Abhijeet Bhattacharya Male Playback Singer of India

Early life

Abhijeet was born in a Bengali middle-class family in Kanpur on 30 October 1958, the youngest of four siblings. He passed his matriculation from Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School, Kanpur and Class XII from BNSD Inter College Chunni Ganj, Kanpur; and graduated in commerce (B.Com.) from Christ Church College, Kanpur in 1977. He started singing on stage in 1970 onwards. Although his parents were against the idea, he went against their wishes and became a singer. He is an established singer in Bollywood, having done extensive playback singing for actor - Shahrukh Khan; among many others. Nowadays, he also appears as a judge in reality shows based on singing contests on TV. He has interest to play cricket most of evening time during schooling days.

Abhijeet Bhattacharya
Birth name	Abhijee
Born	30 October 1958.Kanpur, India (age 52)
Genres	Bollywood, regional filmi playback
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1985–present

Career

Abhijeet left home for Mumbai in 1981 to study Chartered Accountancy. Due to his fascination for singing and music, he decided to pursue a career in playback singing and quit Chartered Accountancy. Despite being gifted with a melodious voice, he struggled for a long time.

After his long struggle in Mumbai, he received a call from Rahul Dev Burman to sing for Dev Anand's sons debut film. Abhijeet idol is Kishore Kumar.

In the 1990s, Abhijeet established himself as a notable playback singer. His first notable hits were the songs from the film Baaghi, composed by Anand-Milind - Ek chanchal shokh hasina, Chandni raat hai and Har kasam se badi hai. Then in 1994 when he gave hits in movies like Yeh Dillagi, Anjaam, Raja Babu and Main Kihildi Tu Anari.. there was no looking back.. He became a hit machine along with his competitors Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan he was among the top 3 play back singers of 90s and finally won the Filmfare Best Playback singer Award for Yes Boss in 1997. He went on to give hit numbers in the movies Baadshah, Yes Boss, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Josh, Dhadkan, Chalte Chalte, Main Hoon Na and many others.

Some of his songs such as Kurta phaadke from Anari No. 1 did not do well with the public.

Abhijeet has given his voice for actors such as Shahrukh Khan, Sunil Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Saif Ali Khan, Bobby Deol, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgan, among many others.

He was recently seen as a Judge in a reality show called Star Voice of India. He now judges a show called "Ek Se Badkhar Ek".

Non-film music

After his success in playback singing, Abhijeet decided to try non-film pop music. He released two albums, Main Deewana Hoon and Tapori No.1. The albums did not achieve commercial success. Later he launched Aashiqui, which was appreciated by the audience. Recently, he has launched a pop album, called Tere Bina, whose songs and videos are chartbusters.

On May 3, 2006, he released another non-film album called Lamhe, which was well-appreciated. Currently Abhijeet is a judge on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Little Champs show. He is one of the best singer of contemporary India.

Notable songs

Dil Tujhpe Aa Gaya—1991 -Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin

Ole Ole -94 - Yeh Dillagi

Main Khiladi Tu Anari -94 (title track) - Main Khiladi Tu Anari

Haan mujhe pyaar hua pyaar hua allahmiya- Judaai

Zara sa Jhoom loo main -95 - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

Wada Raha Sanam -92 - Khiladi

Darwaza Band Karlo -93 - Darr

Meri Jaane Jaana- Mohabbat

Woh Ladki Jo Saab Se - Baadshah

Title song - Baadshah

Tum aaye to -2000 - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

I'm The Best - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

Kuch to Baata - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

Tauba Tumhare Ye Ishare -2003 - Chalte Chalte

Suno Na - Chalte Chalte

Title Song - Chalte Chalte

Chaand Taare -97 - Yes Boss

Main Koi Aisa Geet - Yes Boss

Title Song[Sad]-2004 - Main Hoon Na

Mere Khyaloon Ki Malika -2k - Josh

Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan -2k - Dhadkan

Roshini Se - Asoka

Raat Ka Nasha - Asoka

Aye Nazaneen - Dil Hi Dil Mein

Teri ankhen jhuki jhuki -96 - Fareb

Shaher Ki ladki - Rakshak

Jhanjhriya - Krishna

Pyaar Se Pyaar Hum Ab To Karne Lage -01-Raaz

Ishq chupta nahin chupaane se - Bewafaa

Aisa koi zindagi mein aaye - Dosti

Tan tana tan tan tara—98 - Judwaa

Sandesa Aya, Jab Tak Hai Saans, Kabhie Kabhie Sapne - Kaafila

Dhoom Taana -07 - Om Shanti Om

Dil le le-Khiladi 420

Yeh Dillagi—94-Yeh Dillagi

Koi nahi tera jaisa-Keemat

Main rahu naa rahu meri aawaz -2006-lamhe

Ek Chanchal Shook Haseena -90-BAGHI

Deewana Deewana Main Tere Liye-Daraar

Lamha Lamha Doori -06-Gangster

Badi Mushkil Hai -94-Anjaam

Ah a e O oh O -94-Raja Babu

Itna mujhe pata hai - Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi

Bharo meri mang baro - Sabse Bada Khiladi

Jab tak rahega samosa main aloo - Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi

