Debendranath Ghosh Roy Chowdhary and was one of the tenth children born to Amiya Devi on November 23, 1930 at Faridpur in Central Bengal. Leaving their titled land and other property, the family had to shift to Calcutta in early Forties and in 1942 they shifted to Bombay (now Mumbai). The reasons for this are circumstantial and not too far to seek. Bengal had been a great nationalist centre during the British Raj. It was divided into West Bengal and the East Bengal by Lord Curzon in 1905. The two parts were again reunited in 1911 and the separate states of Bihar and Orissa were also created with the capital being shifted to Delhi. Bengal came to be finally partitioned in 1947 when Pakistan was also created. The eastern portion of Bengal which was dominantly Muslim was created as East Pakistan and that in 1971 came to be liberated as the Bangla Desh. Faridpur is the paragna of the Adilpur (or Idilpur) Village where Geeta Roy was born, and is part of that portion of Bengal.

The early Forties were the worst time for the world in general and India in particular. The Japanese were trying to make inroads to India and in fact by 1942 had occupied Burma. The British India Government adopted the "scorched earth" policy beginning at Chittagong to stop the food supplies to the Japanese. In 1943, there was a horrendous famine in Bengal when more than 3.5 million died. The dead were being removed to the rural areas to keep the cities clean. With the Japanese at the doors, it was quite likely that people began to flee from rural lands and areas much earlier and made their way to the cities. Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital of undivided Bengal at that time. Perhaps this might have been reason for Geeta Roy's family migrating to Calcutta just before millions of refugees began pouring into the cities, especially, Calcutta. Other prominent migrants included Kazi Abdul Wadud, the educationist and writer, Humayun Kabir who was a politician, educationist and writer; Poet Sunil Gangopadhyay, and many other eminent people from Faridpur.

Read more at :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geeta_Dutt

Personal life

During Geeta's recording of songs for the movie Baazi, she met the movie's young and upcoming director, Guru Dutt. Their romance culminated in marriage on 26 May 1953. Geeta went on to sing some of her best songs in his movies while continuing to sing in various other assignments as well.

Geeta and Guru Dutt had three children: Tarun (b. 1954), Arun (b. 1956), and Ninā (b. 1962).

In 1957, Guru Dutt launched a movie, "Gauri",' with Geeta as its singing star. It was to be India's first movie in Cinemascope, but the project was shelved after only a few days of shooting. By then, their marriage was on the rocks, Guru Dutt had got romantically involved with Waheedā Rehmān, and Geeta had taken to drinking. The breakup of their marriage affected Geeta's singing career.

In 1958, S.D. Burman had developed discord with Lata Mangeshkar as a playback singer, and he attempted to work with Geeta as the main singer of his compositions rather than the upcoming Asha Bhosle, who, he felt, was relatively raw. However, out of her personal problems, Geeta would not practice her art sufficiently, and failed to meet Burman's demanding standards. (He, and O.P. Nayyar too, then started to work with Asha and helped her blossom as a singer.)

In 1964, Guru Dutt died from a combination of alcohol and an overdose of sleeping pills. (His death was widely perceived as a suicide following two earlier attempts^[3].) Geeta then suffered a serious nervous breakdown, and also ran into financial problems. She tried to resume her singing career, cutting discs at Durgā Pujā, and giving stage shows. She also performed in a leading role in a Bengali movie, Bhadu Bharan (1967), and sang admirably for a movie, Anubhav (1971), which turned out to her final performance to the music of Kanu Roy.

Geeta died of cirrhosis of the liver on 20 July 1972.

A list of notable songs

She is supposed to have sung over 1200 songs in Hindi films. In addition she has also sung songs in many Indian regional languages including Marathi, Bengali, Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri and Punjabi.

