25 April 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Arijit Singh Biography

Arijit Singh was born in West Bengal to a Punjabi father and a Bengali mother. He hails from a family of musicians with his maternal grandmother being a singer, maternal aunt being trained in Indian classical music, maternal uncle playing the tabla, and his mother being a singer and a tabla player, imparting music to this artist since his childhood.

He studied at Raja Bijay Singh High School and Sripat Singh College. He learnt Indian classical music from Rajendra Prasad Hazari and trained in playing the tabla under Dhirendra Prasad Hazari. He trained for Rabindra Sangeet and pop music under Birendra Prasad Hazari.

Arijit Singh first married one of his co-contestants Koyal Singh from a reality show, but got divorced. The singer then married his childhood friend Koel Roy in Tarapith temple, West Bengal in 2014. Koel was also previously married and has a daughter from her first wedding.

Career

Arijit Singh’s musical career began when his guru Rajendra Prasad Hazari, who felt that “Indian classical music was a dying tradition“, insisted he leave his hometown and participate in the reality show Fame Gurukul (2005) at the age of 18. Arijit Singh was eliminated by audience polling, finishing in sixth place.

During the show, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali recognized his talent and had him sing “Yun Shabnami” a song scheduled to be used in his upcoming film Saawariya. During production, the script changed and the song was no longer required. It was never released. After the Fame Gurukul, Kumar Taurani, the head of Tips, signed him for an album which was never released.

Arijit Singh participated in another reality show 10 Ke 10 Le Gaye Dil and won. He chose to move to Mumbai in 2006 to freelance, staying in a rented room in the Lokhandwala area of the city. He invested the prize money of ₹1 million from 10 ke 10 Le Gaye Dil to build his recording studio. He became a music producer and began composing music and singing pieces for advertisements, news channels and radio stations.

Arijit Singh spent a part of his early musical career as a music programmer and music producer for music directors such as Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar, Mithoon, Monty Sharma and Pritam. While working with other composers he supervised the vocals, and the chorus sections, but it was while working with Pritam, that he began to produce and program music by himself.

Arijit Singh started working with Pritam on three films—Golmaal 3, Crook and Action Replayy. He started with singing scratches in the Telugu Film Industry with the 2010 film Kedi with the song “Neeve Na Neeve Na” composed by Sandeep Chowta.

Bollywood Debut

Arijit Singh made his Bollywood musical debut with the Mithoon composition, “Phir Mohabbat” from Murder 2, which though he recorded it in 2009 was released in 2011.

The same year, when he was programming for the song “Raabta” from Agent Vinod (2012)

Pritam asked him to sing as well. The part was retained in all four versions of the song, and he was made to sing the entire composition in one of the versions. Apart from Agent Vinod, Arijit Singh dubbed for Pritam in three, other films released during the year: Players, Cocktail and, Barfi! He also sang for Chirantan Bhatt in 1920: Evil Returns for the song Uska Hi Banana.

Glamsham in its review of the song “Uska Hi Banana” wrote that Arijit had sung the song intensely, emotionally and passionately and at a very high pitch.

Arijit Singh sang on Vishal–Shekhar’s composition “Duaa” in the film Shanghai.

It won Arijit Singh the Mirchi Music Award for Upcoming Male Playback Singer award. He was nominated in the same category for Phir Le Aya Dil from Barfi!

Arijit Singh breakthrough came in Aashiqui 2 where he was a lead and key vocalist and came to prominence with the release of the song “Tum Hi Ho” from the movie.

The song won him several awards and nominations including Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Arijit continued to work with Pritam, singing

Dilliwaali Girlfriend
Kabira
Ilahi for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Balam Pichkari
Main Rang Sharbaton Ka
Dhoka Dhadi
Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari
Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse
Laal Ishq

Working With Sajid-Wajid and A. R Rahman

Arijit Singh got the chance to work with two of his favourite music directors, Sajid–Wajid and A. R. Rahman. Arijit Singh’s performed two tracks on Main Tera Hero and the song Raat Bhar from Heropanti for Sajid-Wajid

Medhuvaagathaan
Samjhawan
Aaj Phir
Mast Magan
Jiya
Jaise Mera Tu
Hai Dil Ye Mera
Manwa Laage
Sajde

Recent Works

In the starting of the year 2020, 10 of his songs were released. Out of these, two songs are chartbusters Shayad

Haan Main Galat
Khulne Do
Sab Jhulas Gaya
Dua Karo
Chal Ghar Chalen
Azaadi Ke Liye

He has also sang a song in a Bengali film, Love Aaj Kal Porshu.
On 18 July 2020, Singh announced his upcoming venture in making non-film music under the banner “Oriyon Music”.

He made an appearance in a music video from Sunny M.R.’s new single “Lifafe” on 31 July 2020.

Singh released his first single “Rihaa” under his banner Oriyon Music on 4th October, 2020; along with the Bengali version “Mukto Kore Dao” on 10th October, 2020 with the Hindi lyrics written by Shloke Lal and the Bengali lyrics written by Singh himself.

Arijit’s Inspiration

Arijit has shared his fondness for Kishore Kumar, while citing Mohit Chauhan and Atif Aslam as inspirations with whom he is often compared. Though he has been inspired by many artists, Singh named KK as his favorite singer along with Ayushmann Khurrana. He named Pritam Chakraborty, Vishal–Shekhar, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Amit Trivedi, Mithoon and A. R. Rahman as his favorite music directors. Singh has idolized Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh and Mehdi Hassan.

In an interview with Filmbeat in April 2013, he declared that he is the biggest fan of singer Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK). His desire to sing for Aamir Khan came to reality in 2016 with the song “Naina” from Dangal. In an interview with The Indian Express, Singh stated that he loves the work of Shalmali Kholgade, Shefali Alvares, and Irfan. He also mentioned that his “current favorite” singer is Chinmayi.

In 2016 he appeared on the popular chat and comedy show The Kapil Sharma Show aired on Sony TV India. The show’s host Kapil Sharma explained the difficulties he had bringing Singh on the show due to his shy nature.

Singh has often been portrayed by the Indian media as a “small-town boy who made it big”. He had also been trolled on social media to which he replied “I use my social media sparingly for things that are close to my heart. I don’t read the comments. My team filters out the comments for me, I don’t involve myself a lot into paying attention to criticism on social media. I speak what I want to speak and my team lets me know the needful.

Arijit Singh’s Hobbies

Apart from being a singer Arijit Singh, he is a badminton player, a writer, a movie freak and a documentary maker. He also likes cricket, football and his favorite sportsmen are Sachin Tendulkar, Lance Klusener, Sourav Ganguly, and Jonty Rhodes. He is an ardent football fan, and a self-proclaimed Manchester United fan. He has also expressed a wish to sing the anthem for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In badminton, he likes Saina Nehwal.

Arijit enjoys listening to retro songs by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and the classical and ghazal songs along with the music of Coldplay. He expressed his desire to work with artist Norah Jones someday as he loves her music. He says he is uncomfortable with all the attention that fame has brought.

In an interview given to Mid-day.com in the December 2016, Arijit said “Independent music in India needs to be redefined” and he is working on some “independent music projects” but he believes that Bollywood music overpowers independent music, and there is a lack of infrastructure and platform for independent music in India, and it is difficult to produce it in India.

Collaboration

Pritam – Players, Agent Vinod, Cocktail, Barfi!, Shanghai, Phata Poster Nikla Hero, R…Rajkumar, Yaariyan, Shaadi Ke Side Effects.
Jeet Ganguly – Aashiqui 2, Youngistaan, Citylights, Singham Returns, Khamoshiyan, Mr. X, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Boss, Rangbaaz
Shankar – Ehsaan – Loy – Kuda Na Khasta (One By Two), Mast Magan (2 States), Sajde (KillDill), Ghayal Once Again, Raazi, Chhapaak,
Amit Trivedi – Aaj se Teri (Padman), Woh Ladki, Dooba Dooba (Andhadhun), Kedarnath.
Indraadip Das Gupta – Proloy, Mishawr Rawhoshyo, Hanuman.com, Chander Pahar.

Awards

Bollywood Hungama Surfers Choice Music Awards – Aashiqui 2 & Dilwale – 2013, 2016
Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Aashiqui 2, Dilwale , Roy , Ae Dil Hain Mushkil, Raazi and Kalank – 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 & 2020.
Gaana User’s Choice Icons – Favorite Male Artist – 2016.
GIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer
Star Guild Award for Best Male Playback Singer
IIFA Award for Best Male Playback Singer
Music Mirchi Awards
Mirchi Music Awards Bangla
National Film Awards
RMIM Puraskaar
Screen Award for Best Male Playback
South Indian International Movie Awards
Stardust Awards
Tele Cine Awards
West Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards

8 April 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Amit Trivedi

Amit Trivedi was born in Bandra, Mumbai but has a native in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. He has done his education from Rizvi College Mumbai. He was very much fascinated from electronic music instrument due to which his interest started getting developed into music composition.
Amit got married to Krutee Desai and have a son named Yaman Trivedi.

Career

In his initial days of college, Amit Trivedi joined a band named ‘’Om’’

In his younger days, an electronic musical instrument fascinated Amit Trivedi, and he was slowly drawn towards music, mainly influenced by classical music. At 19–20, he began composing music. They struck gold when Times Music took notice at one of their shows, and offered to launch their album. The album however did not fare well, due to lack of promotion. Eventually Trivedi went on to compose for theatre (Hindi, English and Gujarati plays), background music for television shows, programming for some Marathi films, live performances, dandiya shows, orchestras etc. He also had a brief stint composing advertisement jingles, for brands such as McDonald’s and Airtel.

After sound engineer and Audio Garage Recording Studio owner Arvind Vishwakarma introduced Amit Trivedi to Sony BMG, he began composing music for non-film albums. As a part of his two-year contract, Trivedi composed some tracks for Abhijeet Sawant’s Junoon and one song in Prashant Tamang’s debut album.