Maine to khai kasam - Awara Paagal Deewana

Tumhain kaise main batoo-Dastak

Aankhon main base ho tum-Takkar

Awards

Filmfare Best Male Playback Award (1997) for Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaaon (Yes Boss)

Screen-Videocon Award for the best singer in 1997 for Chand taare in Yes Boss

MTV Life Time Achievement Award.

Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman

Personal life

Abhijeet is married to Sumaati. The couple have two sons.

KS Chitra's daughter drowns in Emirates Hills swimming pool

The eight-year-old daughter of popular Indian playback singer, KS Chitra, has drowned in an Emirates Hills swimming pool. Chitra came to the UAE in connection with the AR Rahman Musical Concert in Sharjah.

“The girl was found dead in the swimming pool of a villa in the Emirates Hills," said sources familiar with the accident.

Nandana is believed to be born with Down syndrome.

A number of Indian celebrities including AR Rehana, sister of AR Rahman, Naresh Iyer, Sayanora, Abdul Salam and others are in town for the show. The playback singer was staying at the residence of Dileep Rahulan, leading Indian businessman. AR Rahman, the Oscar Winning Indian musician is not attending the show.

Known as the nightingale of South Indian music industry, KS Chitra used to take daughter along with her for the music shows as she was a special needs child.

“The girl went towards the swimming pool as the room door was found open; she accidentally fell into swimming pool and drowned. Even though she was rescued and rushed to the Jebel Ali Cedar hospital, the girl died,” said sources familiar with the incident.

Sources told Emirates 24l7 that the child accidentally fell into the swimming pool as there was no fence and security monitoring. “She (Chitra) was readying to go for the programme rehearsal at 9am. When she went to the toilet, the baby probably slipped out of the villa without notice and accidentally fell into the swimming pool. Dubai Police team has inspected the accident site.”

The girl’s body has been moved from Jebel Ali Cedar Hospital to Sonapur embalming section for possible repatriation to Chennai on Thursday night itself.

Show goes ahead

The organisers told this website that the musical show will go ahead despite this tragic accident. Shafi, Creative Director, Media Factory, organiser of the AR Rahman Music Concert at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, revealed to Emirates 24|7 that the singers will express their sympathy and condolences to the Chitra through a special prayer session during the show.

”All the singers including Hariharan, Sayanora and AR Rahman sisters are sad about the accident. The show will go ahead and we have decided to conduct a special prayer programme for the little one during the show. Chitra, who was the lead female singer with Hariharan, will not sing as she is preparing to repatriate the body. We have expressed our deep sympathy and condolences on the unfortunate death of Nandana,” Shafi said, adding that “all singers and their families opted to live in Dunes Hotel Apartment, Karama, but Chitra and her family decided to stay at a friend’s house in Emirates Hills because she thought it would be safe and could give more attention to her daughter.”

Fans not happy

Indian fans were saddened by the accident involving the only daughter of South Indian nightingale. A section of KS Chitra fans questioned the organiser’s decision to go ahead with the musical evening following the sad incident. “Major shows definitely involve money and business, but there is a human element also. How can other artists and singers perform and entertain the audience, when such a sad thing has happened to one of their colleagues,” said one music lover.

Vani Jairam- Female Player Singer of India

Vani Jayaram is a prominent Indian female playback singer. She has recorded more than 8,000 songs in 14 different languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi. She has thrice won the National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer.

Vani Jayaram
Vani Jayaram with thambura
Background information
Born	Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Genres	playback singing
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1971-current
Website	Official website

Personal life and background

Vani Jayaram was born in Vellore in Tamil Nadu, in a family of musicians. Her mother is the disciple of Ranga Ramunaja Iyengar, a great veena exponent. Kadaloor Sreenivasa Iyengar, who taught Vani’s sister music, was fascinated by her observation and grasping power. He taught her a few Dikshitar kritis when she was hardly five.The fifth daughter in a family of six daughters and three sons, Vani always secretly yearned for a career in film playback singing. Considered to be a child prodigy, Vani Jayaram claims to have recognized the different ragas of Indian classical music before the age of five. Her voice was first heard on All India Radio, Madras, at the age of eight.

