Sunidhi Chauhan Biography

Nidhi Chauhan a.k.a Sunidhi Chauhan was born on August 14^th 1983, in the Capital city Delhi. Sunidhi Chauhan’s father was always a theatre artist Dushyant Chauhan was at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, and her mother is a home maker she influenced Sunidhi Chauhan to pursue a career in singing.

At the mere age of 4 Sunidhi Chauhan had started performing at competitions and local gatherings, subsequently convinced by her father’s friends to take singing seriously.

During that time, she was doing live shows and trained herself with “regular riyaaz by listening to cassettes and CDs of popular numbers”.

She did her studies from Greenway Modern School and used to stay with her family members in Dilshad Garden, Delhi. She discontinued her studies right after schooling to pursue a career in the music industry.

When actress Tabassum spotted her, she made her sing live in her show Tabassum Hit Parade and asked her family to shift to Mumbai. She then introduced Sunidhi Chauhan to Kalyanji Virji Shah and Anandji Virji Shah.

Upon meeting, Kalyanji changed her name from Nidhi to Sunidhi as he felt that it is a lucky name. When she was 11, her dad quit his job and brought her to Mumbai. Initially, the family had financial difficulties in adjusting life to the city.

After that she worked in Kalyanji’s academy for few years and became the lead singer in his “Little Wonders” troupe. She was then offered with many shows, though her father insisted on singing for films.

Career

While Sunidhi Chauhan was in the group of “Kalyanji’s Academy’’ they had a performance in the 40^th FilmFare Award with the group little wonders. Music Director Aadesh Srivastava heard her and wanted her to sing and record her voice for the film Shastra.

She made her career debut at the age of thirteen, with the song “Ladki Deewani Dekho” from the film, alongside Udit Narayan.

During the year, she won the first singing reality show on DD National titled Meri Awaz Suno, where she was honored with the “Lata Mangeshkar Trophy” for the best female singer of India.

Besides, she recorded her first solo album, Aira Gaira Nathu Khaira which was ultimately promoted as a children’s album. Chauhan then realised her “limitations” and got formal training in classical singing from Gautam Mukherjee.

For the next two years, she worked as a background vocalist. Sunidhi Chauhan had a breakthrough career change actor she met Sonu Nigam. Sonu recommended her to Sandeep Chowta.

During the time, Chowta was working as the music director for Ram Gopal Varma’s film Mast (1999). Within two weeks’ time, Chauhan was signed to lend her voice for the film’s song where she recorded the title track along with

• “Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi“
• Suna Tha

Voice

Sunidhi Chauhan possesses a high octave vocal range, and has the ability to reach lower octaves and dropping notes with transition. She has received a lot of acclaims and recognitions from many music directors from the Bollywood industry.

Lata Mangeshkar who described Sunidhi Chauhan’s vocals as “different” from her contemporary, mentioned that her voice will not suit musical style of lori. According to Rajani Kanikar, she has a “powerful” and “husky” voice which she attributes to her father.

She feels that her vocals structure suits on Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, Parineeti Chopra and Urmila Matondkar the most.

Though she has performs in high-pitched vocals songs, she is known for her “deeper pitched voice”, on which Ajay Gehlawat wrote: “Chauhan’s deeper timbre replaces Asha Bhosle’s higher pitched vocals” in the song “Yeh Mera Dil“

Sunidhi Chauhan’s “high-energy vocals” have been described as “stereotyped” in item numbers by the media. However, according to The Daily Star, “be it a soft classical-like piece or an operatic pitch, Chauhan is spectacular with her vocals”.

Ensuring such “fuller female timbres become more commonplace’ to a decidedly more forceful and sensual sounds”. Ganesh Anantharaman in his book Bollywood Melodies:

A History of the Hindi Film Song wrote that Chauhan has a “good, expressive” voice but she crafted a particular image for herself as the singer of fast, racy songs.

Influencers of Sunidhi Chauhan

Sunidhi Chauhan was introduced to music by her father and dedicates her career to his father and mother for supporting her since a very young age.

She acknowledges that western music had a huge impact in her singing and confessed that she likes to perform “songs that have a western flavour in them“. Believing that her voice has a “global appeal”, she feels that her exposure to international music has only “sharpened” her skills while she does not forcefully tries to imply a western feel to the song.

She considers Lata Mangeshkar as her biggest inspiration, calling her “a temple of music”. She grew up listening to music by Lata Mangeshkar Ji and Asha Bhosle Ji and is equally influenced by singers like Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, K.S.Chithra, Alka Yagnik, Kishori Amonkar, Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey.

Sonu Nigam who helped her get her first break in the industry was named as one of the biggest influences in shaping her career along with her parents and she described him as a “catalyst to fuel my career”.

She was mainly compared with her contemporary singer Shreya Ghoshal for which Chauhan stated, “I am contented to have my own area in the current music world. Likewise, Shreya Ghoshal has her own.

Charity

Sunidhi Chauhan is associated with social causes working for the underprivileged kids where she performed charity shows, donating money and buying clothes.

In 2005, along with sixteen other artists, she recorded a single titled “Zindagi Pukaarti Hai” to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Performed at Screen Awards on 18 January 2005, the song was released as a cassette and a CD where the proceeds from sales were given to the victims. She was also involved with fundraising events for charities involved in the disaster clean-up operation.

Collaborations

• Aadesh Srivastava – Shastra, Bade Dilwala, Dahek, Joru ka Gulam, Deewanapan, Farz, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Junoon
• Anu Malik – Aaghaaz, Champion, Fiza, Gang, Hum to Mohabbat Karega, Ajnabee, Rahul, Yaadein, Ab Ke Baras.
• Sandeep Chowta – Mast, jungle.
• Salim – Sulaiman – Bhoot, Darna Mana Hain,
• Vishal – Shekhar – Musafir, Plan, Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao, Rudraksh, Shaadi Ka Laddoo, Shukriya: Till Death Do Us Apart, Stop!
• A.R Rahman – Saiyyan (Nayak)
• Himesh Reshammiya – Dil Maange More, Julie, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Insan, Koi Aap Sa, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Main Aaisa Hi Hu, Silsillay, Vaada, Yakeen, 36 China Town
• Pritam – Apna Sapna Money Money , Bhagam Bhag, Dhoom 2 , Gangster, Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Darling.

Awards

• Annual Central European Bollywood Award – Fanaa 2007
• BIG Star Entertainment Awards – Tees Maar Khan – 2010
• FilmFare Award for Best Playback Singer Female – Omkara 2007, Tees Maar Khan 2011
• Global Indian Film Awards – Dhoom 2005
• Global Indian Music Academy Awards – Tees Maar Khan 2011
• International Indian Film Academy Awards – Dhoom 2005, Omkara 2007
• Mirchi Music Awards – The DIrty Picture – 2011
• Screen Awards – Chameli 2005, Omkara – 2007
• Star Guild Awards – Tees Maar Khan 2010
• Zee Cine Awards – Dhoom – 2005
• Tarang Housefull Awards – Anjuman – 2013
• PTC Punjabi Film Awards – Patang Wali Dor 2013, Chandi Di Dabbi 2015.