Amit Trivedi arranged for many musicians including Amartya Rahut for a Marathi film Uttarayan in 2004.

Film music eventually came his way, when friend and playback singer Shilpa Rao suggested his name to film director Anurag Kashyap. The latter was in search of a new composer with a distinct vision for his next film. After meeting Amit Trivedi, Kashyap offered him the chance to compose the soundtrack to Dev.D. Although it was scheduled to be his debut, Dev.D ran into production delays and was shelved for some time.

Upon Kashyap’s recommendation, Trivedi was roped in to score Raj Kumar Gupta’s directorial venture Aamir. Trivedi and Gupta worked on making the soundtrack fuse with the film narrative, resulting in an effort that garnered critical recognition.

By the end of 2008, Dev.D was finally released. The soundtrack, released in December, consisted of 18 tracks of different genres. Amit Trivedi dubbed the soundtrack the “baap (father) of different genres”. He sang five songs on the soundtrack, and wrote the lyrics for one Aankh Micholi. He shot to fame with the unusual music of Dev.D, giving many chartbusters like “Emosanal Attyachar“

Saali Khushi

O Pardesi

And many more. Trivedi wrote the score for Wake up Sid (2009) and one of his compositions “Iktara” was also included in the soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq5G2z4Rjp8

In 2009 itself, Trivedi was roped in by Anshu Sharma to compose the team anthem “Game for More” for Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

Between scoring for films, Trivedi also wrote the title track for the reality show Big Switch aired on UTV Bindaas. He also provided the music and background score for the ensemble romantic comedy-drama Aisha (2010), which also had him providing vocals for two songs, Suno Aisha

Sham.

Recently, he won Best Song for “Naina Da Kya Kasoor” at the News18 Reel Movie Awards from Andhadhun (2018).

Apart from “Naina Da Kya Kasoor”, he also sang “Laila Laila“

In 2019, Power Brands honored him with the Best Music Director of the Year award for ‘Andhadhun’ at the Bollywood Film Journalists Awards (BFJA). He has made TV appearances for various shows aired on MTV. Also, he composed title track for the television show Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

Concerts and Live Performances

Amit Trivedi will be sharing stage along with the likes of Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Ritviz and The Local Train at OnePlus Music Festival.

There was a Coke Studio concert at IIM Bangalore on 22 November 2013, featuring Amit Trivedi along with Tochi Raina, Shriram Iyer, Tanvi Shah, Mili Nair and Jaggi.

He also performed for the Bacardi NH7 Weekender (music festival) which happened in Pune, Delhi, and Hyderabad. In January 2016, he performed at Quo Vadis, the annual fest of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. On 1 February 2016, he performed at Spring Fest, the annual festival of IIT Kharagpur along with the likes of Neeti Mohan, Yashita Sharma and Divya Kumar. He performed at Chembur Gymkhana on 4 March 2017. He performed on 19 March 2017 at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. On 26 March 2017, he performed along with Jonita Gandhi and Divya Kumar (singer) at Aura, the annual festival of Gogte Institute of Technology.

He also composed a nation song incorporating all his popular genres and celebrating unity through an amalgamation of folk music from different states of the nation at the Mirchi Music Awards held in 2017. On 20 January 2018 he performed for the first time in Navi Mumbai at SIESONS, SIES College (Nerul) with Jonita Gandhi, Shashwat Singh, Arun Kumar and Yashita Sharma. He has also performed in “Kashiyatra” IIT BHU Annual Fest on 21 January 2018; the very next day. He performed at K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering for their annual cultural festival Symphony on 7 February 2018. He also performed in “Engifest”, the Delhi Technological University Annual Fest on 16 February 2018. He also performed in “Riviera” in VIT University on 17 February 2018.

He performed in Synapse (Gujarat’s largest cultural fest) at DA-IICT, Gandhinagar on 24 February. He performed at the Hindu College for their fest “Mecca” on 16 March. In October 2018 he also performed at Thomson, IIT Roorkee. His performance at IIT Indore during Fluxus – Annual Techno-Cultural fest of IIT Indore on 17 February 2019 was highly appreciated by the crowd and considered one of his best live performances. He performed recently at the Vibrance 2019 (VIT Chennai’s annual cultural fest) on 21 February.

He is currently managed by Tarsame Mittal Talent Management for his live shows.

Songs by Amit Trivedi

Ha Raham

Chakkar Ghumyo

Motumaster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ClvggZ_yL8

Aa Rela Hai Apun

Motorwada

Manjha

Ghanchakkar Babu

Senti Wali Mental

Awards and Recognitions

National Award for Best Music Director – Dev.D 2009

RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – 2010

Best Background Score – Dev.D – 2010.

Best Background Score – Udaan – 2011.

Best Background Score – Queen 2015.

Star Screen Awards – Best Music Director 2018.

Zee Cine Awards – Best Music Director 2018.

Mirchi Music Award – Listener’s Choice Song of the Year.

Global Indian Music Academy Awards – Best Film Song 2009.

Giffoni Film Festival – Best Music Score Udaan 2010.

20 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Alka Yagnik Biography

Alka Yagnik was born in Kolkata on 20 March 1966 to a Gujarati family. Her father’s name is Dharmendra Shankar. Her mother Shubha was a singer of Indian classical music. In 1972 at age six, she started singing for Akashvani (All India Radio), Calcutta. At age 10, her mother brought her to Mumbai as a child singer.

She was advised to wait until her voice matured, but her mother remained determined. On a subsequent visit, Yagnik got a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor from his Kolkata distributor.

Kapoor heard the girl and sent her with a letter to noted music director Laxmikant. Impressed, Laxmikant gave her two alternatives – an immediate start as a dubbing artist or a later break as a singer Shubha chose the latter for her daughter. Yagnik mentioned that she was a bright student but didn’t like studies.

Yagnik married Shillong-based businessman Neeraj Kapoor in 1989 and has a daughter named Syesha Kapoor. She and her husband were separated for four to five years but they later reunited. She compliments her husband for understanding her career in singing.

Career

Alka Yagnik is one of the leading singers of the Hindi film who has made an indelible mark for herself. In an industry where big and already established names were ruling, it was not easy for anyone to even get noticed.

But real talent never goes waste and she finally got her big break after which there was no turning back. Born in Calcutta on 20th March in a Gujarati family, Alka Yagnik began showcasing her talent at a very young age.

Today, the chart topping songs of Alka Yagnik are a favorite of many. Check out her life history in this biography of Alka Yagnik.

Alka Yagnik received formal training in Indian classical music at a very young age. Her parents were also well versed with classical music and persuaded her to tone her voice. At the age of six, she began singing devotional songs for Calcutta Radio.

Alka Yagnik never thought that singing would become a profession for her and always thought of it as a hobby.

To realize her dreams, she came to Mumbai. She got an offer to sing in the movie Payal Ki Jhankaar in the year 1979. She also sang Mere Angane Mein from the movie Lawaris in the year 1981. But the song that made her a star overnight was the popular hit Ek Do Teen from the movie Tezaab released in the year 1988.

In 1993, Yagnik sang a seductive song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” with Ila Arun. The song created controversy because of the lyrics written by Anand Bakshi. She got a second Filmfare award for the song, which she shared with Ila Arun.

In 1994, she sang another seductive song “Din Mein Leti Hai” from the film Amanaat with co-singer Kumar Sanu and Ila Arun, composed by Bappi Lahiri and lyrics by Anwar Sagar. Besides the duet version, she also sang the female version of the song with Ila Arun.

She has performed several shows with Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Throughout the 90s Yagnik along with Kavita Krishnamurthy and Poornima were singing most of the songs for heroines.

Yagnik worked on private albums like “Tum Yaad Aaye” in 1997 in close collaboration with award-winning lyricist Javed Akhtar and composer Raju Singh.

“Tum Aaye” in 2002 with Javed Akhtar and singer Hariharan and “Shairana” in 2003 with Javed Akhtar and singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan.

She has also performed the Hanuman Chalisa and various devotional songs. Her song “Chamma Chamma” from China Gate was featured in the song “Hindi Sad Diamonds” from the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge.

In 2012 she along with Sonu Nigam sang a song ‘Shiksha Ka Suraj’ as part of the National Literacy Mission of India for which she was felicitated by Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal. Also in 2012, on the occasion of 100 years of Hindi Cinema, her song “Taal Se Taal Mila” from the movie Taal was voted as the best song of the century in a poll conducted by DesiMartini, Hindustan Times and Fever 104.

Also, her song “Choli Ke Peeche” from the movie Khalnayak was voted as the hottest song of the century in a poll conducted by Sanona.

Yagnik has also been involved in various projects to empower girls. In 2014, Yagnik again teamed up with Sonu Nigam to sing the song “Phool Khil Jayenge” for child health awareness.

She also sang a song titled “Maine Li Jo Angdai” for the album Women’s Day Special: Spreading Melodies Everywhere.

It was composed by Farid Sabri, Harish Chauhan, and Gurudatt Sahil and penned by Sudhakar Sharma.

In 2015, she sung ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ for which she informed that the music director of the song, A.R. Rahman wasn’t present in the studio but he was giving instructions on Skype video call and after giving some instructions, he gave power to Yagnik to do any of own style of singing in ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ song.

Yagnik shares the title for the greatest number of Filmfare Awards with Asha Bhosle (seven) by a female playback singer. She has sung 2,486 Hindi songs in 1,114 films. She is the fifth most prolific Bollywood singer of all time after Asha Bhosle (7886 songs), Mohammed Rafi (7405 songs), Lata Mangeshkar (5596 songs) and Kishore Kumar (2,707 songs). She is the third topmost female playback singer after Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle who has sung the maximum number of female solos in her Bollywood career.

The Golden Trio

The most iconic and the most prolific singing trio of Bollywood could ever get in 1990s is Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik.

During the 90s Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik gave many hit songs, there was a very much rivalry among Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan. Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu have given numerous hits during the 1980s and 1990s.