Vani Jayaram studied Carnatic music under the tutelage of Kadalur Srinivasa Iyengar, T. R. Balasubramanian and R. S. Mani. Her Hindustani classical music guru was Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan.

After her marriage to Jayaram she settled in Mumbai, where she realized her dream.

Career

In 1971, she realized her childhood ambition of becoming a film playback singer when Hindi film music director Vasant Desai chose her voice for the Hindi feature film Guddi. She recorded three songs for Guddi, Bol Re Papi Hara a song based on the Hindustani raga Miyan Malhar, instantly made her an household name of India. For that song she was awarded the Tansen Samman (for best classical-based song in a Hindi film), the Lions International Best Promising Singer award, the All India Cinegoers Association award, and the All India Film-goers Association award for the Best Playback Singer in 1971. She went on to sing a few songs each for music directors of Hindi cinema, including Chitragupt, Naushad (a classical song in Pakeezah and a duet with Asha Bhosle in Aaina), Madan Mohan (a duet with Kishore Kumar in the film Ek Mutthi Aasmaan), O.P. Nayyar (several songs from the film Khoon Ka Badla Khoon including duets with Mohammed Rafi and also with Uttara Kelkar and Pushpa Pagdhare), R. D. Burman (a duet with Mukesh in the film Chhalia), Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelal, and Jaidev (a duet with Manna Dey in Parinay and a solo in Solwa Saawan). Her songs in the film Meera (1979), composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar (not to be confused with Meera (1945), starring M. S. Subbulakshmi), won her the Filmfare Award. Vani recorded her first Tamil song for the Tamil film Thaiyum Seiyum, for S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, in the year 1973.

Around 1974, she shifted her base to Chennai and soon became a sought-after singer in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam cinema. Besides Hindi and Tamil, Vani Jayaram has recordings in other languages of India. These include some songs in Gujarati, Marathi, Marwari, Haryanvi, Bengali and Tulu, and a huge repertoire in Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Oriya. For her work in some of these languages, she has been awarded many prestigious awards, among them are: Best Female Playback Singer for states of Gujarat (1975), Tamil Nadu (1980) and Orissa (1984).

One of her most famous Marathi songs, "Runanubandhachya", is a duet with the classical Hindustani singer Kumar Gandharva. This song was composed by Vani's mentor Vasant Desai for a Marathi drama called Dev Deenaghari Dhaavlaa. The song's lyrics were written by Bal Kolhatkar.

Awards

Vani Jayaram was chosen for the Indian President's National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer of 1975, for her work in M. S. Viswanathan's Apoorva Raagangal. Shankarabharanam (Telugu), the film scored by K. V. Mahadevan, gave Vani Jayaram her second National Award as Best Playback Singer of 1980. Once again, she was awarded her third National Award for Best Playback Singer of 1991 for K. V. Mahadevan's Swathi Kiranam.

Her songs in the Pandit Ravi Shankar scored film Meera brought her the Film World (1979) Cine Herald (1979) and Filmfare Award (1980) for Best Playback Singer for "Mere To Giridhar Gopal".

She was awarded Tanzen Award in 1972, which she won for "Bole Re Pappihara" (from the film Guddi), one of the most popular songs in her career.

She is also the youngest artist to be awarded the Sangeet Peet Samman.

Other titles

2004: Kamukara Award

2007: South Indian Meera

Usha Uthup Female Playback Singer of India

Usha Uthup ( born November 8, 1947) is a popular Indian pop, jazz and playback singer. She is well known for popular hits in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

She started her Bollywood playback career, when she sang an English verse in hit song, "Dum maro dum"" in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, and went on work with music directors like R.D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri, through the 1970s and 80s, singing hits like Ek do cha cha cha (Shalimar), Koi yahan aha nache nache (Disco Dancer), Ramba ho (Armaan), Hari Om Hari (Pyaara Dushman) and Doston se pyar kiya (Shaan) and more recently Darrling in 7 Khoon Maaf.[2] She has sung in 16 Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Assamese, Oriya, Gujarati, Marathi, Konkani, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Tulu and Telugu. She can also sing in several foreign languages including English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Sinhalese, Swahili, Russian, Nepalese, Arabic, Creole, Zulu, and Spanish.