Some of the memorable songs sung under S.D. Burman's direction :

• 'Mera sundar sapna beet gaya' (Do Bhai - 1947 )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE7sM_79bp0&feature=search
• 'Woh sapnewaali raat' (Pyaar - 1950 )
• 'Tadbir se bigdi hui taqdeer' (Baazi - 1951 )
• 'Aan milo aan milo' (Devdas - 1955 ) with Manna Dey
• 'Aaj sajan mohe ang lagalo' (Pyaasa - 1957 )
• 'Hum Aapke Aankhon Main' (Pyaasa - 1957 )
• 'Hawa dhire aana' (Sujata - 1959 )
• 'Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam ' (Kaagaz Ke Phool - 1959 )

Some of the memorable songs sung under O.P. Nayyar's direction :

• 'Zara saamne aa' (Baaz - 1953 )
• 'Babuji dhire chalna' (Aar Paar - 1954 )
• 'Thandi hawa kali ghata' (Mr. & Mrs. '55 - 1955 )
• 'jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji' (Mr. & Mrs. '55 - 1955 )
• 'Jab badal lehraya' (Chchoomantar - 1956 )
• 'Mere zindagi ke humsafar' (Shrimati 420 - 1956 )
• 'Jaata kahan hai' (C.I.D. - 1956)
• 'Aye Dil Hain Mushkil' (aka 'Bombay Meri Jaan') (C.I.D. - 1956), with Mohammed Rafi
• 'Chor, lutere, daku'( Ustad - 1957 )
• 'Mera naam chin chin choo' (Howrah Bridge - 1958 )
• 'Kaisa jadoo balam tune dara' (12 o'clock - 1958 )

Some of the memorable songs sung under Hemant Kumar's direction

• Na Jaao Saiyaan Chhuda Ke Baiyaan (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam - 1962 )
• Kaise Rokoge Aise Toofan Ko (Anandmath - 1952 ) with Talat Mehmood
• Madbhari Hain Pyar Ki Palken (Fashion - 1957 )
• Na Yeh Chand Hoga (Shart - 1954)
• Piya Aiso Jiya mein Samaye Gayo (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam - 1962 )
• Chale Aao Chale Aao (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam - 1962 )

Others

• Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Mer Jaan (Anubhav - 1971) Music: Kanu Roy

Some memorable Bengali songs :

• 'Shachimata go char juge hai' (1950)
• 'Ekhan-o dustar lajja' (1952)
• 'Ei Sundar Swarnali Sandhyay' (Hospital, 1960; Music: Amal Mukherjee)
• 'Katha achhe tumi aj asbe (Kanu Ghosh 1960)
• 'Ei Mayabi Tithi' (Shonar Horin, 1959; Music: Hemant Mukherjee)
• 'Tumi Je Amar' (Harano Sur, 1958; Music: Hemant Kumar)
• 'Nishiraat Banka Chand Aakashe' (Prithibi Aamare Chaay, 1957; Music: Nachiketa Ghosh)
• 'Jhanak Jhanak Kanak Kankan baaje'

source from:en.wikipedia.org

Gayatri Iyer Female Playback Singer of India

Gayatri Iyer (now Ganjawala) is an Indian playback singer, primarily in Bollywood. She recently landed the part of Princess Anjuli in the West End of London musical production of M. M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions, scheduled to open in the summer of 2007.

Gayatri married Kunal Ganjawala, another successful Indian playback singer. She graduated from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow a few years back. Not opting for a corporate career, she has established herself as a leading playback in Bollywood

Gayatri Iyer
Birth name	Gadadi
Also known as	Gayatri Ganjawala
Born	India
Genres	playback singing
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1996-present

Discography

• Loafer (9 June 1996)
• Muqaddar (12 July 1996)
• Daanveer (20 September 1996)
• Insaaf (30 May 1997)
• Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (21 March 2003)
• Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: (28 March 2003)
• Bhoot (30 May 2003)
• Chupke Se (12 September 2003)
• Rudraksh (13 February 2004)
• Kismat (20 February 2004)
• Silence Please - The Dressing Room (9 April 2004)
• Masti (9 April 2004)
• Dhoom (27 August 2004)
• Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (10 September 2004)
• Bride and Prejudice (8 October 2004)
• Naach (12 November 2004)
• Hulchul (26 November 2004)
• Elaan (14 January 2005)
• Jurm (18 February 2005)
• Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (6 May 2005)
• Black (2005)
• Salaam Namaste (9 September 2005)
• Dil Jo Bhi Kahey (23 September 2005)
• Kasak (30 September 2005)
• Ladies Tailor (7 July 2006)
• Alag (16 June 2006)
• Anthony Kaun Hai? (4 August 2006)
• Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. (23 February 2007)
• Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule(2007)
• Raqeeb
• Roadside Romeo (2008)

Gayatri Asokan Female Playback Singer of India

Gayatri Asokan is a playback singer in Malayalam cinema.