Songs with Kumar Sanu

Chura ke dil mera
Baazigar O Baazigar
Mera Dil Bhi Jitna Pagal Hain
Pehli Pehli Baar Mohabbat
Paas Woh Aane Lage
Kitne Dino Ke Baad
Saaton Janam Main Tere

Songs With Udit Narayan

Dil Ne Ye Kahan Hain Dil Se
Kyon Ki Itna Pyaar
Tumse Milna
Chand Chupa Badal Mein
Abhi To Mohabbat ka
Tip Tip Barsa Paani
Kitni Bechain Hoke
Thoda Sa Pyaar Hua Hain.

Concert in South Africa

Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan thrilled an audience with Bollywood numbers as they appeared together on stage for the first time ever at an event in South Africa.

Over 5,000 Bollywood music admirers attended the event in Pretoria in Gauteng province in South Africa Saturday night.

They have been at events together in the past, but have never sung together at the same show, it has been a special privilege for her to perform alongside two legends of the industry.

Narayan said he was amazed at the reaction of the audience to Bollywood music.

Television

Alka Yagnik has also been a judge on a singing reality television series Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs.

Alka has also appeared on The Kapil Sharma show on TV alongside Kapil Sharma.

Collaboration

Kalyanji – Anandji – Lawaaris, Itni Si Baat, Sannata, Nastik, Raaj Tilak, Yudh, Pighalta Asmaan, Baat Ban Jaaye, Patthar, Tridev.
Laxmikant – Pyaarelal – Jeevan Dhara, Coolie, Mera Jawaab , Daku Hasina, Insaaf Ki Manzil, Janam Janam, Tezaab, Dayavan, Bhrashtachar, Veedu Daada.
Bappi Lahiri – Kanoon Apna Apna, Ghar Ka Chirag, Aaj Ka Arjun, Afsana Pyaar Ka, Geet, Shola Aur Shabnam, Aankhen, Dalaal, Jallaad, Smuggler.
Anand – Milind – Tan-Daban, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Aurat Teri Yehi Kahaani, Shiv Shakti, Rakhwala, Maha- Sangram, Taqdeer Ka Tamasha, Haque, Chandra Mukhi
Nadeem – Shravan – Sapne Sajan Ke, Divya Shakti, Rang, Aadmi Khilona Hain, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Raja.

Awards and Recognitions

Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Taal Se Taal – 2000.
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer -Re Chhori – 2002.
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer -Meri Mehbooba – 1998.
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Hum Tum – 2005.
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback – Ek Do Teen – 1988.
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback – Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se – 2001.
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback – Choli Ke Peeche – 1992.
National Award
National Award for Best Playback Female Singer – Ghoongat Ki Aad Se – 1983.
National Award for Best Playback Female Singer – Kuch Kuch Hota Hain – 1998.
Lata Mangeshkar Award – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna 2007.
Global Indian Films Awards – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna 2007.
MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice Award for “Jaane Kyon”- Dil Chahta Hai – 2001.
Sahara Sangeet Award Best Female Playback for “Tere Naam”- Tere Naam – 2004.

Sangam Kala Group- Music Awards 2007 Best Playback Singer for Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna – 2007.
Gr8 Women Achievers’ Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Music – 2011.
Sony Entertainment Asia Pearls Wave Voice of India Honour – 2011.
Kalakar Awards Best Female Playback for “Milenge Milenge ” – Milenge Milenge – 2011.
Sahyog Foundation– Kala Shiromani Award – 2011.
Dr. Ambedkar National Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Music – 2012.
Asia Pacific Brands Foundation Award for Outstanding Contribution To Music – 2012.
Global Indian Music Award for Best Folk Album – Mone Robe – 2012.
King Vikramaditya National Music Award – 2013.
Mirchi Music Awards Listener’s Choice – “Agar Tum Saath Ho” – 2016.
Atal Mithila Samman for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Music – 2019.

15 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Yo Yo Honey Singh

Hridesh Singh a.k.a Yo Yo Honey Singh born on 15 March 1983 at Hoshiarpur, Punjab to a Sikh family. According to sources, he studied music at the Trinity School in the United Kingdom. His family later moved to Delhi. He studied Commerce and completed his schooling from Guru Nanak School Punjab Bagh, New Delhi.

Family

Honey was born in a Punjabi Sikh Family his parents are.

Sardar Sarabjit Singh and Bhupinder Kaur.

Yo Yo Honey Singh got married to Shalini Singh

He introduced his wife for the first time on the Indian Singing reality television show called India’s Raw Star. Where he and his wife were sat together and had done judgements for the show.

Career

Yo Yo Honey Singh’s debut song in Bollywood films was Shakal Pe Mat Ja, featuring Gagan Sidhu.

Singh charged Rs. 7 million for a song in the film Mastan. This was the largest amount paid to a song artist in Bollywood to date, making Singh one of the highest-paid musical artists in Bollywood.

The song “Angreji Beat” from Singh’s album International Villager, featuring Gippy Grewal, was featured in Saif Ali Khan’s film Cocktail.

Singh launched his single “Bring Me Back ft. Spoken Word” at the Video Music Awards India, which aired on MTV India. After the show, his song was premiered on the channel.

In late 2013, he produced songs in the films Chennai Express

Boss

He has also had songs in smaller-budget films such as Mere Dad Ki Maruti, Bajatey Raho and Fugly. In February 2015 he released the songs “Birthday Bash“, followed by songs in films including Gabbar is Back and Bhaag Johnny.

He faced an accident in 2016 and was unavailable for any project, hence giving his opponents to go through, Honey Singh Returned in late 2018 with the song Makhna.

The song became a major success, also the same year he sung and composed songs for movie Baazaar & Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.

Yo Yo Honey Singh has also made a lot of solo album songs which were very famous and one of the most famous party songs of the decade. Yo Yo Honey Singh is questionably a big name in Bollywood. He has earned international fame for his different style of music.

He has released numerous self-titled musical albums and all of them have performed exceptionally well. Yo Yo, is presently one of the top paid musicians across India. Although he charges extensively though still the most preferred choice of producers to sign this artist. His musical videos are amongst the top viewed videos available on YouTube. Renowned Bollywood actresses like Sonakshi Sinha and Urvashi Rautela have casted in his songs. Apart from Hindi, he also sings a number of Punjabi songs.

One of the best Yo Yo’s album songs incudes –

Desi Kalakar

Love Dose

One Bottle Down

Blue Eyes

Brown Rang

Dope Shope

Breakup Party

Loca

Movie Debut

Apart from singing, he is founding himself as a movie actor too. In 2011, He made his first acting debut with the Punjabi movie Mirza – The Untold Story.

In 2014, He made his Hindi debut with the movie titled The Xpose. His upcoming Hindi movie is Aasha.

Bollywood music

Yo Yo has also given his contribution to the Bollywood music industry.

Sunny Sunny

Manali Trance alongside Neha Kakkar

Dil Chori

Aankhon Aankhon

High Heels

Yaariiyan

Aata Mazi Satakli

Inappropriate lyrics.

In the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, the lyrics to some of his songs, which depict violence against women and rape positively, have caused controversy. A first information report (FIR) was lodged against Singh for his offensive lyrics, and a group of social activists filed an online petition demanding cancellation of his New Year performance at a Gurgaon hotel. After the campaign, Singh’s New Year concert was cancelled by the hotel. Singh denies writing these offensive lyrics. Singh’s song “Party All Night” in Akshay Kumar’s film Boss was at the center of a controversy.

Producers of the movie had to submit a petition in Delhi High Court claiming that they had ‘muted’ an alleged vulgar word in Singh’s song. The court heard a petition filed by lawyer Sanjay Bhatnagar seeking a stay on the film, contending that without the censor board’s approval, the song could not be released with such a vulgar word. The petitioner had sought a stay on the release of the film until either the word or the song was deleted from the film.

His work has been perceived by whom as being vulgar, misogynist, promoting violence against women and a bad influence on youth. There have been reactions in print to Singh, such as from Annie Zaidi, who wrote “An Open Letter to Honey Singh” in January 2013, and Sandipan Sharma, who wrote “Thanks for the crassness: An open letter to Honey Singh from a parent” in July 2014.

On 2014, he and singer Raftaar were in dispute over whether ‘Raftaar’ should receive credit for the lyrics of the song “Yeh Fugly Fugly Kya Hai“.

Collaboration

Pritam – Main Sharabi (Cocktail), Party on my mind(Race2), ABCD (Yaariyan)
Himesh Reshammiya – Rani Tu Me Raja (Son Of Sardaar), Lonely Lonely (Khiladi786).
Meet Bros Anjjan – Boss Title Track (Boss), High Heels (Ki And Ka)
Tanishk Bagchi – Khadke Glassy, Glassy 2.0 (Jabariya Jodi), Rang Taari (Loveyatri)

Awards and Recognitions

ETC award for the Best Sound in for song “Glassi”2006

PTC award for the Best Folk Pop Award for album Rebirth 2009

PTC Punjabi Best Music Director for song “Desi Daro” 2010

PTC Punjabi Best Music Director for album The Folkstar 2011

PTC Punjabi Best Music Director for album I.V. (International Villager) 2012

BritAsia TV Music Awards 2012 – Best International Act 2012

UK Asian Music Awards Best International Album for Album album I.V. 2012

PTC Punjabi Film Award – Best Music Director for Mirza – The Untold Story 2012

PTC Punjabi Film Award – Best Debut (Male) for Mirza – The Untold Story

MTV VMAI Awards – Best Indie Artist (male) for song “Brown Rang” 2013

Power Brands Glam – Power Brand Award 2013

MTV EMA Awards – Best India Act “Bring me Back” 2013

BIG Star Entertainment Awards – Singh was co-winner of Most Entertaining Singer (Male), and “Lungi Dance” was nominated as Most Entertaining Song. 2013

Global Indian Music Award “Lungi Dance” won for Most Popular Song on Radio 2014

Zee Cine Awards International Icon Male 2014

12 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Atif Aslam

Atif Aslam was born in Pakistan on March 12, 1983, born into a Punjabi Muslim family in Wazirabad, Punjab, Pakistan. He went to Kimberley Hall School in Lahore until 1991, when he moved to Rawalpindi and continued his studies at St. Paul’s Cambridge School in Satellite Town. In 1995, Aslam returned to Lahore where he continued his studies at a Divisional Public School and College (DPSC) branch.

