Neeti Mohan
Neeti Mohan is an Indian Singer, Song writer and actress. Born on 18 November, 1979 in the capital city New Delhi. She is the eldest sister in her Family.
Neeti Mohan did her schooling from Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, Pilani and college studies from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Neeti Mohan’s father name is Brij Mohan Sharma and her mother name is Kusum Mohan. She also has 3 sisters Shakti Mohan (Younger, Dancer), Mukti Mohan (Younger, Dancer) and Kriti Mohan (Younger).
Convinced by her father, Mohan participated in many extra-curricular activities during her school; singing, dancing, performing in the band and theatre. She was adjudged best cadet in the National Cadet Corps of India and represented India as Youth Exchange Programme cadet. Later, Neeti Mohan learnt music formally at the Bhatkhande Music Institute and continued training in Mumbai with Rajashree Pathak, for five years. Apart from training in singing, Mohan studied dancing with her two sisters.
She trained in Bharata Natyam and Kathak under the supervision of Ashley Lobo. Besides training kids to dance, Mohan worked as an instructor there. Mohan graduated in philosophy from Miranda House, University of Delhi.
Career
Neeti Mohan sings mainly in Hindi films, but has also done songs in Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, and English.
She made her Bollywood debut in the movie “Student of the Year” which was release in 2012 and which was also a debut film for all of the Protagonists of the movie that is Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Siddharth Malhotra.
Mohan, debuted as a singer and sang the song ‘’ISHQ WALA LOVE’’
which was loved by everyone and film critics as well. The Song was soft ballad along with the music duo Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant a.k.a Salim – Sulaiman.
Later she was heard in the song ‘’Jiya re’’
Which was composed by the legendary A.R Rahman she said that Rahman caller her for recording while getting perceived from him.
Eventually Neeti Mohan had shown too much enthusiasm and energy previously on the show due to which A.R Rahman had chosen her to sing the song. And she turned out to be awesome.
Due to delays in the date of release Jiya Re was release after the Ishq Wala Love which was shot after Jiya re but was released first.
Anyway, both of them made mark on Bollywood’s critics and audience too.
A Bollywood entertainment website ‘’Koimoi’’ mentioned that Shakti Mohan’s refreshing voice delivers the track with lot of enthusiasm and variations. And anyway Rahman had already appreciated she got recognition since then.
Mohan provided the chorus along with Natalie Di Luccio in Raghav Sachar-composed “Bittoo Sab Ki Lega” from Bittoo Boss, released the same year. During the year, she released her first single, titled “Ja Ja” composed and written by Mohan, assisted by her father.
Mohan lent her voice for Ayushmann Khurrana’s Punjabi track, “Saadi Galli Aaja“
co-composed, co-written and co-sung by Khurana. Since Mohan does not speak Punjabi, she had to learn to pronounce the words before recording the song. “Koimoi” stated that Mohan “mesmerizes” the listeners in the unplugged version of the song, with her “husky voice”. Mohan performed the track “Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari”
for Vishal–Shekhar composed Chennai Express, along with Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh. Besides, Neeti Mohan worked with Vishal–Shekhar for two other projects; Gippi and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, where she recorded “Dil Kaagzi”
For the former and “Naina” for the latter. While Mohan and Rashid Ali were performing in one Rahman’s concert show, he came up with the idea to bring a duet between the two, since “both shares similar vocal texture”. Hence, Neeti Mohan did playback for Sonam Kapoor in Raanjhanaa “Nazar Laaye“. Mohan had to bring the “softness” in her voice to match the “definite attitude” in Kapoor’s persona for her character.
In 2014, Mohan released a song ‘’Tune Maari Entriyaan’’ from the film Gunday which starred Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. She had sang that song along with Bappi Lahiri, Vishal Dadhlani and K.K. The Song was successfully listed in top 10 songs of the year, by The Times of India Radio Mirchi.
Neeti Mohan and Aditi Singh Sharma had composed one song from the movie Darr@ The Mall which was considered as Bollywood’s first Gothic song. She also collaborated with Ayushmann Khurrana again for Bewakoofiyaan song name “Khamakhaan” Apart from rendering Sajid–Wajid’s “Galat Baat Hai” from Main Tera Hero, for which Rajiv Vijayakar of Bollywood Hungama considered Mohan’s vocals “spirited”, she lent to voice for “Kambal Ke Neeche“
from Ismail Darbar-composed Kaanchi. Mohan described the latter as a “family song” since it features two of her sisters; Shakti Mohan and Mukti Mohan in the video. In the same year Mohan worked with Himesh Reshamayan for 4 films – The Expose, Humshakals, Kick & Action Jackson. Mohan collaborated with Jeet Gannguly for the first time with the song “Darbadar“
From City Lights Producer of the film, Mukesh Bhatt wanted a “young Asha Bhosle”, hence she had to Fix her “tone and projection” for the song. Likewise, Mohan was roped in by Vishal–Shekhar for Bang Bang and Happy New Year, where the title track for the former and “India Waale” for the latter were commercially successful. Besides, Mohan provided backing vocals for the track “Makhna”, featuring Sukhwinder Singh in Rahman-composed American film Million Dollar Arm.