Usha Uthup
Birth name	Usha Iyer
Also known as	Didi
Born	November 8, 1947 (1947-11-08) (age 63) Mumbai, India [
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer, Playback singer
Instruments	Vocalist
Years active	1966-present

Early life

Usha was born in Mumbai [1], in a Tamil Brahmin family that hailed from Tamil Nadu, in Madras (now Chennai) in 1947. Her father Sami Iyer, later became the police commissioner of Bombay. She has three sisters Uma Pocha, Indira Srinivasan and Maya Sami, all of whom are singers and two brothers, one of whom is named Shyam. She was the fifth of six children. As a child, she lived in the police quarters at Lovelane in Byculla in Bombay and attended a local school.

When she was in school she was thrown out of music class because she didn't fit in with a voice like hers. But her music teacher recognized that she had some music in her and would give her clappers or triangles to play. Even though she was not formally trained in music, she grew up in an atmosphere of music. Her parents used to listen to a wide range from Western classical to Hindustani and Carnatic including Kishori Amonkar and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan on radio and she used to join them. She used to enjoy listening to Radio Ceylon.

Her next door neighbour was S.M.A. Pathan, who was then the deputy commissioner of police. His daughter, Jamila, inspired Usha to learn Hindi, wear salwar kameez and take up Indian classical music. This fusion approach helped her to pioneer her unique brand of Indian pop in the 1970s. She is married to Mr Uthup from Kottayam, Kerala.

Career

Her first public singing occurred when she was nine. Her sisters who were already exploring a music career, took her to a musician called Ameen Sayani who gave her an opportunity to sing on the Ovaltine Music Hour in Radio Ceylon. She sang a number called "Mockingbird Hill". After that, several appearances followed through her teenage years.

Her first public singing occurred when she was nine. Her sisters who were already exploring a music career, took her to a musician called Ameen Sayani who gave her an opportunity to sing on the Ovaltine Music Hour in Radio Ceylon. She sang a number called "Mockingbird Hill". After that, several appearances followed through her teenage years.

Singing career

Uthup started singing in a small nightclub in Chennai called as Nine Gems in the basement of the erstwhile Safire theater complex on Mount Road , when she was 20, wearing a saree and leg callipers. Her performance was so well received that the owner of the nightclub asked her to stay on for a week. After her first night club gig, she began singing in Calcutta at night clubs such as "Talk of the Town" and "Trincas". She met her future husband Uthup in Trincas. After Trincas, her next engagement took her to Delhi where she sang at the Oberoi hotels. By happenstance, a film crew belonging to Navketan unit including Shashi KapoorHare Rama Hare Krishna. Originally, she was supposed to sing Dum Maro Dum along with Asha Bhosle. However, as a result of internal politicking on the part of other singers, she lost that chance but ended up singing an English verse. visited the nightclub and they offered her a chance to sing movie playback. As a result, she started her Bollywood career with

In 1968, she recorded covers of two pop songs in English, "Jambalaya" and The Kingston Trio's "Greenback Dollar", on an EP, Love Story, and "Scotch and Soda", another Kingston Trio song, which sold very well in the Indian market. She also spent some time in London during this early period. She was a frequent visitor to Vernon Corea's BBC office at the Langham in London and was interviewed on "London Sounds Eastern" on BBC Radio London. Usha visited Nairobi as part of an Indian Festival. She was so popular that she was invited to stay on. Singing and quite often nationalistic songs in Swahili made her extremely popular and the then President Jomo Kenyatta made her an Honorary Citizen of Kenya. She sang the famous song "Malaika" (angel) with Fadhili Williams who was the original singer. She produced a record "live in Nairobi" with a local band Fellini Five.

 

Uthup sang several songs in the 1970s and 1980s for music directors R D Burman and Bappi Lahiri. She also reprised some of R.D. Burman songs that were sung by others such as Mehbooba Mehbooba and Dum Maro Dum and popularised them to a distinct end.

Filmography

Some of her famous songs for movies (and associated music directors) include:

Song	Movie	Year	Composer
"Darling", "Doosri Darling" (With Rekha Bhardwaj)	7 Khoon Maaf	2011	Vishal Bhardwaj
"Wicket Bacha" (With Earl)	Hattrick	2007	Pritam
"Teri Meri Merry Christmas"	Bow barracks Forever	2007	Anjun Dutt
"Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya"	Jogger's Park	2003	Tabun
"Din Hai Na Ye Raat"	Bhoot	2003	Salim-Sulaiman
"Vande Mataram"	Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham	2001	Jatin-Lalit, Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Shrivastav
"Raja Ki Kahani"	Godmother	1999	Vishal Bhardwaj
"Daud"	Daud	1998	A. R. Rahman
"Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum"	Anjali	1991	Ilaiyaraaja
"Keechurallu"	Keechurallu	1991	Ilaiyaraaja
"Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache"	Disco Dancer	1982	Bappi Lahiri
"Ramba Ho"	Armaan	1981	Bappi Lahiri
"Hari Om Hari"	Pyaara Dushman	1980	Bappi Lahiri
"Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai"	Wardaat	1981	Bappi Lahiri
"Doston Se Pyar Kiya"	Shaan	1980	R D Burman
"Shaan Se..."	Shaan	1980	R D Burman
"Ek Do Cha Cha Cha"	Shalimar	1978	R D Burman