Atif Aslam proceeded to attend Fazaia Inter College for his HSSC from 1999 to 2001, and later went to PICS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science. In an interview, Atif revealed that his ambition around this time was to become a professional cricketer.

At the age of 9, he moved to Rawalpindi where he studied at Saint Paul’s Cambridge School. He came back to Lahore in 1995 where he continued his studies in Divisional Public School (DPS), Model Town, Lahore.

Atif Aslam was selected in his school cricket team as a bowler. He cleared his 10th grade at 14 years of age with a distinctive edge that he has always been the youngest boy in the class because of his double promotions while he was in Kimberley Hall.

Family

Atif got married to Sara Bharwana and have a son Ahad Aslam.

Career

Atif did not have any professional training in music or singing infect he was not very interested in music at all he really wanted to invest his life in sports he wanted to be a cricketer.

It was not until college that he participated in the musical events and musical competitions and was pushed over by his friends to actively take singing seriously. His first musical inspiration was Legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

In the very start of his career Atif Aslam formed a band named JAL – The Band

Releasing the song ‘Aadat‘ with Goher Mumtaz in Pakistan in 2003.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJBUtzjfgg

The original version of the song was written by Goher Mumtaz and sung by Atif Aslam. During that time, Atif Aslam was the lead singer of Jal. He recorded Aadat with his pocket money at the age of 17. The band released the song on the internet in 2003, which became a youth anthem.

After separation from Jal, On 17 July 2004, Aslam released his first album titled Jal Pari produced by Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor, having 11 Tracks, which was an instant hit. The album also won the 4th Lux Style Awards in 2005 in the category of Best Album. Following this album Aslam had also released his solo album ‘’Doorie’’

Bollywood Debut

He got his first breakthrough in Bollywood when director Mahesh Bhatt called Aslam to seek his consent to include “Woh Lamhey” in the soundtrack of his new motion picture, Zeher (2005).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtHRBvNHRyo

Aadat and its remix was recreated for the film Kalyug , directed by Mohit Suri. In 2006, Atif worked with Mithoon for the song “Tere Bin” from Bas Ek Pal.

The song was a hit in both India and Pakistan. 3 songs from his first album “Aadat”,”Ehsaas” and “Yakeen” were used in Hollywood film Man Push Cart in 2005.

Third solo album titled “Meri Kahani” released in 2008, having 12 tracks. It was produced by Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor. In 2008, the album was nominated in 7th Lux Style Awards in the category “Best Album“.

Album’s song “Hangami Halaat” was nominated in 2009 in “MTV Music Awards” in the category “Best Rock Song”.

In 2008, he recorded three versions of Pehli Nazar Mein and Bakhuda Tumhi Ho from Race and Kismat Konnection respectively composed by Pritam with lyrics by Sameer and Sayeed Qaudri respectively. Pehli Nazar Mein catapulted him to Bollywood mainstream success.

Atif Aslam has also worked with co-singers like Alka Yagnik for Baakhuda Tumhi Ho .
Shreya Ghoshal for Tere Liye.

Coke Studio

He had recorded 10 songs in the Coke Studio in the year 2010 for the film Prince and also recorded remix versions. Composed by Sachin Gupta with lyrics by Sameer. These songs showcased the rockier side of Atif.

A Punjabi song Rona Chaditta (also known as Mahi Mahi) for the film Mel Karade Rabba was released, composed by Jaidev Kumar, which went onto become a hit. 2 songs Doorie

Maula

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpHKfEXYAn0

from his second album Doorie were used in the film Spanish Beauty (Hindi Version). Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga was recorded with Strings.

We Will Rise Again

sung with Todd Shea, composed by Lanny Cordola. An advertising song for Warid Pakistan titled “Jee Lay Zindagi” was also released. Atif Aslam also had sung few Pakistani songs – Hona Tha Pyaar

Kaho Aaj Bol Do

Coke Studio started with songs of Atif Aslam in Season 12.

Aaye Kuch Abr

Mubarik Mubarik

Wohi Khuda Hai

International Tours

His first international tour was in the US and Canada with Rhythm Dhol Bass and Annie Khalid.

Aslam then made his solo debut concert in New Jersey in Summer Beats 2008 at Sovereign Bank Arena, which also featured Kailash Kher, Richa Sharma and Amanat Ali.

After a solo debut concert in New Jersey, Aslam returned with his band and special guests to Queens Colden Center, New York to perform on 2 July 2010. Aslam also collaborated with vocalist Shreya Ghoshal, their March 2010 tour originally had 10 shows announced in US and Canada.

However, the response inspired the organizers to put shows in six more cities. The following month, Aslam made his debut in South America with a performance at Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Suriname. He continued to tour the world with headline performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London, alongside. He followed that with dates, across major concert venues in the UK in 2010.

Atif Aslam performed with Sunidhi Chauhan for the first time at Hershey Centre, Mississauga, followed by another show at Oracle Arena, San Francisco, Oakland, in July 2011, during their USA and Canada tour. In September 2011, Aslam performed at New York.

On 22 April 2012, Atif Aslam became the first Pakistani to perform in London’s O2 Arena, a concert spectacular to promote love, peace and unity among Pakistan and India. Aslam performed for four hours. This was followed up by shows in Manchester and Glasgow.

In 2012, he was invited for three concerts at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. This was followed by his debut concert in Bangkok at the Centara Convention Centre on 6 October 2012. Aslam then returned to perform in ten major Pakistani cities during his Jazz Jazba Generation Tour. On 2 November, he performed his first public concert in Malaysia.

In December 2012, Aslam was named among top performers of Dubai for 2012 alongside Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Il Divo, Gotye, Evanescence and Swedish House Mafia. Atif Aslam is the first artist from Asia, and the second artist after Bryan Adams, to be permitted to perform inside the Dashrath Rangasla National Football Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Atif Aslam once again returned to Dubai for multiple concerts in 2013 at the world-famous Atlantis resort. In April 2013, Aslam performed for the first time at the LG Arena in Birmingham following which he became the first artist from Asia to perform twice at London’s O2 Arena.

Also in concert at the O2 were Bollywood stars Shaan, Malaika Arora Khan & Bipasha Basu. Because of immense popularity and fan following, Atif Aslam has also performed in Bangladesh and Kenya. Atif Aslam performed alongside Sonu Nigam in three occasions, one of which is a concert Shaam-e-Dostana at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre in Malaysia. Atif Aslam has also performed alongside Neha Kakkar during their USA-Canada tour in 2018 in Long Beach California, Los Angeles.

Television

Atif appeared on a Pakistani reality singing show call Sur Kshetra

Was shot and broadcast from Dubai, where Indian and Pakistani contestants competed against each other. At the end of the show, Nabeel Shaukat Ali from Atif’s team won the contest.

On 19 April 2017, he hosted the 16th Lux Style Awards ceremony, and it was the first time he was seen hosting the ceremony of Lux Style Awards.

He along with Meesha Shafi, Fawad Khan and Shahi Hasan was also on the judge panel of a nationwide talent show Pepsi Battle of the Bands; emceed by PepsiCo Pakistan from July to September 2017.

Pakistani Songs of Atif Aslam

Dil Kare

Dil Ye Dancer Hogaya

Collaborations

Samad Abdul Ghafoor – Zindagi, Yakeen, Aankhon Se, Aadat, Mahi Ve, Jal Pari.
Mithoon – Zeher, Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein (Zeher)
Armaan Malik – Jab Koi Baat, Bol Do Na Zara, Musafir, Jab Tak, Dekhte Dekhte, Tera Hua, Kuch Toh Ha, Piya O Re Piya.
Sachin JIgar – Jeene Laga Hoon (Ramaiya Vastavaiya)
Vishal – Shekhar – Dil Diya Gallan(Tiger Zinda Hain)

Awards and Recognitions

Indus Music Awards – Best Song, Best Composition & Best Lyrics – Aadat 2005.

Sahara Sangeet Awards – Best Playback Singer & Best Debut Singer

Lux Style Awards – Best Album – Jal Pari, Doorie & Meri Kahani 2008.

Best Playback Singer (Male) – Actor in Law, Best Playback Singer – Parwaaz Hai Junoon

Lycra MTV Style Awards – Most Stylish Person (Music) 2007

IIFA Awards – IIFA Award for Best Male Playback Singer – 2006, 2009.

Pakistan Media Awards – Best Male Singer 2010.

The Brand Laureate International Awards – Brand Personality 2013.

Bollywood Hungama Surfer’s Choice Music Awards – Tu Jaane Na 2009

Big Apple Music Awards – Best Male Artist Of Pakistan & Most Popular Male Artist (International).

Hum Style Awards – QMobile Style Icon 2017.

12 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Shreya Ghoshal

Shreya Ghoshal was born on 12 March 1984 to a Bengali Hindu family in Berhampore, Murshidabad district, West Bengal. She grew up in Rawatbhata, a small town near Kota, Rajasthan. Her father, Bishwajit Ghoshal is an electrical

engineer and works for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, and her mother, Sarmistha Ghoshal, is a literature post-graduate. She has a younger brother, Soumyadeep Ghoshal. At the age of four, she started learning music.

Career

Shreya Ghoshal completed her schooling up to eighth grade at the Atomic Energy Central School in Rawatbhata. In 1995, she won the All India Light Vocal Music Competition, New Delhi, organised by Sangam Kala Group, in Light Vocal group in sub-junior level. In 1997, when her father was transferred to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, she was relocated to Mumbai, with her family and studied at the Atomic Energy Central School in Anushakti Nagar.

Shreya Ghoshal joined the Atomic Energy Junior College to study science. She dropped out from the junior college and enrolled at the SIES College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in Mumbai, where she took up arts with English as her major.

