Richa Sharma

Richa Sharma (born 29 August 1972) is an Indian film playback singer as well a devotional singer. In 2006, she sang Bollywood's longest track, the bidaai song, in film Baabul (2006).

Richa Sharma was eight years old when she was invited to sing before religious congregations in and around Delhi. She got herself enrolled in the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.
Under the tutelage of Pandit Aaskaran Sharma, Richa went on to get proper training in Indian classical and light music. Richa added ghazals; film songs, Punjabi and Rajasthani folk songs to her repertoire, thus making her voice reach out to more and more people in a variety of sounds.
While music was at its peak in Richa’s life, academic education had to be sacrificed and without any backing with a dream to make it big in the music world, Richa landed in Mumbai in 1994. She sang cover versions and bhajans in order to ensure she had her bread and butter and simultaneously continued her struggle in Bollywood. She made her debut in Bollywood with Sawan Kumar’s Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya in 1996 and followed it up by a number of films until the big hit came by in the form of Taal where she sang for A.R. Rahman.

Thereafter a spate of hits followed, Zubeidaa, Saathiya (A.R. Rahman); Hera Pheri (Anu Malik); Khakee (Ram Sampath); Tarkeeb (the song "Duppatte Ka Palu"), Baghban (Title Song for Aadesh Shrivastava); Soch (the song "Nikal Chali Be" for Jatin-Lalit); Rudraksh, Kal Ho Naa Ho (Sad version of the title track for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy); Gangajal (Sandesh Shandilya); Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao (Vishal-Shekhar), Saawariya (Monty Sharma), and Om Shanti Om (Vishal-Shekhar) and the most popular song for Kaante ("Mahi Ve" for Anand Raaj Anand).

The versatile playback singer has also done quite a few albums to showcase her talent. Albums like Ni Main Yaar Nu Sajda Kardi, Piya and Winds of Rajasthan (for Times Music released early 2004) have brought out the classiness and grace in Richa’s voice and her variety as a singer.


Awards

• Bollywood Movie Award for the Best Singer Female 2003 - MAHI VE(Kaante)

Narendra Chanchal

Narendra Chanchal Divine Goddess’s Special Emissary.

For millions across the world, Narendra Chanchal is hailed and regarded as the Divine Goddess’s special emissary for spreading “Her Majesty’s” pious message of peace, devotion, love and compassion through mellifluous recitations. Accredited for having revolutionized the concept of Jagrans and Mata Ki Chowkis, Chanchal is looked upon as a ‘father figure’ by the younger genre of devotional singers. This is precisely why he commands immense respect and admiration from them. While an artist’s popularity withers with time, Chanchal’s been a total exception. Such mesmerizing and enchanting are his performances that they mostly exceed the scheduled plan owing to requests from the large gathering. And Chanchal surely doesn’t mind! Born in a religious Punjabi family in Namak Mandi, Amritsar, Chanchal has been singing ‘Bhakti Bhente’ in Jagrans and Chowkis as they are popularly referred to since the last four decades. At a young age, he was quite a revelation and started getting recognition. All this inspired him to move from sufi and film music to devotional singing. It's undeniably been a long journey that started from a small time town in the early 1960s to where Chanchal has reached today. Chanchal attributes all this to his mother who was a staunch devotee of Goddess Durga. “Devotional music has been in vogue ever since the chanting of Vedic hymns. As for me, I took to singing at quite an early age when children of my age were either crying or learning to tread. Although I possessed a natural fancy and liking towards singing, it was my mother solely who got me to learn the finer nuances of singing for achieving greater realms. While most of my contemporaries hailed from reputed music gharanas, I had to virtually start from a scratch in order to drive my point across. However with the blessings of the "Divine Mother", things started falling in place, and the rest as they say is history. For me, everyday has been like a new beginning to a path of self -discovery. In music, temperament and discipline play a pivotal role in facilitating one to adapt to diverse situations with élan”, elucidates the living legend.
He shot into limelight during the Indo-Pak war in 1965 when he performed for National Defence Force ensued by the 1970 Raj Kapoor blockbuster ‘Bobby’ that catapulted him to the zenith, and subsequently fetched him the coveted Filmfare Award. Then followed movies like Roti, Kapada aur Makaan, Benaam and numerous other multilingual movies. Born as Narender Kharbanda, the suffix 'Chanchal' was a result of his on stage antics and theatrics. He candidly admits his penchant sans any qualms, for playing pranks with friends and acquaintances. Who says India is the only place where you see large number of devotees congregating during a Jagran or Chowki? Well, the reality is that one needs to go overseas to actually spectacle the astounding levels of faith and devotion that the NRI commune nurtures towards their native customs, rituals, traditions and festivals. It’s been a while that Chanchal’s been performing in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and UK. In lieu of his role and contribution in the field of devotional singing overseas, the maestro was sometime ago awarded the Honorary Citizenship of State of Georgia from the Governor Office in Atlanta in the state of Georgia in USA.