In addition, she has also sung as a playback singer for the following Bollywood movies: Dhol (2007), June R (2005), Joggers' Park (2003), Jajantaram Mamantaram (2003), Ek Tha Raja (1996), Dushman Devta (1991), Bhavani Junction (1985), Hum Paanch (1980), and Purab Aur Pachhim (1970) among others.^[7]

She is a stage performer and gave performances all over the world and is known for her lively stage presence. She has been felicitated with several awards over the years, some of which include Rajiv Gandhi Purashkar for National Integration for quality music, Mahila Shiromoni Purashkar for international peace, and Channel [V] award for outstanding achievement.

Recordings

She recorded her first album with Luis Banks for which she was paid Rs. 3500. Since then, she has recorded numerous albums. Usha's Hindi version of Michael Jackson's Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, titled '"Chhupke Kaon Aya'", can be found on the album Tom Middleton - The Trip (2004). A cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is on another Tom Middleton album, Cosmosonica - Tom Middleton Presents Crazy Covers Vol. 1 (2005). She recently recorded a song called "Rhythm and Blues" with the Indian Rock Band Parikrama which appeared on Channel V on April 23, 2007.

Acting career

Uthup is also an actress, often singing and acting in India's signature musical films. In 2006, she acted in the Malayalam movie - Pothen Vava as Kurisuveettil Mariamma.

She made a cameo appearance in the movie Bombay To Goa with Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha in 1972. In 2007, she appeared in Bow Barracks Forever directed by Anjun Dutt as herself. Again in 2007, she appeared in Hattrick music video as herself.

She appeared in disguise on Indian Idol 1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of the 2007 and 2008 & Idea Star Singer Season V (2010) the most rated south Indian reality show as well music oriented reality shows in Malayalam.

 

She has a minor role in the 2010 Tamil movie Manmadhan Ambu, as the mother of R Madhavan.

She also acted in Vishal Bhardwaj's 7 Khoon Maaf as a maid. She has also sang a song in the film which released on February 18, 2011.

Fashion style

Usha's trademark is her massive bindi and flowers that she wears in her hair, as well as her Kancheepuram saris

Controversy

West Bengal Public Works Department minister Jatin Chakraborty who belonged to the Communist Party of India banned her from singing in all state-owned buildings accusing her of singing in a "decadent" style. The controversy started when she was invited to sing at the Government Cancer Research Center in Thakurpukur in Calcutta and the minister preemtively enforced the ban to prevent her. After an explosive meeting with the minister, she sued the Government. Several political figures, including the Chief Minister Jyoti Basu came out in support of her. She won the lawsuit against the government. Following her father's advice, she dropped her separate defamation lawsuit against the minister. The minister subsequently resigned from his post after he made further allegations against other people including the son of the chief minister.

 

In 2008, the communists again resorted to further insults when the Communist Party of India (Marxist)Kerala General secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, irritated by his party workers who had gone berserk during a public meeting at Kottayam, admonished them that it was not Usha Uthup's programme but the meeting of the communists. As a response, popular pop singer Usha Uthup said she and her supporters were hurt by such a remark. (CPI(M))

Personal life

She is married to Jani Chacko Uthup who is originally from Manganam, Kottayam, and was formerly married to the late Ramu Iyer. They have a daughter Anjali and a son Sunny, named after the song, Sunny.

She currently lives in Kolkata with her husband. She is considered an icon of modern Kolkata and is an active social presence in the city life.

Awards

• Padma Shri (Padma Shri Awards (2010-2019))-fourth highest civilian award presented by Government of India
• Filmfare Award Nomination for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "One Two Cha ChaCha" from Shalimar (film) (1978)
• Filmfare Nomination for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Hari Om Hari" from Pyare Dushman (1980)
• Filmfare Nomination for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Rambha Ho" from Armaan (1981)

Usha Mangeshkar- Female Playback Singer of India

Usha Mangeshkar  (born 1935) is an Indian singer who has recorded many Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati songs soundtracks.