Shreya Ghoshal’s mother used to help her in rehearsals and accompany her on the Tanpura, starting with mostly Bengali songs. At the age of six, Ghoshal started with her formal training in classical music.

Shreya Ghoshal acquired training from Late Kalyanji Bhai for 18 months and continued her classical music training with Late Mukta Bhide in Mumbai. Her first stage performance was made at a club’s annual function. When she turned six, she started her lessons in Hindustani classical music. In 2000, at the age of sixteen, she participated and won the television music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma (now Sa Re Ga Ma Pa) on the channel Zee TV.

Shreya Ghoshal’s first studio album was Bendhechhi Beena

which was released on 1 January 1998, with 14 tracks. Some of her earlier albums are O Tota Pakhi Re

Ekti Katha (1999)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN3SnvwQR7Y

Mukhor Porag (2000).

Ghoshal recorded Bengali studio album Rupasi Raate (2002). Ghoshal recorded devotional songs in albums like Banomali Re (2002), and later, Krishna Bina Ache Ke (2007).

Bollywood Debut

Once Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mother Leela Bhansali was watching television, when Shreya Ghoshal was performing on a television show called Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs.

Sanjay, was really impressed with Shreya’s voice after which he decided to give her a chance in his next film. According to Bhansali, Ghoshal’s voice had the innocence needed for the character of Paro in Devdas (2002). Ghoshal sang five songs in the film, namely, “Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImmM3mtXdKc

Bairi Piya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpSI1mMD7Sc

Chalak Chalak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azbrgGSZH4M

Dola Re Dola

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbn39j-xa-k

With established singers such as Kavita Krishnamurthy, Udit Narayan, Vinod Rathod, KK, and Jaspinder Narula. Shreya Ghoshal was sixteen when she recorded the first song for the film, “Bairi Piya” with Udit Narayan. Her Higher Secondary Examinations were nearing that time and she would take her books and notebooks to the studio to study during downtime. After rendering traditional semi-classical songs for her previous ventures, Ghoshal performed two seductive numbers for M. M. Kreem’s Jism, which prevented her from being stereotyped. According to Ghoshal, “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai“

Chalo Tumko Lekar Chale

from the film that made everyone look at [her] in a new light opening the doors to a “versatile image“. She was awarded with another Filmfare trophy for Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai”. She thereupon worked with Anu Malik, where she performed the female version of “Aye Meri Zindagi“, “Seena Pada” and “Aai Jo Teri Yaad“, along with the bhajan-styled “Har Taraf“. In addition to providing vocals for “Har Taraf“, Ghoshal also made her first on-screen appearance in Saaya, as the school girl singing the song. Apart from Inteha, Ghoshal provided vocals for Malik in two other films, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and LOC Kargil, where she recorded the song Chann Chann.

for the former and Pyaar Bhara Geet

for the latter, along with Sonu Nigam. Besides, Ghoshal made her first collaboration with Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy by performing the female version of the song Tu Hi Bata Zindagi.

Calling her singing “effortless” in the song, The Hindu mentioned that she was “able to impart the required emotions” for the song. In the year 2015 started with Ghoshal’s another collaboration with A.R. Rahman in Tamil film I. Besides rendering vocals for original Tamil duet “Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal

Tu Chale alongside Arijit Singh

Telugu version Poolane Kunukeyamantaa alongside Haricharan.

The original Tamil version song “Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal” was met with positive reviews by critics, with most critics praising the vocals of Ghoshal. Nicy V.P. from International Business Times commented on Tamil version, “Haricharan’s crystal clear voice, Shreya’s Hindustani driven singing lead to a chart-buster, here. With regards to Shreya Ghoshal, we have to dig deep the dictionary to come up with some new adjectives to praise her singing.” Later that year, Ghoshal sang the female version of song “Hasi” from film Hamari Adhuri Kahani composed by Ami Mishra which got critical precedence over male version sung by Ami Mishra himself.

Devesh Sharma from Filmfare remarked, The female version of Hasi, sung by Shreya Ghoshal, works better than the male version, sung by guest composer Ami Mishra himself. Ghoshal elevates it with her superb effort and the softer arrangement works better for it overall. Ghoshal also performed the female version of the song “Gaaye Jaa“

For the film Brothers composed by Ajay-Atul which received positive reviews from music critics.

Glamsham praised Ghoshal’s vocals labelling them “sugary sweet and superbly controlled”. Bollywood Life commented, “Shreya Ghoshal amazes the listener by making this situational song such a great listen and just for her lovely voice, one has to put this song on a loop” The same year saw Ghoshal again collaborating with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Bajirao Mastani. She performed three songs in the film, namely Mohe Rang Do Laal

Deewani Mastani

She also dubbed these songs in Tamil and Telugu versions of the film’s soundtrack. The qawwali interlude song “Deewani Mastani”

Ghoshal started 2019 with two classical numbers, Ghar More Pardesiya

Tabah Ho Gaye

for Abhishek Varman’s period drama Kalank, for which Shreya Ghoshal won numerous awards and accolades including a Zee Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Later, sang Yeh Aaina for the film Kabir Singh, composed by Amaal Mallik and written by Irshad Kamil, which was picturised on the film’s lead Shahid Kapoor and supporting actress Kiara Advani

Habibi Ke Nain along with Jubin Nautiyal, composed by Sajid-Wajid, for the film Dabangg 3.

Later that year, Shreya Ghoshal was also heard as the lead singer, in a first, alongside fellow singer and rapper Mellow D, on Kiske Liye Tu Marega

Dega Jaan

Two versions of the upbeat title track of Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.’s Manoj Bajpayee – starrer Amazon Prime Video original series The Family Man, composed by Sachin-Jigar. Her rendition of the tracks was widely praised, with the lyrics receiving appreciation for being an ode to middle class struggles in the Indian society.

Concerts and Charities.

Ghoshal performs in musical concerts around the world. In 2013, she went to Australia and New Zealand and gave performances at the Brisbane Convention Center, Dallas Brooks Centre in Melbourne, the Sydney Opera House and Vodafone Events Centre in Auckland.

In the same year, she performed at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in United Arab Emirates. The same year, she paid her respects to the casualties of an excessive rainfall in Mauritius with a concert at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre in Pailles.

Along with Hrishikesh Ranade, she also made a stage performance during the 18th annual day celebration of Airports Authority of India. She made London tours where she performed twice in Royal Albert Hall in 2013 and 2014. On the first tour in 2013, she also celebrate 100 years of Bollywood by performing many of the old Bollywood hits songs.

In 2006, along with Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shiamak Davar, Ghoshal performed the theme song of 2010 Commonwealth Games at its closing ceremony, as an invitation to everyone to the following Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The same year, she along with Nigam, recorded the title track “Haath Se Haath Milaa” for the album put together by the BBC World Service Trust as part of an AIDS awareness campaign, where profits garnered through the album, was donated to HIV charities.In 2011, she became the brand ambassador for Joyalukkas jewellery.

Collaborations

Ismail Darbar – Bairi Piya, Silsila Ye Chahat Ka, Chalak Chalak Pyaar Se, More Piya, Dola Re Dola Re, Om Jayo Maa Ashapura, Taron Ki Odhke Jhilmill.
Anu Malik – Aai Jo Teri Yaad, Seena Pada, Har Taraf, Aye Meri Zindagi, Yun Hi Dil Ko Agar, Deewana Dil, Dhalne Lagi Hain Raat, Chhann Chhann, Pyaar Bhara Geet.
Sajid – Wajid – Hum Tumko Nigahon Me, Soniye, Kuch Kaha Aapne, Mere Mehboob Mein.
Sanjeev – Darshan – Jal Raha Hain Badan, Tum Paas Ho.
Himesh Reshammiyan – Pyar Mein Tere, Tu hi, Tumhi se, Tera Mera Milna.

Awards

National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Bairi Piya” Devdas – 2003
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Dheere Jalna” Paheli – 2006
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Yeh Ishq Haaye” Jab We Met – 2008
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Jeev Dangala” (Jogwa – Marathi) & “Pherari Mon” – 2009.

Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – 2003

Filmfare Best Female Playback Award (shared with Kavita Krishnamurthy) – “Dola Re” – 2003

Filmfare Best Female Playback Award – “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai” 2004

Filmfare Best Female Playback Award – “Barso Re” 2008

Filmfare Best Female Playback Award – “Teri Ore” 2009

IIFA Award for New Music Talent – 2003

IIFA Best Female Playback Award (shared with Kavita Krishnamurthy) – “Dola Re” – 2003

IIFA Best Female Playback Award – “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai” 2004

IIFA Best Female Playback Award – “Barso Re” 2008

IIFA Best Female Playback Award – “Teri Ore” 2009

Zee Cine Awards

Zee Cine Award Best Female Playback Singer (shared with Kavita Krishnamurthy) – “Dola Re” (Devdas) 2003

Zee Cine Award Best Female Playback Singer – “Piyu Bole” (Parineeta) 2006

Zee Cine Award Best Female Playback Singer – “Barso Re” (Guru) 2008

Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “O Saathi Re” (Omkara)2007

Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Yeh Ishq Hai” (Jab We Met) 2008

Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Teri Ore” (Singh Is Kinng) 2009

Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Zoobi Doobi” (3 Idiots) 2010

Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Noor E Khuda” (My Name Is Khan) 2011

Sansui Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Dola Re” (Devdas) 2003

Stardust Award – New Musical Sensation (Female) – (Devdas) 2003

Indian Telly Awards – Best Title Singer for a TV Show (Ye Meri Life Hai) 2004

Anandalok Puraskar – Best Playback Singer – (Manik) 2005

ETV Bangla Film Awards – Best Playback Singer – Female 2005

Bengal Film Journalists’ Association – Best Female Playback Award – Shubho Drishti 2006

Zee Astitva Award – Excellence in Music 2008

Mirchi Music Award – Best Female Playback Singer (Kannada) – “Na Naguva Modalene” (Manasaare) 2009

Mirchi Music Award – Best Female Playback Singer (Malayalam) – “Chandhu Thottille” (Banaras)2009

BIG Bangla Music Award – BIG Bangla singer of the year (Female)2010

Gulf Malayalam Music Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Anuragavilochananayi” (Neelathamara) 2010

Star Anando Sera Bengali Award 2010

Asianet Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Manjumazha” (Aagathan) 2011

Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Manjumazha” (Aagathan) 2011

Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Mannippaya” (Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa) 2011

Swaralaya Yesudas Award – 2011

11 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Mohit Chauhan

Mohit Chauhan was born in the town of Nahan, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, on 11 March 1966. He received his initial education from St. Xavier’s School, Delhi, and then moved to Himachal Pradesh for further studies.