In the year 2015 Neeti Mohan’s biggest hit was Mohan’s biggest release of 2015 came with Amit Trivedi’s Bombay Velvet, where she performed six jazzy tracks for the album Trivedi was in search of a voice with an “Asha Bhosle meets Nina Simone” best quality for Anushka Sharma’s Jazz singer character Rosie in the film, when he considered Mohan as the choice. According to The Indian Express, “what has worked” in the song “Mohabbat Buri Bimari“
is Mohan’s extemporization in the middle of the track—with all the hiccups, laughs and squeals in place. The film marks the first time she read a script before recording a track to the respective film. “I was asked to sing just like how I would perform live”. She recorded the songs at the studio dressed like a jazz singer, with people around her to cheer her.
For another track “Dhadaam Dhadaam“, Mohan was locked up in a room and was asked to “feel the pain of someone who’s going through a break-up”. Describing her time recording the song, she said; “I ran a fever after that song and you can almost hear the tear in my voice towards the end”. Additionally,
Mohan recorded a track titled “Naak Pe Gussa” for the film, which was inspired by K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra case. Mohan again collaborated with Trivedi in Shaandaar where she performed both “Nazdeekiyaan” and “Senti Wali Mental” for the film.
More Songs of Neeti Mohan include –
Aalif Se – Mr X
Sarfira – Katti Batti
Neeyum Nannum – Naanum Rowdydhaan
Kohila – Ko 2
Tod Taddaiyan – Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
Tumhe Apna Banane Ka – Sadak (1991)
Sanam Teri Kasam
Teraa Surroor.
Idols.
Neeti Mohan has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. She considered Mangeshkar as her “greatest teacher for playback“, while she credited A. R. Rahman for making her sustain her standard; “He is a task master but he gets the best out of you. His standards are very high, be it a recording or live performance”. Mohan has also been influenced by many artists outside the country. She considered herself as a fan of John Mayer for his inspiring style of writing lyrics. Mohan credits the 1971 released song “Imagine” by John Lennon for inspiring on achieving her dreams with the “right kind of dedication”.
Charity
Besides her career in music, Neeti Mohan has also contributed to various charities. In October 2014, she performed at the “Hum Hain Umeed E Kashmir” concert in Ballia, in an appeal for donation to support rehabilitation of those who suffered during the Kashmir flood. The same month, Mohan took part in the musical concert held in New Delhi for raising funds for the flood affected people of Assam. In June 2016, Neeti Mohanperformed at Smile Foundation’s charity gala dinner, to support the cause of empowerment of underprivileged children and youth. In January 2017, she collaborated with United Nations on a project aimed at empowering women, ending human trafficking and promoting gender equality. Her single “Udne De”
was selected for the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund Project titled “Music to Inspire-Artists united against Human Trafficking”.
Collaboration
Neeti Mohan has collaborated with many Singers and Music Directors
Vishal – Shekhar – Ishq Wala Love (Student Of The Year) , Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari (Chennai Express), Dil Kaagzi (Gori Tere Pyaar Mein),
A.R Rahman – Jiya Re (Jab Tak Hain Jaan)
Raghav Sachar – Bittoo Sabki Lega (Bittoo Boss)
Ayushmann Khurrana – Sadi Gali Aaja (Nautanki Saala)
Sohail – Sen – Tune Maari Entriyaan (Gunday),
Sajid – Wajid – Galat Baat Hain(Main Tera Hero)
Ismail Darbar – Kambal Ke Neeche (Kaanchi),
Himesh Reshammiyan – Tu Hi Tu (Kick)
Jeet Gannguli – Darbadar (CityLights)
Amit Trivedi – Bombay Velvet.
Awards and Recognitions
R.D Burman Award – Jiya Re, 2013.
R.D Burman Award – Ishq Wala Love, 2013.
Upcoming Female Vocalists of the year 2013.
Indie Pop Song of the year – 2018
Best Playbak Singer Female (Tamil) – Neeyam Naanum 2017.
Dabur Best Smile (The Voice Of India Kids) – 2017
Most Stylist Music Star – 2018.
Dada Saheb Phalke Best Playback Singer – 2018
