Udit Narayan Biography
Udit Narayan Jha was born to a farmer in Nepal on December 01, 1955. He did his schooling from Shree Public Bindeshawari Secondary School, Rajbiraj, Nepal.
He finished his SSC from Jageshwar High School, Kunauli, Supaul, Bihar and obtained his intermediate Degree from Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal and later moved to Mumbai.
On a musical scholarship for Nepalese through Indian Embassy in Nepal to study classical Music at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan where he was mentored by “Pandit Dinkar Kaikini’” Who is known as the most prominent and successful Bollywood playback singer of all time.
His voice was just another level of melodious, he had taken a storm in 1980s and 1990s with his beautiful ‘voice, to die for’ voice. He got to sing with legends Mohammed Rafi in his Bollywood Playback debut in movie Unees-Bees in 1980 and also with Kishore Kumar in the 1980s.
He finally made his mark in 1988 movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak starring Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla, his song “Papa Kehte Hain” was his notable performance which earned him his first Filmfare Award in the 1980s and he established himself in Bollywood Playback Singing.
He is the only male singer in the history of the Filmfare Awards to have won in over three decades.
Family
Udit Narayan’s father was a Farmer while his mother was a Folk Dancer. He got married to Deepa Narayan Jha and have a son Aditya Narayan Jha who is a Playback singer in Bollywood.
Career
In the year 1980, He got his break to sing in a Hindi film when music director Rajesh Roshan offered him to sing in the movie “Unees Bees”.
It was big thing for Udit Narayan, as he got an opportunity to sing with his mentor, the great Mohammed Rafi. He was noticed but his real big break came in the year 1988. He sang a very famous song “Papa Kehte Hain” from the movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Which went on to become that year’s biggest hit. This song gave him instant stardom and he went on to bag his first Filmfare award. This movie was also the launch pad of actors Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla and female playback singer Alka Yagnik.
After the huge success of this movie, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik sang for movies like Dil and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, which went on to become huge hits. Udit Narayan also tried his hand at acting and did some Nepali movies like Kusume Rumal and Pirati, which were not much successful.
But he sang in some of the most famous Nepali movies and became a famous singer in Nepal.
Though Udit Narayan was gaining much popularity, he got overshadowed by Kumar Sanu, who another famous Indian playback singer.
For five years, though he was nominated in the Best Male Playback singer category,
It was Kumar Sanu who finally won. In the year 1995, his career had a turning point when he sang the hit song “Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna” for the movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaaenge.
The song went on to become a huge hit and won accolades from one and all. He won the Filmfare award for the Best Male Playback singer that year. He won his third Filmfare award the next year itself for the song “Pardesi” from the movie Raja Hindustani.
Udit Narayan is one of the most acclaimed singers of the present generation and has been praised by senior and established singers and composers for his original style and voice quality.
He is the onscreen voice of the three major superstars of Indian cinema namely Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan.
Many acclaimed music directors prefer to work with him since he is able to gel with almost everyone and give the exact feel to the song.
He is one of the top choices of acclaimed music directors like A.R. Rahman, Nadeem Shravan, Rajesh Roshan, Shankar Mahadevan, etc.
He is also a hit with major directors like Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar. Some of his superhit movies are Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Swades, Veer Zaara, Aashiqui, Lagaan, Taal, Beta, Swades, Rangeela, etc.
In the same year, Narayan sang with Kishore Kumar in the film Kehdo Pyar Hai.
Another singer he sang with was Suresh Wadkar with music composed by Bappi Lahiri.
Nepali Cinema:
Narayan’s friend Jiyand Nawab Deedag suggested he change his work from old to modern in order to be selected as a playback singer, but this didn’t work and, considering old films in 1973, Narayan sang a song for a Nepali film called Sindoor.
This was a comedy song for the famous Nepali comedians GopalRaj Mainali (Chankhe) and Basundhara Bhushal (Nakkali). Narayan sang this song with Sushma Shrestha, now known as Poornima in Hindi films.