Chauhan earned a Master of Science in Geology from a government college at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. He has not received any formal training in music. He used to sing and play guitar, harmonica and flute. He wanted to become an actor before his debut in the music industry.

Mohit Chauhan got married to Prarthna Gehlot.

Career

In the start of his career Mohit Chauhan had form a band alongside other singing strugglers of the industry. It was called ’’Silkroute”. Silk Route was an Indian band consisting of Mohit Chauhan (lead vocals, backing guitars), Atul Mittal (lead guitars, clarinet and backing vocals), Kem Trivedi (keyboards), and Kenny Puri (percussion and drums).

The band is much endeared for the song Dooba-Dooba from their acclaimed debut album in 1998, Boondein. As a result, it gained acclaim in the Indian film industry, and was then furnished opportunities to score and perform songs for movies too.

They confess to such diverse influences as Sting, Simon & Garfunkel and Dire Straits, all of which find their way into the Silk Route sounds. The band always added a distinct touch to their music by using acoustic guitars, talking drums and harmonica and primarily by of the use of Recorder

A 17th-century European folk musical instrument played by Kem Trivedi. His first album, Boondein, was released in 1998 and featured the popular songs “Dooba Dooba“

Pehchan

the second album was released in 2000. After Silk Route was discontinued in 2008, he released another album “Fitoor” in 2009.

Bollywood Debut

After his huge success of his band “Silkroute’’ with their album Boondein and Dooba Dooba they received many awards. Looking at their huge success music director Sandesh Shandilya offered him to sing in one of his films songs, which markeda a debut film for Mohit which was Pehli Nazar Me Dari Thi from the movie named Road.

His songs “Khoon Chala” By A.R Rahman from the movie Rang De Basanti

and “Tum Se Hi” from Jab We Met are regarded as his most notable.

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer prize in 2010 for Masakali , from Delhi- 6.

2003 he sang for the film ‘’Main Madhuri Dixit Banana Chahati Hoon’’ and ‘’Kyun’’. But Mohit Chauhan didn’t get so much popular. In year 2004 he sang “Sabse Peeche Hum Khade” for the film ‘’Let’s Enjoy’’

In 2005 he sang two song “Paintra“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePbRq5loJA

and “Guncha Koi” for the film Main Meri Patni aur Woh . Mohit Chauhan again sang two song Angna and Rowan Akhiya for the film Adharma. A.R. Rahman met Chauhan in an award show where his band Silk Route got many awards.

There Rahman asked Mohit, if he had sung for any film, to which Chauhan replied not yet. About 5 years later, in 2006 AR Rahman called Chauhan to sing “Khoon Chala“.

Mohit Chauhan sang “Kuchh Khaas Hai” for Salim–Sulaiman -composed Fashion (2008 film).

He reunited with Pritam for Kismat Konnection where he performed “Kahi na Lage Man (Is This Love)” along with Shreya Ghoshal.

“Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein” a soft romantic number from EMI recorded by Chauhan where he also appeared in the music video of the song. He also sang for his first animated film Bolt where he sang Hindi version of “I Thought I Lost You” the song in English version of film.

Ek Meetha Marz Dene, Yaad Teri Aaye, Aaj Nachle were some more from Chauhan, recorded in 2008.Recently In 2020, Chauhan sang “Dheere Dheere Se” for the film Guns of Banaras, composed by Sohail Sen and written by Sameer.

He sang “Yeh Dooriyaa” which is composed by Pritam from the film Love Aaj Kal (2020).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEcp9YO7i6Q

this song is new version of Yeh Dooriyaa chartbuster from the film Love Aaj kal (2009). Both the version are written by Irshad Kamil There is a remix version too which is released by Sony Music India. He sang “Meethi Meethi Gallan”

Kisi Gair Ka Nahi

Salaam is a tribute to corona warriors by Chauhan. He also features in a video of “Hum Haar Nahi Maanenge” composed by AR Rahman

Social Activities.

Mohit Chauhan is very active in participating for the non-profit organizations companies named NSDC – National Skill Development Corporation which encourages young talent to follow their dream and take active participation in the vocational training initiatives.

This will give the country most promising singers and also help young generation to get interest into the highly male dominated Bollywood music industry.

All the female population of India should not feel that only males are going in this industry and females aren’t getting a chance to do it.

So such initiatives are been taken to ensure that people of our country doesn’t face any problem launching themselves and if they still haven’t found the real singing talent in them. It also helps to spread the real meaning of Music and its importance in one’s life.

Mohit Chauhan is also a Dog lover. He had taken responsibility of feeding 60-70 dogs on a regular bases at the time of lockdown in India due to COVID-19 pandemic, before the lockdown, there were people who would feed the strays. But now, they’ve stopped.

The stray dogs in Delhi don’t hunt and depend on humans to feed them so he has been going around giving them food and water.

Television

Mohit Chauhan has been on various Television programmes. He has been judge on a reality tv singing show called Sa Re ga Ma Pa Duet Champs and as a captain on Music ka Maha mukabala along with Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, Himesh Reshammiya, Shreya Ghosal and Mika Singh.

Collaborations

Salim – Sulaiman – Kuch Khaas (Fashion), Haafiz Khuda (8*10 Tasveer), Chala Aaya Pyaar (Aashayein), Meherbaan (Shakal Pe Mat Jaa), Hindustaan Kahan Hain (Kaanchi).
A.R Rahman – Khoon Chala (Rang De Basanti), Masakali (Delhi – 6), Pagal Anukan (Robot), Kun Faya Kun, Seher Me, Hawa Hawaa, Aur Ho, Nadaan Parindey (Rockstar), Saans (Jab Tak Hai Jaan), Matargashti (Tamasha), Taare Gin (Dil Bechara).
Pritam – Tum Se Hi (Jab We Met), Is This Love (Kismat Konnection), Pagal Pee Loon (Once Upon A Time In Mumbai), Te Amo (Dum Maaro Dum), Nainaa (Kuch Luv Jaisa), Ala Barfi (Barfi!), Rab Ka Shukarana (Jannat 2)

Anu Malik – Yaad Teri Aayi (Ugly Aur Pagli), Suno Suno (Gali Gali Chor Hain),Pyaar Karna Na Tha (Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hain), Tere Bina Jee Naa Lage
Vishal – Shekhar – Pehli Baar Mohabbat (Kaminey), Tujhe Bhula Diya (Anjana Anjani), Sacchi Mucchi (Bajarangi Bhaijaan)

Awards and Nominations

Central European Bollywood Awards – Best Male Playback Singer – Pee Loon – 2010.

BIG Star Entertainment Awards – Best Male Singer – Sadda Haq – 2011.

BAMA Awards – Best Male Act and Best Male Act International – 2016.

Filmfare Awards – Best Male Playback Singer – Masakali – 2010 & Jo Bhi Main – 2012.

Global Indian Music Academy Award – Best Male Playback Singer- Pee loon – 2010 & Nadaan Parindey – 2011.

IIFA Award – Best Male Playback Singer – Nadaan Parindey 2011.

Mirchi Music Award – Best Male Playback Singer – Masakali – 2009 & Kun Faya Kun – 2010 Rockstar.

RMIM Award – Best Sung Solo Song Masakali – 2009, Best Sung Solo Song – Sadda Haq – 2011 & RMIM Samman – Jab Harry Met Sejal – 2017.

Screen awards – Best Male Singer – Phir se udd Chala Rockstar 2011.

Star Guilt Award – Best Male Singer – Love Aaj Kal and Rockstar.

Musical Sameeksha Awards – Best Male Playback Singer

Rajdhani Rattan Awards – Ekta Mission Delhi

9 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Zakir Hussain

The Tabla Virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951 in a nursing home in Mahim (a suburb of Mumbai) at about 11:00 a.m Hussain was born to tabla maestro Alla Rakha. His mother’s name was Bavi Begum. It was said that Hussain was an ‘unlucky’ child since his father was extremely ill around the time of his birth. Although their family name is Qureshi, Zakir was given the surname Hussain.

Zakir Hussain attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim, and briefly attended St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Hussain was a child prodigy. His father taught him Pakhawaj from the age of 3 years. His father would wake him up at 3 a.m. and would teach him vocally by reciting different rhythms till 6 a.m. Zakir’s father Alla Rakha belonged to the Punjab gharana tradition of tabla-playing. Others gharanas being Delhi, Benares, Ajrara, Farrukhabad, and Lucknow.

Career

Zakir Hussain gave his first concert at the age of seven and was deemed a child prodigy. He was touring by the age of eleven. He went to the United States in 1970 to accompany sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. After the tour was complete, Ravi Shankar advised Zakir to stay in America and take a teaching job at the University of Washington in the Department of Ethnomusicology. He planned to study for a PhD but midway he moved to the Bay Area to accompany Ali Akbar Khan who was in need of a Tabla player. After that he began his international career, including more than 150 concert dates a year.

From a young age, Zakir Hussain has been accompanying all the leading lights of Hindustani classical music, both vocal and instrumental – from Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit VG Jog, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, and many more.

Both Zakir Hussain and his father Alla Rakha were responsible popularizing the art of tabla playing at international venues. Their performances raised the visibility of tabla players who previously did not receive as much notoriety. Zakir brought great attention to and raised the profile of tabla players through his solo acts along with his excursions as an accompanist.