Gayatri Asokan
Born	1978, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Genres	Playback, Hindustani, Carnatic music, Bhajans
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocalist
Website	gayatriasokan.info

Background

An M. A in Literature, Gayatri Asokan is the daughter of two doctors from Thrissur - Dr. P. U Asokan and Dr. Sunidhi. She started her playback career with the song "Deena Dayalo Rama" for the film "Arayannagalude Veedu" under music director Raveendran. "Enthe Nee Kanna" for "Sasneham Sumitra" won her the Kerala State award for the best female playback singer in 2003. Her memorable hits include "Chanjadi Adi" from "Makalkku", & "Thumbikkinnaram" from "Naran" the Mohanlal starrer. She has also sung a song in the V. K Prakash Movie "Moonnamathoral" which was released recently.

Gayathri was first trained in Carnatic music by Sri Mangat Natesan and Sri Vamanan Namboodiri at Trichur. Later she started training in Hindustani Music under "Dr. Alka Deo Marulkar" in Pune and later under "Pandit Vinayaka Torvi" in Bangalore which she is continuing. A person who has influenced Gayatri a lot is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. She is an active member of the Art of living foundation.

She is also a Hindustani classical music singer, a Bhajan singer and has given Hindustani concerts and programs based on film songs abroad. She has sung in many Albums and has also sung and given music for a new Album for the Art of Living foundation which was released in September 2006 by HMV worldwide. She has also shared the stage with eminent singers like Yesudas, Jayachandran, SP Balasubramanyam, S. Janaki, Shankar Mahadevan, Madhu Balakrishnan and Pradip Somasundaran. She recently sang for a music album of music maestro Ilayaraja, Thiruvasagam which was released by Sony Music.

She has performed for established sabhas like Thyagaraja Sabha, Bharatham and "Soorya Festival" at Trivandrum. She also has given performances for Soorya in the Gulf Countries, Malaysia, Europe & the UK. She also performs regularly on Asianet, Kairali T.V, Jeevan T.V, and Amrita TV. "Gandharva Sangeetham" a popular Music Talent search show on Kairali T. V was jointly hosted by her and G. Venugopal. A devotee of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar, Gayathri is an active participant in Art of Livings Satsangs all over the world.

Gayatri is a jury member for the hit reality show Super Star Global on Amrita TV. She is once married and divorced. Now she is planning to get married again.

Film Songs

Song	Film	Music director
Deena Dayalo Rama	Arayannangalude veedu	Raveendran
Ghana Shyama	Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal	Illaiyaraja
Thamara Noolinaal	Mullavalliyum thenmaavum	Ouseppachan
Kannil Kashi Thumba	Dreams	Vidyasagar
Chanjadi Aadi	Makalkku	Ramesh Narayan
Enthe Nee Kanna	Sasneham Sumitra	Ouseppachan
Thumbi Kinnaram	Naran	Deepak Dev
Kadhayile Rajakumaranum	Kalyanaraman	Beny Ignatious
Chandrika Ravil	Photographer	Johnson
Rama hare	Soothradharan	Raveendran
Manathe	Onnaman	Johnson
Maakhamar	Daivanamathil	Mansoor P V
Nassebulla	Daivanamathil	Mammootty
Poovin Ethal Cheppil	Outof Syllabus	Bennet, Veetrag
Enthe née thannilla	Yes your Honour	Deepak Dev
Parayu Prabhathame	Pranayakalam	Ouseppachan
Thirike Njan	Arabhikadha	Bijibal
Nin Hridaya Mounam	Flash	Gopi Sunder
Kannin vaathil	Mulla	Vidhyasagar
Pularumo	Ritu	Rahul Raj

Albums

1. Anahata- Art of Living
2. Neeyum Nilavum- Manorama Music
3. Thiruvasagam -Sony Music
4. Vishudhi- Art of Living
5. Sarveshwari- Art of Living
6. Iniyennum _ East Coast
7. Pranayathhin Ormakal
8. Ghazals by Umbayi

Awards

1. Kerala State Film Award (2003) - Enthe Nee Kanna - Sasneham Sumitra
2. 2007 Art of Living award for Outstanding Women Achievers

Falguni Pathak Female Playback Singer of India

Falguni Pathak (Gujarati: ફાલ્ગુની પાઠક, Hindi: फाल्गुनी पाठक), born March 12, 1964, is a singer and performing artist from India, based in Mumbai. Her music is based on traditional musical forms from the Indian state of Gujarat. Since her professional and private debut in 1998, she has developed into an artist with a large fan following across India.