Narayan has also acted in two Nepali films – Kusume Rumal and Pirati in 1985. In 2004, he released his first non-movie Nepalese album, Upahaar. in which he sang duets with his wife Deepa Jha. Narayan has many solo albums as well, such as.
Bhajan Sangam
Guinness Book of Record:
In 2015 Udit Narayan was involved in a mega series campaign Melancholy, where 421 Nepali artists had sung a 33 minutes 49-second long environmental song, in which 365 artists set a Guinness World Record on 19 May 2016 at Radio Nepal Studio, Singhadurbar, Kathamandu. It is written, composed and directed by environmentalist Nipesh.
Television:
Udit Narayan has appeared on many Television shows as a Judge and as a guest.
He was one of the panel of judges of Indian Idol 3 in 2007 with music composer Anu Malik and playback singer Alisha Chinai on Sony TV.
Narayan was on the panel of judges on Sony TV for Waar Parriwar, A reality show based on the bringing together of a singing gharana (family of singers).
He shared judging duties with fellow playback singer Kumar Sanu and Jatin Pandit of the music duo Jatin-Lalit. Narayan has appeared on Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs as a guest.
Collaboration:
Anand – MIlind – Meri Nayi Baansi Ki Dhun, Ae Mere Humsafar, Papa Kehte Hain, Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka, Na Jaane Kyu Me Bekarar, Mujhe Neendh Na Aaye, Hum Ne Ghar Choda Hain, Hum Pyaar Karne Wale, Dhak Dhak Karne Laga, Koyal Si Teri Boli, Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera.
Laxmikant – Pyaarelal – Log Jahan Par Rehte Hain, Ek Doosre Se Karte Hain Pyaar Hum
Nadeem – Shravan – Mera Dil Tere Liye Dhadakta Hain, I Love You, Aaye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein, Pardesi Pardesi, Kitna Pyaara Tujhe Rab Hain, Dil Ki Dhadkan Rehti Hain, Dil Ne Ye Kahan Hain Dil Se, Na Na Karte Pyaar, Jo Bhi Kasmein, Kitna Bechein Hoke, Zindagi Ban Gaye Ho Tum,
Anu Malik – Jawani Deewani, Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar Hogaya, Ram Jaane, Ho Nahi Sakta, Ishq Hua Kaise Hua, Dekho Dekho Jaanam, Neendh Churai Meri, Chandni Aaya Hain Tera Deewana. Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Dil Dil Deewana, Dekhne Waalon Ne.
A.R Rahman – E Ajnabi, Taal Se Taal Mila, Radha Kaise Na Jale, Mitwa, Ghanan Ghanan, O Ri Chori, Yuhi Chala Chal, Yeh Tara, Woh Tara
Awards and Honours:
- Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer
- Papa Kehte Hai Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak – 1988
- Mehndi Lagake Rakhna Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge – 1995
- Pardesi Pardesi Raja Hindustani – 1996
- Chand Chupa Badal Mein Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam – 1999
- National & Filmfare Award – Mitwaa Lagaan – 2000
- National Award – Yeh Tara Woh Tara Swades – 2005
- National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer Mitwaa Lagaan – 2005
- National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer Chhote Chhote Sapne Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai – 2003
- National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Yeh Tara Swades 2005
- Star Screen Award Best Male Playback – Aye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein Raja Hindustani 1996
- Star Screen Award Best Male Playback Woh Chand Jaisi Ladki Devdas 1996
- Zee Cine Awards Best Playback Male Singer – Chand Chupa Badal Mein Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2000
- IIFA Award for Best Male Playback– Chand Chupa Badal Mein Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2000
- Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu from Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in Nepal
- Hits FM Music Awards 2004(Nepal)- Record of the Year for the song “Kahile Timro” and Album of the Year for the album “Upahaar”