One of the unique contributions of Zakir Hussain is his use of the “bayan” to create melody. He uses this throughout his playing but especially so during the “sawaal-jawaab” section of a recital, where the instrumentalist playing the sitar, sarod, santoor, etc. and the tabla player typically have a “question-answer” back and forth. This would typically involve a set of notes played together, which the tabla player reproduces. Zakir’s popularity was responsible for bringing audiences to a Hindustani music concert which came not just to listen to the main melody artist but to the supporting tabla artist. Zakir inspired a whole generation of young tabla players who grew up imitating his head gestures and even his hair style while performing.

Zakir Hussain’s fame spread internationally following many tour performances in the US and Europe. He also collaborated with many musicians from all over India and the world. He collaborated with violinist L. Shankar, guitarist John McLaughlin they also have an album together along with Shankar Mahadevan named ‘’Is That So”

Mridangam player Ramnad Raghavan, and legendary ghatam player Vikku Vinayakram in forming the fusion group Shakti,

Which performed worldwide to great acclaim. Twenty years later, a second version of the Shakti group, called Remember Shakti, was created featuring U. Srinivas, Zakir Hussain, TV Selvaganesh, and Shankar Mahadevan. With increasing digitization, musical sound is fast losing its originality, which is why we need to support makers of handcrafted instruments. The arts form the very fabric of our society and hence it is our responsibility to do our bit for such a cause. The audience not only enjoyed some stupendous performances but were also inspired to do their bit for the cause.

As a Music Composer

As a composer, he has scored music for numerous feature films, major events and productions. He has composed three concertos, and his third, the first-ever concerto for tabla and orchestra, was premiered in India in September, 2015, by the Symphony Orchestra of India, premiered in Europe and the UK in 2016, and in the USA in April, 2017, by the National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center.

The USA’s National Heritage Fellowship and Officier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters. Voted “Best Percussionist” by both the Downbeat Critics’ Poll and Modern Drummer’s Reader’s Poll over several years, Zakir was honored in 2018 by the Montreal Jazz Festival with their Antonio Carlos Jobim Award.

In 2019, Zakir was named a Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow and received two honorary doctorates, one from Berklee College of Music and the other from Indira Kala Sangit University in Khairagarh, India.

Top Tracks by Zakir Hussain

Punjabi Dhamar –

Sakhi

Teen Taal

Jai Taal

Island Falling

Raga

Hussain played on George Harrison’s 1973 album ‘’living in the Material World ‘’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3fSUE60qRY

John Handy’s 1973 album Hard Work. He also performed on Van Morrison’s 1979 album Into the Music and Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1983 album Powerlight.

Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, who had known Zakir since the 1960s, invited him to create the special album Planet Drum, featuring legendary drummers from different parts of the world. Featured along with Zakir, from India, was Vikku Vinayakram, with whom Zakir had collaborated in Shakti. The first Planet Drum album, released in 1991 on the Rykodisc label, went on to earn the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, the first Grammy ever awarded in this category.

The Global Drum Project album and tour brought Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo together again in a reunion sparked by the 15th anniversary of the ground-breaking album Planet Drum. The album Global Drum Project won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st Grammy Awards Ceremony held on 8 February 2009

Zakir composed, performed and acted as Indian music advisor for the Malayalam film Vanaprastham,

A 1999 Cannes Film Festival entry which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival 1999.

Educator

As an educator, he conducts many workshops and lectures each year, has been in residence at Princeton University and Stanford University, and, in 2015, He was appointed Regents Lecturer at UC Berkeley. His yearly workshop in the San Francisco Bay Area, conducted for the past 30 years, has become a widely anticipated event for performers and serious students of tabla. He is the founder and president of Moment Records, an independent record label presenting rare live concert recordings of Indian classical music and world music. Zakir was resident artistic director at SFJazz from 2013 until 2016, and was honored with SF Jazz’s Lifetime Achievement Award on January 18, 2017, in recognition of his “Unparalleled contribution to the world of music”.

Zakir Hussain has composed music for many movies like ‘In Custody’, ‘The Mystic Masseur’, ‘Heat and Dust’ etc. Some of the other films, for which he has worked on the musical score include, ‘Apocalypse Now’, ‘Little Buddha’, ‘Saaz’, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Iyer’ and ‘One Dollar Curry’.

Zakir has also acted in many movies, mostly showcasing his musical performances. His portrayal of the character ‘Inder Lal’ in the film ‘Heat and Dust’ is unforgettable. He also starred in a couple of brilliant documentaries like ‘The Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain

And the Art of the Indian Drum’ and ‘Zakir and His Friends’. While ‘Zakir and His Friends’ released in the year 1998, ‘The Speaking Hand’ was released in 2003.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChZEs6yowCk

The Way of Beauty (2006 – DVD) – Remember Shakti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnUCxfIkD74

Awards and Recognitions

Padma Shree by the Government of India – 1988 The youngest percussionist ever to receive this award.

Padma Bhushan – 2002 Zakir Hussain once again became the youngest percussionist to be honored with India’s third highest civilian award.

Indo-American Award – 1990 for his cultural contribution.

National Heritage Fellowship – 1999 – America’s most prestigious honor in the field of traditional arts.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – President of India in the year 1991 again one of the youngest musicians to have ever received this award.

Grammy – He was also awarded the Grammy for the album ‘Planet Drum’ which was produced and created by Zakir Hussain and Mickey Hart.

Kalidas Samman –2006 the government of Madhya Pradesh honored him with this prestigious award.

Lifetime Achievement Award – In 2012 at Konark Dance & Music Festival, he was honoured with the Guru Gangadhar Pradhan (lifetime achievement) award.

6 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Ankit Tiwari

Ankit Tiwari was born on March 06, 1986 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Completed his education from Jugal Devi Saraswati Vidya Mandir. Ankit’s parents owns a Troupe in Kanpur who perform devotional music and organizes devotional functions as per the invitation.

His Parents Mr Rajendra Kumar and Mrs Suman Tiwari are devotional singers and they own their troupe called “Raju Suman and Party’’

Ankit Tiwari has an elder brother Ankur Tiwari is also a singer and he got married to Pallavi Shukla who is a mechanical engineer and has a daughter Aryaa Tiwari.

Career

Ankit Tiwari’s parents wanted him to complete his studies first, his inclination towards music led them to decide on training him professionally. He trained in classical music from Vinod Kumar Dwivedi before training in piano, Dhrupad and Western vocals. He instituted at and won several local music competitions during the time. He used to work as a production head at a radio station in Gwalior, before he moved to Mumbai in December 2007 along with his brother Ankur Tiwari.

He also pursued professional training in Piano, Dhrupad and Western vocals.

After shifting to Mumbai Ankit met with Pradeep Sarkar who was working with the films, due to some reasons he film got shelved but Sarkar kept his promise and gave Ankit a chance to work with the jingles of advertisement and television programs.

Later Ankit Tiwari met Habib Faisal who offered him to direct songs and music in his film ‘’Do Dooni Chaar’’ this marked as Ankit Tiwari’s directorial debut which was released in 2010 and it also managed to win a Filmfare award, although, for best dialogue. Later he was also offered Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster in 2011 where Ankit made his singing debut and made his first and best impression in the eyes of Bollywood and Indian people. His first ever song was ‘’Saheb Bada Hathila’’

Ankit Tiwari’s biggest and most successful song “Sun Raha Hai”

His second release of the year, Tiwari collaborated with Sachin Gupta—marking his first song to the tunes of another composer for the song

“Aag Ka Dariya” from Issaq.

Ankit Tiwari composed two tracks for the film Samrat & Co., titled “Sawaalon Mein“

and a party song “Tequila Wakila” where both are rendered by Shreya Ghoshal. During the year, he performed three tracks for two of Himesh Reshammiya’s films, The Xposé and Action Jackson. His rendition for the song “Sheeshe Ka Samundar“

from the former received critical acclaim, while “Punjabi Mast” and “Dhoom Dhaam” from the latter received negative response from critics. In July 2014, a duet with Tulsi Kumar titled “Kuch Toh Hua Hai

was released included in the film Singham Returns. The year ended with “Dil Darbadar” from PK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu19nuVPx64

Apart from all the songs released during the year, the most successful track was “Galliyan” from Ek Villain.

The song was a critical and commercial success Mohar Basu from Koimoi described the song as “the most attractive song of the album stating Tiwari’s music and voice adds the required finesse in this song and what he has made darn great!

Music Composition

Tiwari composed and sung the song “Katra Katra” along with Prakriti Kakar for the film Alone (2015).

They again collaborated for the song “Bheegh Loon” from Khamoshiyan.

He then composed three tracks for the film Roy, “Tu Hai Ki Nahi”

Yaara Re

which is rendered by KK and “Boond Boond” performed by Tiwari himself.

The unplugged version of “Tu Hai Ki Nahi” was performed by Tulsi Kumar, along with the original received mixed reactions from critics though infusion of the whistle’s tune was appreciated.

Tiwari’s early two releases “Sunn Raha Hai” and “Aag Ka Dariya” represent his “young energetic and strong vocals” which was well received by the critics.”Kaisa Hai Dard Mera“,

Despite with the similar pattern has a semi classical touch in his rendition. His one of the most successful venture “Galliyan” provided Tiwari with a high vocal range which was particularly appraised in the song.

Songs in Other Languages.

Kannada

Nillu Nillu

Athiyayithu

Telugu

Vintunnava Nestham

Teluse Nuvvu Ravani

Anthe Kada Mari

Yevaipuga Naa Choopu Saagali

Awards and Recognitions

Guild Awards 2014/2015 – Best Music Director and Best Male Playback Singer – ‘’Galliyan”

BIG Star Entertainment Awards – Most Entertaining Singer and Most Entertaining Song – “Galliyan”

Filmfare Awards – Best Music Director Award – Ek Villain

GIMA Awards – Best Music Debut – Aashiqui 2.

IIFA Awards – Best Music Director – Aashiqui 2.