“Devotion knows no language, boundaries or caste. All one needs is a pure heart for comprehending the ecstatic music. It’s heart warming to see foreigners swaying to Indian devotional music. I feel equally amused on getting requests for a Punjabi crash course from South Indians keen on following and understanding my foot tapping Punjabi music”, confides Chanchal.

What sets him apart from the rest is primarily his immense versatility and proficiency in varied facets of music be it composing lyrics or poems to singing sufi, bhakti, classical or film music. Once he gets going on the stage, there’s just no stopping the euphoria that grips the entire place. Recipient of numerous prestigious awards and citations, Chanchal feels he has miles to go and would continue singing ‘Bhente’ in honour of the "Supreme Goddess" till the last breath of his life.

Albeit his work involves lot of touring, he manages breaks and sabbaticals for maintaining a chord. Now that’s he finally settled down in South Delhi, he has been involved in numerous philanthropic works such as the cause of ‘girl child’ and ‘mandatory literacy campaigns’ for the under privileged sections of society. About the concept of educating children as a system that has been going on for years through all ages, he opines, “Today irrespective of times, I see eternal duality of two distinct processes that influence a child. First one is available ‘Information’ that is abundant and limitless today, and for which avenue sources are countless as it is an everyday phenomenon as it is now more immense with advent of available Print cum Electronic Media, Radio cum Broadcast TV, Internet under Globalization.” Further, he briefs, “I have always endeavored to contribute to the Society, Community, Teaching Fraternity and under privileged tiny tots who are well deserving, but owing to their poor socio-economic background, are inept in continuing formal education. With children, on needs to realize that they are the most humblest, honest, innocent and delicate members of any human society, who earnestly desire to be noble, successful human achievers. I have now a kind of new missionary zeal inside me to live and serve caring for the tender and young community of the future. And in my best possible capacity, would continue to do so all my life, forever. ” Despite a successful Bollywood career that fetched him the coveted Filmfare award for the timeless RK banner classic ‘Bobby’ for his soulful music, Chanchal gave up the glamorous career of Bollywood to be in the service of the Divine Goddess. In his five decade long musical career, he is also the recipient of the prestigious Raj Kapoor Memorial Award. According to him, devotional music would always remain in vogue. As a tip to budding youngsters aspiring to make it big in the field of singing, his only advise is to focus on temperament and discipline as they play a pivotal role in facilitating one to adapt to diverse situations with élan.

Uttam Singh

Uttam Singh (born 25 May 1948) is an Indian musician. He has worked as a violinist, music arranger and music director for many Bollywood films.

Singh and Jagdish worked as music directors ("Uttam-Jagdish") for Manoj Kumar's Painter Babu. Later they worked for Manoj Kumar's other film, Clerk . Together, they also worked on the Smita Patil-Raj Babbar-Raj Kiran-Amrita Singh-Amrish Puri starrer, Waaris (1988). After Jagdish died in 1992, Singh started working independently. His most notable film as a music director was Yash Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai. He also composed music for many other films including Hum Tumpe Marte Hain, Dushman, Farz and Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai. He also composed music for Anil Sharma's Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) and later Hero-Love Story of a Spy. He is known for his collaboration with the playback singer Udit Narayan.

Awards

• Filmfare Best Music Director Award - 1997 (for Dil To Pagal Hai)

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, are an Indian musical trio consisting of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa, who have provided music for several Indian films. They are among the most popular and critically acclaimed music directors of Hindi cinema. Their famous works include scores for movies such as Mission Kashmir (2000), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Aalavandhan (2001), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006), Taare Zameen Par (2007), Rock On!! (2008), Yavarum Nalam (2009), Wake Up Sid (2009), My Name is Khan (2010), Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) and Housefull (2010).

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy were to make their debut as composers in Mukul Anand's film Dus. The film remained incomplete after Anand's death, though the album was later released. Then they 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 and earned the trio a place in the Bollywood film industry. They also earned IIFA nominations for the same. The turning point of their career as music directors was Dil Chahta Hai, which was the debut film of Farhan Akhtar as a director. The film won wide critical acclaim and went on to attain a cult status among audiences.This marked the beginning of the trio's long-term association with Excel Entertainments.