Her father is Deenanath Mangeshkar. She is the younger sister of singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. She gained spotlight as a playback singer after singing some devotional songs for the low-budget movie, Jai Santoshi Maa (1975), which became an all-time blockbuster.[1] She was nominated for the Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer award for her song, "Main to Aarti," in that film. She sang the same songs again for that movie's remake in 2006.


Awards and nominations

* BFJA Awards for Best Female Playback Singer for Jai Santoshi Maa (1975)

* Filmfare Nomination as Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Main to Aarti" from Jai Santoshi Maa (1975)

* Filmfare Nomination as Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Mangta Hai To Aaja" from Inkaar (1977)

Usha Khanna Female Playback Singer of India

Usha Khanna (born 1942 in Gwalior) is an Indian music director. Regarded as the first established female music director in the Indian film industry, she remained active for more than 3 decades from 1960s to 1980s. She is still active making some music for some movies and television-serials, more than 40 years after her debut as music director in Dil Deke Dekho (1959). She received a Filmfare nomination for composing the songs for the huge hit film Souten (1983).

Biography

Usha Khanna's father, Manohar Khanna, was a lyricist and singer, but she had no formal training in music. Even though she did often take inspiration from Arabic music, which she liked. Usha claims that she has never lifted of any song directly, but that she has composed something along the lines.

The popular music director O. P. Nayyar introduced Usha Khanna to meet Sashadhar Mukherjee, a powerful man in the Indian film industry at that time. She sang a song for Mukerji, and when he realised that she had composed the song on her own, he told her to compose two songs per day for one year. After a few months, Mukherjee signed her as the composer for his movie Dil Deke Dekho (1959) as a music composer. The film, which also introduced the actress Asha Parekh, became a big hit, and Mukherjee hired her again for another Asha Parekh starrer Hum Hindustani (1961).

After she started composing music for Hindi movies, Usha Khanna struggled to establish herself as a music director, despite producing many hit songs. She often collaborated with Asha Bhosle, who referred to Usha Khanna as her daughter, and Mohammed Rafi. This trio produced many hit songs.

Saawan Kumar was often the lyricist for Usha Khanna, and wrote most of his lyrics for her songs. He directed and produced the lyrics for eleven movies she scored the music for. In 1979 K J Yesudas received Filmfare award for her song Dil ke tukde tukde in the film Dada.

The effort she had put in to establish her in the industry, made her know how difficult it was to break through, and made her often give the chance to new singers. She gave the chance to the singers who were little known at that time – Anupama Deshpande, Pankaj Udhas, Hemlata, Mohammed Aziz, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shabbir Kumar, and Sonu Nigam. Many of these went on to become notable singers. Usha Khanna herself also sing a few song as a playback singer.

Many of Usha Khanna's songs are still very popular. One of India's most well-known music composers, A. R. Rahman, used her Har Nazar Ke Sau Afsane from Shabnam (1964), as inspiration for the song Latka Dikha Diya in the movie Hindustani (1996).

Usha Khanna was quite active as a composer until the mid-ninetees. Until now the last movie she has given music to was in 2003. The movie was Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya, produced and directed by her ex-husband Saawan Kumar who she was briefly married to.

Usha Khanna had given music to non-Hindi movies too. The Malayalam movie Moodal Manju (1969) is still remembered for some of the finest songs in Malayalam including 'Nee Madu Pakaroo' by K. J. Yesudas and 'Manasa Mani veenayil' by S.Janaki. Agni nilavu and Puthooram puthri Unniyarcha are the other malayalam movies done by her. Why she did not get many chances remains a mystery for many music lovers even now.

Swarnalatha Female Playback Singer of India

Swarnalatha ( 1973 – September 12, 2010) was a South Indian film playback singer. From 1987 onward, she rendered nearly 7000 songs in many languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi and Badaga.

She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her rendition of the song "Porale Ponnuthayi" from the film Karuththamma. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, under whose musical direction she recorded many memorable songs. Her distinctive voice, which could effortlessly reach high octaves, quickly made her a name to reckon with in the playback music industry.

Swarnalatha ( സ്വർണ്ണലത )
Swarnalatha
Background information
Born	1973 Chittur, Palakkad, India
Died	12 September 2010 (aged 37) Chennai, India
Genres	Playback singing, Carnatic music
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	vocals
Years active	1987–2010

She was born in Athikkodu near Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, to K. C. Cherukutty and Kalyani. Her father was a good harmonium player and singer. Her mother also had interest in music. Swarnalatha was trained on the harmonium and keyboard.[3] Swarnalatha's family later moved to Shimoga, where she had her education.[4] Born in a family of musicians (father K. C. Cherukutty was a singer and harmonium player, while sister Saroja was her music guru initially). Swarnalatha took to music when she was in her teens. She opened her account in films when M. S. Viswanathan introduced her in a duet with singer Dr K J Yesudas. The song was Bharathiar's Chinnanchiru Kili ye , for the film Neethikku Thandanai in 1987.