Mirchi Music Award – Upcoming Male Vocalist of the Year, Upcoming Music Composer of the Year, Best Song of the year, Best Album of the Year – Aashiqui 2.
Screen Awards – Best Music Director – Ek Villian.

Stardust Awards – Best Music Director – Ek Villian
Zee Cine Awards – Best Music Director – Ek Villian.

3 March 2021 | Bollywood Singer

Shankar Mahadevan

Shankar Mahadevan was born on March 03, 1967 in Chembur, Mumbai into a Tamil speaking family. He learned Indian Classical Music and Carnatic music in his childhood and started playing Veena at the age of five.

Family

Shankar Mahadevan got married to Ms. Sangeetha Narayan and have 2 children named Shivam Mahadevan who is a Playback singer and Siddharth Mahadevan who ia a music composer in Bollywood. He is known for “Zinda” and the Rock Version of the title song “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’’

Music Career

Shankar Mahadevan learned Indian Classical Music and Carnatic music in his childhood and started playing Veena at the age of five. He went to OLPS High School in Chembur. He did his engineering in electronics from R.A.I.T (D Y Patil, Navi Mumbai). As of now he sings songs in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, and Carnatic.
Graduated in 1988 with a degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering from the Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology in Navi Mumbai, affiliated to Mumbai University, and was a software engineer for the company, Leading Edge. After working for Leading Edge Systems (now Trigyn Technologies Limited), Mahadevan ventured into music.
After entering in to music industry Mahadevan gave some to his composition to Chennai films.

Shankar Mahadevan also managed and got his first award as a playback singer in Chennai film music, collaborating with A. R. Rahman and winning a National Film Award for his song in “Kandukondain Kandukondain”

A.R Rahman and Shankar Mahadevan performing at changing notes in Chennai.

Shankar was noted for his first album ‘’Breathless’’ which was widely famous around the world.

Shankar- Ehsaan – Loy

Referred as Amar – Akbar – Anthony of Bollywood Industry. The trio had gave nearly 50 soundtracks to the industry and had also won many awards.

The Formation of Trio

Ehsaan was doing jingles and Loy was in Delhi before the union. Loy was writing for television then. The show Quiz Time was his first work and Siddharth Basu gave him his first break. Then he did Prannoy Roy’s The World This Week. A few more shows came along and he also did theatre and Shahrukh Khan’s Fauji. Loy had also worked as keyboardist with A. R. Rahman and Shankar had sung many famous tracks for him.

In 1989, Ehsaan met Loy, who was working for Ranjit Barot, an ad film composer. From then on, they joined together and composed several ad jingles together. Later, Ehsaan and Loy met Shankar when he was roped in by Ranjit Barot to sing for the Pepsi ad directed by Mukul Anand. Since then, they started to compose for ads as a Trio.

Notable works

Bebut work for this trio composers were Mukul Anand’s Dus. Director Anand wanted Ehsaan to compose the music for the film, but he insisted that Shankar and Loy work with him and Anand agreed. The film remained incomplete after Anand’s death, though the album was released later in 1999. After Dus, they had composed music for a couple of films like Rockford and Bhopal Express, but all of them went unnoticed. Their entry to mainstream cinema was with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Mission Kashmir, which was a musical hit.

Shankar Mahadevan – Ehsaan – Loy rose to fame after their hit number from Dil Chahta Hain.

The turning point of their career as music directors though, was Dil Chahta Hai, which was the debut film of Farhan Akhtar as a director. Initially, A. R. Rahman was considered to do the music, but he backed out due to other assignments. Then the trio composed a title track for the film, which Farhan liked, and he signed them for the film. The film won wide critical acclaim and went on to attain cult status among audiences. This marked the beginning of the trio’s friendship with Farhan Akhtar and long-term association with Excel Entertainments.

Post Dil Chahta Hai, they composed music for several small budget films like Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?, Nayee Padosan and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, where all of them went unnoticed as all the movies were panned by the critics. They also had two big ventures, Honey Irani’s Armaan and Rohan Sippy’s Kuch Naa Kaho, which yet again, failed to impress both critics and audiences – though their work in Armaan was lauded by critics.

Kal Ho Naa Ho was the one of the best music of This Trio which bagged them with a National Award for best music direction of that year.

Other Projects done by them

Shankar Mahadevan – Ehsaan – Loy’s first International venture, the UK movie, West is West, was released on 18 February 2011. The music was well received by almost all the reviewers, despite the movie itself receiving reviews ranging from mixed to positive.

Other Notable work where trio made a mark of their crisp musical works and bagged their name as one of the most successful music group of Bollywood.
They have created very class and different kind of music and also sound for the Mainstream Bollywood movies.

Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par

Rock On!!

Luck By Chance

London Dreams

Wake Up Sid

My Name Is Khan

Houseful

Tere Bin Laden

We Are Family

Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara

Other Notable Works

Shankar Mahadevan – Ehsaan – Loy have been involved in several other works except for films which include international tours and concerts across the globe. Ehsaan, Loy and Farhad had formed the band Instant Karma, and they released redone versions of R D Burman and other composers over two albums in 2002.

They have also composed music for several jingles, signature tunes for corporates including Reliance and Aircel, and public awareness campaigns. In 2010, the troika wrote music for the first ever Bollywood musical, Zangoora.

In 2011, they composed the official anthem for ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, titled De Ghuma Ke

Which became quite popular among youths and cricket enthusiasts within days of its release.

In 2004, they performed for a concert organised by The Indian Express held in celebration of the democracy of India, which was also attended by Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar and other celebrities. They organised a concert at IFFI titled Salaam Boss (Salute to the Boss) in 2006 paying tribute to the legendary music composer R.D. Burman. Later in 2008, they performed for the Live Earth India Concert to help light homes with solar energy along with several other celebrities like Jon Bon Jovi.

Charity Work

The Trio Shankar Mahadevan – Ehsaan – Loy have been involved in many charitable activities. They composed the music for an album Haath Se Haath Mila as the part of an AIDS Awareness campaign launched by BBC World Service Trust In 2007,

They performed in Chennai for a concert organized by The Shakti Foundation – For the Physically Challenged to raise funds.

Organized by Farhan Akhtar, they lead the Rock concert for raising funds for a Pediatrics medical camp in Bihar in 2008. They also launched the You Know You Can Rock Harder G3 Challenge talent hunt in search of the most talented rock band in the country in the same year. They had performed for a fund raising concert for the NGO Alert India which fights against leprosy in 2009.

Collaboration

Dilbaro – Harshdeep Kaur, Vibha Saraf.(Raazi)
Gallan Goodiyan – Sukhwinder Singh, Yashita Sharma, Manish Tipu (Dil Dhadakne Do)
Kajra Re – Alisha Chinai, Javed Ali (Bunty Aur Babli)
Desi Girl – Sunidhi Chauhan, Shekhar Ravjani, Vishah Dadhlani (Dostana)
Indiawaale – KK, Neeti Mohan (Happy New Year)
Phir Bhi DIl Hain Hindustani – Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Dominique Cerejo (Phir Bhi Dil Hain Hindustani)
Baby Wont You Tell Me – Shweta Mohan (Sahoo)
Aao Na – Sadhana Sargam (Kyun! Ho Gaya Na)
Koi Jaye To Le Aaye – Alka Yagnik, Shankar Mahadevan (Ghatak: Lethal)

Awards By the Trio (Shankar – Ehsaan – Loy)

Filmfare Awards – Bunty Aur Babli, Kal Ho Na Ho and 2 States.

International Indian Film Academy Awards – Kal Ho Naa Ho, Bunty Aur Babli, and My Name is Khan.

Star Screen Awards – Dil Chahta Hai, Bunty Aur Babli, and My Name Is Khan.

Filmfare R.D Burman Award for New Music Talent

MTV Immies Award -2004

National Award for best music direction – Kal Ho Na Ho

Years of Excellence at the Jack Daniel’s Annual Rock Awards – Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai

Arijit Singh Age, Birthday, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Arijit Singh Biography

Career

Bollywood Debut

Working With Sajid-Wajid and A. R Rahman

Recent Works

Arijit’s Inspiration

Arijit Singh’s Hobbies

Collaboration

Awards

Wishing You a wonderful Happy Birthday Amit Trivedi

Amit Trivedi

Career

Concerts and Live Performances

Songs by Amit Trivedi

Awards and Recognitions

Alka Yagnik Age, Husband, Birthday, Children, Family, Biography & More

Alka Yagnik Biography

Career

The Golden Trio

Songs with Kumar Sanu

Songs With Udit Narayan

Concert in South Africa

Television

Collaboration

Awards and Recognitions

Wishing a Wonderful 37th Birthday Yo Yo Honey Singh

Yo Yo Honey Singh

Family

Career

Movie Debut

Inappropriate lyrics.

Collaboration

Awards and Recognitions

Wishing Atif Aslam A Wonderful 37th Birthday

Atif Aslam

Family

Career

Bollywood Debut

Coke Studio

International Tours

Television

Pakistani Songs of Atif Aslam

Collaborations

Awards and Recognitions

36th Birthday Wishes to Beautiful Shreya Ghoshal

Shreya Ghoshal

Career

Bollywood Debut

Concerts and Charities.

Collaborations

Awards

Wishing Mohit Chauhan A Wonderful 54th Birthday

Mohit Chauhan

Career

Social Activities.

Television

Collaborations

Awards and Nominations

Wishing Zakir Hussain A Wonderful 69th Birthday.

Zakir Hussain

Career

As a Music Composer

Top Tracks by Zakir Hussain

Educator

Awards and Recognitions

Wishing Ankit Tiwari A Wonderful 34th Birthday

Ankit Tiwari

Career

Music Composition

Songs in Other Languages.

Awards and Recognitions

Wishing Shankar Mahadevan A Wonderful 53rd Birthday

Shankar Mahadevan

Family

Music Career

Shankar- Ehsaan – Loy

Other Notable Works

Charity Work

Collaboration