Alka Yagnik is a Indian playback singer. She is noted in Hindi cinema with a career spanning
three decades. She is a record seven-time winner from a record of 35 nominations of
the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, a two-time recipient of the National
Film Award as well as several other music awards & honours listed below. Further, as
many as 20 of her tracks feature in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time"
review.
Early life and background Alka Yagnik was born in Kolkata on 20 March
1966. Her mother Shubha Yagnik was a singer of Indian classical music. She received her
school education from Modern High School for Girls. In 1972 at the age of six, she started
singing for Akashvani, 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, Alka 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;they settled for the latter.
Career
Alka Yagnik is classically trained. She began singing bhajans for Akashvani, Calcutta. at
the age of six. Her first song was for the film Payal Ki Jhankaar in, followed by Laawaris
with the song "Mere Angane Mein", followed by the film Hamari Bahu Alka. She got her
big break with the song "Ek Do Teen" from the film Tezaab. The song won her a Filmfare
Best Female Playback Award. She has sung in many languages other than
Urdu-Hindi, including Gujarati, Avadhi, Oriya, Assamese, Manipuri, Nepali, Rajasthani, Bengali,
Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, English and Malayalam.
She has worked with Indian composers such as Kalyanji-Anandji, Rahul Dev Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal,
Rajesh Roshan, Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin Lalit, Anu Malik, A. R. Rahman, Anand-Milind, Himesh
Reshammiya, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Ismail Darbar, Aadesh Shrivastava, Viju Shah, M.
M. Keeravani, Sajid-Wajid, Bappi Lahiri, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sandesh Shandilya and many
others. In a career spanning three decades she has
sung many duet songs, most of these have been with Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu. She has
also sung many duets with Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Sonu Nigam, Vinod Rathod & Shaan.
She has also sung in many albums such as "Tum Yaad Aaye", as well as "Tum Aaye" and "Shairana"
in which she worked in close collaboration with award-winning lyricist Javed Akhtar and
singer Hariharan. She has also rendered the Hanuman Chalisa and various devotional songs.
Alka shares the title with Asha Bhosle for the greatest number of Filmfare Awards won
by a single female playback singer. Alka has also been the judge of various Sa Re Ga Ma
Pa Challenge shows, and Star Voice of India, both singing competition shows, in which children
or adults of various age groups compete with one another to win the award for best vocals.
In addition to this, her song "Chamma Chamma" from China Gate was featured in the song "Hindi
Sad Diamonds" from the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge!. She has also been performing
in live concerts around the world. In 2012 she along with Sonu Nigam sang a song
'Shiksha Ka Suraj' as part of National Literacy Mission of India for which she was felicitated
by Union Minister For Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal. Further in 2012, on 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.
She has also been involved in various projects pertaining to empowerment of the girl child.
On 25 May 2014 she appearerd as a special guest along with Kumar Sanu for the popular
TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil. Significant Collaborations With Music Directors
Laxmikant-Pyarelal Composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal have created
several musical songs with her in movies such as Tezaab, Hum, Khalnayak, Khuda Gawah, Agneepath
and many others. Nadeem-Shravan
Alka Yagnik's significant collaborations with Nadeem-Shravan over the years in movies such
as Saajan,Phool Aur Kaante, Deewana, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Dilwale, Raja, Barsaat, Jeet,
Raja Hindustani, Pardes, Sirf Tum, Dhadkan, Kasoor, Raaz, Andaaz, Dil Hai Tumhaara, etc.
She has been their lead female singer throughout their career.
Jatin Lalit Alka Yagnik has often collaborated with Jatin
Lalit in popular movies such as Khiladi,Fareb,Ghulam, Khamoshi: The Musical, Sarfarosh, Yes Boss,
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,Dil Kya Kare, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani,
Chalte Chalte, Hum Tum. Anu Malik
Alka's collaborations with Anu Malik over the years has yielded several songs in films
such as Baazigar, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee, Imtihaan, Refugee, Vijaypath, Main Khiladi
Tu Anari, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Duplicate, Soldier, Aarzoo, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Asoka,
Umrao Jaan, Fiza, Josh, Ishq Vishk, LOC Kargil. A. R. Rahman
Alka's collaborations with A. R. Rahman in movies such as Taal, Lagaan, Zubeidaa, The
Legend of Bhagat Singh, Swades, Yuvvraaj, Ada... A Way of Life, Slumdog Millionaire
are critically acclaimed. Rajesh Roshan
Alka has created popular scores with Rajesh Roshan in films such as Karan Arjun, Sabse
Bada Khiladi, Koyla,Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Koi... Mil Gaya, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage,
Krrish . Anand-Milind
Alka has worked in several films with Anand-Milind notably Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Anjaam, Anari,
Suhaag, Coolie No.1, Army, Lootere, Loafer, Jaan, Hero No. 1, Sanam, Mrityudand, Chal
Mere Bhai & Jaanwar. Himesh Reshammiya
Alka gave Himesh Reshammiya his first break in the movie Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. Thereafter
the duo has worked together creating popular scores in several movies such as Hello Brother,
Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, Humraaz, Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne, Tere Naam, Bardaasht, Aitraaz,
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Kyon Ki, Banaras, 36 China Town, Milenge Milenge, etc.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Alka's collaboration with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
in notable films such as Dil Chahta Hai, Mission Kashmir, Armaan, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Lakshya & Kabhi
Alvida Naa Kehna. Awards and nominations
Alka Yagnik has won several prestigious music awards for best female playback such as Filmfare
Awards, National Awards, Bollywood Movie Awards, IIFA Awards, Star Screen Awards,Zee Cine Awards,
etc. She also holds the record for most awards won as well as maximum nominations for Filmfare
Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Further in 2012, on 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. Bollywood filmography
References
External links Alka Yagnik at the Internet Movie Database
http:www.aajkikhabar.comNewsalka-yagnik-alka/151939.html