Following Dil Chahta Hai, their next big venture was Dharma Productions' Kal Ho Na Ho, directed by Nikhil Advani. The album broke all the previous records as a best-selling album. The music won won many awards including the National Film Award for Best Music Direction. Since then, they have frequently collaborated with Dharma Productions and its owner and director Karan Johar, including his Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. That soundtrack broke the record of Kal Ho Na Ho, and once again they had a best seller of Bollywood music


AWARDS:

The trio have won several awards including Filmfare awards (Bunty Aur Babli, Kal Ho Naa Ho), a RD Burman Award (Dil Chahta Hai) and Star Screen awards (Mission Kashmir, Bunty Aur Babli, Dil Chahta Hai). In 2004, they received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film Kal Ho Naa Ho.

Sajid-Wajid

Sajid Ali is a Hindi music composer and director who works for Bollywood films. With his brother, Wajid Ali, he forms the musical duo known as Sajid-Wajid. He has been honoured with the life membership of International Film And Television Research Centre of Asian Academy Of Film & Television by Sandeep Marwah.

Sajid-Wajid first scored music for Sohail Khan's Pyar Kiya To Darna Kiya in 1998. In 1999, they scored music for Sonu Nigam's album Deewaana. The songs, Deewaana Tera, Abb Mujhe Raat Din and Iss Kadar Pyaar Hai went on to become hits. The same year, they worked as music directors for the film, Hello Brother and gave several hit numbers such as, "Hata Saawan Ki Ghata", "Chaandi ke Daal Par Sone Ka Mor", "Chupake Koi Jab Aayega" and "Hello Brother". In 2000, they scored the music for Baaghi.
In later years, they composed music for several films such as, Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai (2002), Gunaah (2002), The Killer (2006), Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar (2006) and Jaane Hoga Kya (2006).


The music duo have also composed music for several films starring Salman Khan, which include, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge (2002), Tere Naam (2003), Chori Chori (2003), Garv (2004), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Partner (2007), Hello (2008), God Tussi Great Ho (2008), Wanted (2009), Main Aur Mrs Khanna, (2009), Veer (2010) and Dabangg (2010). In 2010, they composed the soundtrack of No Problem.
They are mentors on the Zee TV reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar. Sajid-Wajid brothers are also brand ambassadors of Radio Noida 107.4FM..


Awards

Won

• 2011: Star Screen Award for Best Music Director for Dabangg
• 2011: Apsara Award for Best Music Director for Dabangg
• 2011: Lion club Award for Best Music Director for Dabangg
• 2011: Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director for Dabangg

Nominated

• 2005: Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director for "Mujhse Shadi Karogi" - Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
• 2005: IIFA Award for Best Music Director for "Mujhse Shadi Karogi" - Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
• 2008: Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for "Do You Wanna Partner" - Partner (2007)
• 2008: Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director for "Do You Wanna Partner" - Partner (2007)
• 2008: IIFA Award for Best Music Director for "Do You Wanna Partner" - Partner (2007)

Lucky Ali

Lucky Ali, born 19 September 1958, born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali, is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.

Personal albums

His first composition was a three-chord lament called 'Nobody Loves Me'. Lucky Ali was gifted a guitar at age 13 and he taught himself to play it. Lucky became passionate about music but soon moved to horses, then to acting, and direction, further on to roughnecking on the rigs, to washing carpets but finally returned to music.
Lucky made his debut on the Indian pop scene with the soulful album Sunoh which established him as a pop singer. This album won many of the top awards in Indian music, including the Best Pop Male Vocalist at the 1996 Screen Awards and the Channel V Viewers Choice Award in 1997. It stayed on the MTV Asia Charts for 60 weeks. The song O Sanam from Sunoh, launched his career and is considered by some to be one of the best indi-pop songs ever. His next album, Sifar, wasn't quite as successful as Sunoh, but it was noted for its music, lyrics and vocals.

Lucky Ali is known for his distinctive music style and also for his husky voice. His third album and fourth albums were Aks and Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai, both of which were reasonably successful. After a five years hiatus, he released his new album Xsuie on the 19th of September 2009, on his birthday.
He is also known for contributing the song "Anjaani Raahon Mein" to the album "Meri Jaan Hindustan" which commemorated 50 years of Indian independence in the year 1997. The video was directed by Mani Shankar, and features him as a young urban man roaming the Indian countryside, trying to discover new meaning to life. When asked about the video, he once said "The video of 'Anjaani Raahon Mein' was a beautiful story in itself. It was done straight from the heart and it is very special to me."
His latest album is Xsuie -'फुरसत में' - at your own pace.) , which he released on internet as he didnt want to just make money. Thus he decided not to go with any label and just to release his music as an independent artist..
He also sung his first kannada song for a Kannada film 'Udyan Express'.