In 1987, she shifted to Chennai, where she met M. S. Viswanathan. M.S.V. introduced her to the film industry through a duet with K. J. Yesudas, "Chinnanchirukiliye Kannamma" from the film Neethikku Dhandanai.Subsequently, many other music directors approached her to perform their songs. She was recruited by legendary musicians like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman. She also recorded a few Hindi songs, the most notable one being "Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua" from Rangeela.

She was one of the most versatile singers of her times, as she was able to sing melodies like "Maalayil Yaaro Manathodu Pesa" from Chatriyan or "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuthamma as well as Rahman's experimental songs like "Mukkabla" from Kadhalan or "Mottu Vittadha" from Pavithra. Swarnalatha was the first female playback singer to fetch the National Award in A. R. Rahman's music for the song "Porale Ponnuthayi". Once in an interview, she said that she was moved to tears when she finished the recording of this song and received praise from A. R. Rahman. She recorded many other memorable songs with music directors Deva, Vidyasagar, Harris Jayaraj, Anu Malik, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy,Raj-Koti, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Mani Sharma,Hamsaleka and many others.She had sung all the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum in the movie Anarkali(tamil dubbed version of the hindi movie mughal-e-Azam) and she was praised by the acclaimed bollywood music director late Naushad Ali.

Character

Swarnalatha was a very quiet and shy woman. She was very camera shy too. Her musical concerts were quite straight, with only her music doing the talking. Once in an interview, her brother said that she knew nothing in this world except the music. She dedicated her entire life to music.Her calmness and character were liked by so many people in the music industry and her fans.

Vocalist Mano, who has sung several film songs along with her, apart from performing with her live in many shows, was also a good friend. Mano said he was devastated on hearing about her death. "She was a great being, who only concentrated on her work and nothing else. We were introduced around the same time, and honed our singing skills under Ilayaraja. Swarnalatha is a demure, silent person, who despite having friends in the industry, kept all her problems to herself. A spinster with health problems at a relatively young age, I feel god has not been fair to such a nice person as Swarnalatha", he said.

Death

Swarnalatha died at a private hospital in Chennai at the age of 37 due to cardiac arrest followed by interstitial lung disease (lung infection) after being admitted because she had difficulty in breathing. The singer had been undergoing treatment for lung infection for over a year and had not recorded for films during the period.[1]

Legendary music composer M S Viswanathan, who gave the then 14-year old Swarnalatha a break in films, described her as a very talented singer. She is believed to have approached him first, when she wanted to launch her career in film music. He gave her a chance in the film Needhikku Thandanai. "I was shocked on hearing the news. Swarnalatha was introduced to films by me, and was highly talented in music" he said.[8]

Awards and recognitions

National Award (Silver Lotus Award)

* 1995 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma

State Awards

* 1991 - Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Povomma Oorkolam" from Chinna Thambi

* 1994 - Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma

Tamil Nadu Government Award

* 1994 - Kalaimamani Award by the Tamil Nadu government for her contributions to Tamil music

Andhra Pradesh Government Award

* 1995 - Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer from the Andhra Pradesh government for her contributions to Telugu music

Filmfare Awards

* 1994- Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for "Mukkala Mukabala" from Kadhalan

* 1996- Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for "Hai Rama" from Rangeela

* 2000- Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for "Sunta Hai" from Pukar

Other Prominent Awards

* 1996 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Akkadanu Nanga" from Indian

* 1999 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Ulundhu Vithakkaiyilae" from Mudhalvan

* 2000 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Evano oruvan" from Alaipayuthey

* 2002 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Thirumana malargal" from Poovellam Un Vasam

Special Awards

* 2002 - "Swarnalatha" (Rakkama Kaiya Thattu) song from the movie Thalapathi (1991) was the topmost in a BBC World Top Ten music poll.