Her debut album was released in 1998 and was the first of at least a dozen bearing her name. She has also recorded numerous songs for Bollywood movies. The theme of most of her songs is love. She has performed in many shows in India and other countries, many of which have run all night. Her powerful voice and energetic performances are backed by a band (called Ta Thaiyaa) that can go up to eighteen members.

Chitra Singh Female Playback Singer of India

Chitra Singh (née Dutta) is a renowned Indian Urdu/Hindi ghazals singer. She is married to Jagjit Singh, who is also a prominent ghazal singer. They form a highly popular duet team and are considered pioneers in modern ghazal singing.

Chitra Singh
Genres	Ghazal, classical, devotional, folk
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1965-1991
Website	[1]

Early life

Chitra Dutta was born in a Bengali family. She had no formal musical training, but had strong roots of music in her family. She learned much of her music by listening to her mother's music teacher.

Performing career

Chitra Singh met Jagjit Singh in Mumbai (then known as Bombay), India, in the late 1960s, and they started a musical career together by singing jingles for various advertisements. Their career took off with the launching of The Unforgettables, an album with several firsts to its credit. Their public singing before large audiences revolutionized ghazal singing. Until then, ghazal singing had been confined to musical performances ("mehfils") before small audiences consisting primarily of the elite in the society.

The duo composed and sang songs for Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali albums. They contributed to devotional music by releasing albums which included Krishna, Chirag, Hey Ram, and Shabads. Krishna is one of the largest-selling titles in its category.



They are still favourites in Bangladesh and their old songs are still sung. "Ki Dile Amai Tumi?" (What have you given me?), "Bujhini To Ami" (I didn't understand), "Duti Mon Ar Nei Dujonar" (Two hearts are one), "Amar Chokher Joler Majhe" (In my tears) are some of their great Bengali songs.


After the death of their son, Vivek, in a car accident in Bombay, Singh stopped singing and retreated from the limelight. (She has been learning and working on different forms of spirituality, and practices spiritual healing therapies.)

Some of Singh's memorable songs include "Yeh Tera Ghar, Yeh Mera Ghar", "Tum Aao To Sahi", "Woh Nahin Milta Mujhe", "Saare Badan Ka Khoon", and "Mitti Da Bawa". Singh's voice is specially suited for ghazals, producing soulful gems like "Lab-e-Khamosh Se" (album Beyond Time). Her clear, touching, and high-pitched voice provided a perfect blend with Jagjit's deep baritone and smooth voice. Their duets created an extraordinary effect in songs like "Ishq Mein Ghairat-e-jazbaat Ne", "Aaye Hain Samjhane Log", and "Uski Hasrat Hai Jise Dile Se Mita Bhi Na Sakoon". Her voice also had a special dimension within the gamut of ghazal singing, so that in the case of "darbari mehfil" ghazals (as in "Dil-e-Nadaan Tujhe", "Dil He To Hai", and "Har Ek Baat Pe Kehteh Ho" from the album, "Mirza Ghalib") she was almost unparalleled.

Personal life

Chitra Singh's daughter Monica Chaudhry (from her first marriage to Debo Prasad Dutta)committed suicide at her residence.

Discography

A Milestone (1976) The Unforgettables (1978) Gold Disc (1979) Ae mere dil (1980) The earliest recordings of Jagjit and Chitra Singh Live in concert with Jagjit Chitra Singh Live at Wembley Live at Royal Albert Hall The Latest

Desires Arth/Saath Saath Chirag Live in Trinidad Main aur Meri Tanhaayee (1981) The Latest (1982) Ecstasies (1984) A Sound Affair (1985)

Echoes (1985–86, Live Recordings) Beyond Time (1987) Someone Somewhere (1990) H O P E (1991)