Playback singing career

Lucky Ali started his Playback singing career with the song "Nasha Nasha" from the film Dushman Duniya Ka which starred his brother Manzoor Ali in the lead role. The film was directed by their father Mehmood. However the song and the film both went unnoticed.
After that, his next song in films was in Hrithik Roshan's debut movie Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.The songs Na tum jaano na hum and Ek pal ka jeena became huge hits and he won the Filmfare award (Best Male Playback Singer) for Na tum jaano na hum.
The latest song by him was Bekarar in movie Paathshaala and later in Hairat in movie Anjaana Anjaani.

Acting career

Being the nephew of Meena Kumari, one of the great actresses to grace the Indian screen, and moreover being Mehmood's son, Lucky Ali did not lack the requisite opportunity to make his debut as an actor. He acted in a few films in the 1970s and 1980s such as Yeh Hain Zindagi (1977) Hamare Tumhare (1979) and Shyam Benegal 's Trikaal (1985). He also acted in the television series Bharat Ek Khoj Directed by Shyam Benegal. After a long break from acting, he returned in Sanjay Gupta's Kaante (2002) where he acted along leading stars like legend Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty. Lucky also acted in the TV serial Zara Hatke. In 2002, he acted in the Hindi musical Sur-The Melody of Life essaying a complex role that earned him accolades as an actor

Sharda... 'Maker of filmfare history'

Sharda Rajan Iyengar or Sharda was a playback singer in Hindi films in the 1960s and 70s. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the cabaret "Baat Zara Hai Aapas Ki" in Jahan Pyar Miley (1970), though she is most remembered for her song "Titli Udi" in Suraj (1966). In 2007, she released the album Andaaz – e – Bayan Aur, featuring her own compositions based on Mirza Ghalib's ghazals, a musical form from Turkey.

Early in her career Sharda was offered a voice test by Showman Raj Kapoor when he first heard her singing in a function at Shrichand Ahuja's residence in Tehran. She got her first big break in Bollywood with the song "Titli Udi" in Suraj (1966). She was promoted by Shankar of the Shankar Jaikishan duo.


"Titli udi" turned out to be a top chartbuster in 1966.It so happens that the coveted Filmfare award for best playback singer had only one category (either male or female) till 1966. But "Titli Udi" song was tied as best song with Mohd Rafi's song "Baharo Phool Barsao" which had never happened before. So Filmfare had to modify its selection process and had to give Sharda a best female playback singer award. From then on Filmfare started giving two awards for best playback singer - one for male singer and the other for female singer. Thus Sharda made a history. Thereafter Sharda was nominated 4 years in a row (1968–71) for best female playback singer and won another Filmfare award. So in a short span Sharda won 2 Filmfare awards, which was quite an achievement in those days, when the Mangeshkar Sisietrs were dominating. Thereafter she continued singing for Shankar in nearly all his films until his death. Her voice was last heard in Kaanch Ki Deewar (1986).

She sang with most of the top singers like Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Yesudas, Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur. She lent her voice to leading ladies of the time like Vyjayanthimala, Saira Banu, Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Rekha and Helen. Besides Shankar she recorded songs with Usha Khanna, Ravi, Dattaram, Iqbal Qureshi and a few others. She was the first Indian female singer to cut her own pop album in India, called Sizzlers in 1971 which was launched by HMV.
She performed on stage on several occasions like Filmfare Awards functions, charity shows, naval functions, and many others.
Sharda was never able to reach the top bracket of singers but she did manage to create a certain section of the music listeners as her fans and well wishers. She conducts music lessons for children and aspiring singers.Besides Hindi she also sang in Telugu, Marathi, English & Gujrathi.


Filmfare Awards nominations and award:

1966 - "Titli Udi" ("Suraj") - won

1968: - "Tumhari Bhi Jai Jai" (Diwana) - nominated

1969 - "Tere Ang Ka Rang" (Chanda Aur Bijli) - nominated

1970 - "Baat Zara Hai Aapas Ki" (Jahan Pyar Miley) - won

1971 - Aapke piche pad gayi" (Ek Nari Ek Brahmchari) - nominated

Popular songs:

• "Titli udi" (Suraj)
• "Jaan e Chaman" (Gumnaam) - with Mohd Rafi
• "Leja Leja mera dil" (An Evening In Paris)
• "Chale jana zara" (Around The World) - with Mukesh
• "Tum Pyar se dekho" (Sapno Ka Saudagar) - with Mukesh
• "Woh Pari kahan se" (Pehchan) - with Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur
• "Kisike dil ko" (Kal Aaj Aur Kal)
• "Jab bhi yeh dil udaas" (Seema) - with Mohd Rafi
• "Aap ki Rai Mere Baare Mein" (Elaan) - with Mohd Rafi
• "Jane Anjane Yahan" (Jane Anjane)