Notable Tamil film songs

In A. R. Rahman's music

"Kummi Adi" Sillunu Oru Kaadhal 2006

"Evano Oruvan" Alaipayuthey 2000

"Sollaiyo Solai Kili" Alli Arjuna 2001

"Orunal Oru Pozhuthu" Anthimanthaarai 1995

"Kucchi Kucchi" Bombay 1995

"Uyire Uyire" (Chorus) Bombay 1995

"Usilampatti Penkutti" Gentleman 1993

"Akkadanu Nanga" Indian 1996

"Maya Machindra" Indian 1996

"Munneru Dhaan" Indira 1995

"Nee Etty Etty Thottuvachukka" Manitha Manitha 1994

"Anjathea Jeeva" Jodi 1999

"Anna Un Tholil" Jodi 1999

"Sollu Anbe" Jodi 1999

"Yenthen Vaanil" Kadhal Virus 2002

"Mukkala Mukkabla" Kadhalan 1994

"Kadhalenum" Kadhalar Dhinam 1999

"Singore Singore" Kannathil Muthamittal 2002

"Poralae Ponnuthayi (sad)" Karuththamma 1993

"Madrasa Sutthi" May Madham 1994

"Mel Isaiye" Mr. Romeo 1996

"Ulunthu Vithaikayilae" Mudhalvan 1999

"Chittukuruvi" Parasuram 2003

"Mottu Vittatha" Pavithra 1994

"Hai Rama" Rangeela 1995

"Lucky Lucky" Ratchagan 1997

"Mercury Pookal" Ratchagan 1997

"Kummi Adi" Sillunu Oru Kadhal 2006

"Kadhal Yogi" Taalam 1999

"Kuliruthu Kuliruthu" Taj Mahal 1999

"Poongatrile" Uyire 1998

"Rakozhi Rendu" Uzhavan 1993

"Yae Muthu Paapa" Vandicholai Chinraasu 1994

[edit] In Ilaiyaraja's music

Song Movie

"Sollividu Velli Nilave" Amaidhi Padai

"Mana Madurai" Anthapuram

"Kuruvi Kudaintha" Azhagi

"Aattama Therottama" Captain Prabhakaran

"Malaiyil Yaaro" Chathriyan

"Chithra Kili" Chinna Devan

"Adi Vannathi Poo" Chinna Jamin

"Onnapoothttu" Chinna Jamin

"Anthiyila Vanam" Chinnavar

"Povomma Oorkolam" Chinna Thambi

"Nee Enge" Chinna Thambi

"Naan Aerikkarai" Chinnaththaayi

"Kattu Kuyil Pattu" Chinna Mapillai

"Vennilavu Kothipathu" Chinna Mapillai

"Semparathi Poovukku" Dharma

"Maasi Masam" Dharma Dorai

"Mana Magalea" Devar Magan

"Vayasu Vantha" En Mana Vaanil

"Kuyil Paatu" En Rasavin Mansilae

"Uthama Puthiri" Guru Sishyan

"Aradi Suvaruthan" Ithu Namma Bhomi

"Oru Pokiri Rathiri" Ithu Namma Bhomi

"Kooyil Mani Kettene" Kanna Unnai Thedukiren

"Enga Then Paandi" Kattabomman

"Adi Asa Machan" Kummipattu

"Oorukku Thekkuttu" Kummipattu

"Ammiyila Araichi" Kummipattu

"Uchi Veyilukku" Kummipattu

"Nee Thane Nal Thorum" Paatu Vathiyar

"Kana Karunk Kuyilae" Paandithurai

"Malliye Chinna Mullaye" Paandithurai

"Vidalapulla" Periya Maruthu

"Vidai Kodu" Piriyadha Varam Vendum

"Ooradangum Samathilea" Puthupatti Ponnuthaye

"Malligai Mottu" Sakthi Vel

"Kalaiyil Kettathu" Senthamizh Pattu

"Punnaivana Poonkuyile" Sevvanthi

"Margalithan Odipochu" Thalapathi

"Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu" Thalapathi

"Ennai Thottu" Unnai Nenachaen Paattu Padichaen

"Ennulle Ennulle" Valli

"Unnai Ethir Parthen" Vanaja Kirija

"Sirakadikuthu Kuruvi" Vanaja Kirija

"Aajare" Vishnu

"Naan Thanga Roja" Time

"Malai Kovil Vasalil" Veera

"Madathile Kanni" Veera

[edit] Notable Malayalam film songs

Song Movie

"Kadamizhiyil Kamaldalam" Thenkasipattanam

"Manikkakkallal Menju Menanju" Varnapakittu

"Nandalaala Hey Nandalaala" Independence

"Pottukuthedi Pudavachoodedi" Ravanaprabhu

"Balla Balla Ballare" Punjabi House

"Varthingal Thellalle" Dreamz

"Akkuthikkuthaanakkompel" Mangalya Soothram

"Kannoram Kanamuthe Vaa" Ishtamanu Nooruvattam

"Manjil Pootha Sandhye" Minnaminunginum Minnukettu

"Neeyonnu Paad" Thacholi Varghese Chekavar

"Oru Thari Kasthoori" Highway