Alka Yagnik

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Alka Yagnik
Birth_name =
Alias =


Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date and age|1966|3|20 Calcutta, West Bengal
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Bollywood and regional filmi playback singing
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 1978-present

Alka Yagnik ( _hi. अल्का यागनिक) (born March 20, 1966 [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20061113065859/http://content.msn.co.in/Entertainment/Bollywood/Bollywood_IANS_101106_1210.htm Alka Yagnik slams rumours about her divorce ] . November 10 2006. MSN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2007] in Calcutta, West Bengal, India) is an Indian singer. She is born into a Gujarati family. Both her parents were well versed in classical music.

Biography

Early life

Born to Gujaratis who were based in Calcutta, Alka's mother Shubha Yagnik was a singer of Indian classical music. Shubha was determined her daughter succeed as a singer. Alka started singing for Calcutta Radio aged six. Aged ten, Alka's mother brought her to Bombay to try her luck in films as a child singer. She was advised to wait till her voice matured but her mother remained determined and on a subsequent visit Alka got a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor from his Calcutta distributor. Raj heard the girl and sent her with a letter to noted producer Laxmikant. Impressed, Laxmikant gave her two alternatives - an immediate start as a dubbing artist, or a later break as a full - fledged singer. The Yagniks settled for the latter.

Career

Alka Yagnik is classically trained, and has been one of the leading playback singers in Bollywood since the late 1980's. Alka began singing bhajans for Calcutta Radio at the age of six. She came to Mumbai and started singing for film like "Payal Ki Jhankaar" (1979), "Laawaris" (1981) with the song "Mere Angene Mein", and "Hamari Bahu Alka" (1982). She got her big break with the song "Ek Do Teen" from the film "Tezaab" (1988). The song turned her into a star overnight and went on to become a pop hit. She also received her first Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for the song.

All through the 1980s Alka kept singing in films, yet hits eluded her. It was in 1988 that she got her breakthrough with the song that was to become a Bollywood classic Ek Do Teen Char. Additionally, she has sung in many languages other than Hindi, including Punjabi, Bengali, and Marathi. She 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 soundtrack of the acclaimed film "Moulin Rouge",in the song "Hindi Sad Diamonds".

Awards

Alka Yagnik has received numerous awards, and nominations in her singing career, apart from the awards listed below. She received the Filmfare award for Best Female Playback for three consecutive years from 1999-2001.

Filmfare Awards

* 1988, Best Female Playback for "Ek Do Teen" for the film "Tezaab"
* 1993, Best Female Playback for "Choli Ke Peeche" for the film "Khalnayak" (shared with Ila Arun)
* 1997, Best Female Playback for "Zara Tasveer Se Tu" for the film "Pardes"
* 1999, Best Female Playback for "Taal Se Taal" for the film "Taal"
* 2000, Best Female Playback for "Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Dil Se" for the film "Dhadkan"
* 2001, Best Female Playback for "O Re Chhori" for the film "Lagaan"
* 2004, Best Female Playback for "Hum Tum" for the film "Hum Tum"

National Film Awards

* 1994, Best Female Playback for "Ghoongat Ki Aad Se" for the film "Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke"
* 1999, Best Female Playback for "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" for the film "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai"

Zee Cine Awards

* 1999 - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
* 2001 - Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai - Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai
* 2007 - Tumhi Dekho Naa - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna [http://indiafm.com/features/2007/04/01/2465/index.html]

Star Screen Awards

*1995 Best Female Playback for Dil Ne Dil Se from Haqeeqat
*2000 Best Female Playback for Paanchi Nadiyaan from Refugee

International Indian Film Academy

*2000 Taal - Taal Se Taal Mila”
*2001 Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai - Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

Memorable Playback Singing of Alka Yagnik

* "Saawariya" (2007) - "Chhabeela"
* "Guru" (2007) - "Aye Hairate Aashiqi"
* "Umrao Jaan" (2006) - "Salaam", "Pooch Rahe Hain"
* "Babul" (2006) - "Gaa Re Mann"
* "Shaadi Se Pehle" (2006) - "Bijuriya, bijuriya (remix), Sache Ashiq"
* "Jai Santoshi Maa" (2006) - "Maa Santoshi Maa"
* "Dil Apna Punjabi" (2006) - "Sohniye Ft. Harbhajan Mann"
* "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" (2006) - "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", "Tumhi Dekho Na"
* "Barsaat" (2005) - "Yeh Jo Dil Hai", Barsaat Ke Din Aaye, Maine Tumse Pyar Bahut Kiya, Aaja Aaja Piya Ab To Aaja
* "" (2005) - "Chori Chori"
* "Swades" (2004) - "Saanwariya Saanwariya"
* "Hum Tum" (2004) - "Hum Tum"
* "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi" (2004) - "Laal Dupatta"
* "Andaaz" (2003) - "Kisise Tum Pyaar Karo"
* "Kal Ho Naa Ho" (2003) - "Kuch To Hua Hai"
* "Tere Naam" (2003) - "Oodhni"
* "Chori Chori" (2003) - "Aata Aata"
* "Chalte Chalte" (2003) - "Tauba"
* "Dil Ka Rishta" (2003) - "Dil Churale O Chand, Saajan Saajan Saajan, Haaye Dil Mera Dil, Dilka Rishta Bada Pyara"
* "Shakti" (2002) - "Ishq Kamina"
* "Raaz" (2002) - "Aapke Pyaar Mein", "Kya Tumhe Yaad Hai"
* "Dil Hai Tumhara" (2002) - "Dil Laga Liya Maine", Dil Hai Tumhara, Kasam Khake Kaho, Mohabbat Dil Ka Sukoon Hai, Chaahe Zuban
* "Mujhse Dosti Karoge!" (2002) - "Jaane Dil Se"
* "Kasoor" (2001) - "Kitni Bechain Hoke"
* "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001) - "Jaane Kyon"
* "Lajja" (2001) - "Badi Mushkil"
* "Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000) Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Mujshe Shaadi Karogii, Tera Pallu
* "Dhadkan" (2000) - "Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Dil Se"
* "Zubeidaa" (2000) - "Mehndi Hai Rachnewali", "Hai Na"
* "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai" (2000) - "Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai"
* "Sarfarosh" (1999) - "Jo Haal Dil Ka". Is Deewane Ladke Ko"
* "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (1999) - "Chand Chupa"
* "Taal" (1999) - "Taal Se"
* "Sirf Tum" (1999) - "Paehli Pehli Bar", "Dilbar Dilbar"
* "Zakhm" (1998) - "Gali Mein"
*"Soldier" (1998) - "Soldier Soldier", "Mehfil Mein Baar Baar"
* "China Gate" (1998) - "Chamma Chamma"
* "Duplicate" (1998) - "Mere Mehboob Mera Sanam"
* "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai " (1998) - "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Ladki Badi Anjani Hai", "Koi Mil Gaya", "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (sad version), "Yeh Ladki Hai Diwani", "Saajan Ji Ghar Aaye", "Tujhe Yaad Na Mere Aaye"
* "Ghulam" (1998) - "Aati Kya Khandala"
* "Gupt" (1997) - "Mushkil Bada Yeh Pyaar Hain"
* "" (1996) - "Bahon Ke Darmiyan"
* "Jeet" (1996) - "Yaara O Yaara Milna, Saason Ka Chalna, Tu Dharti Pe Jitna Bhi"
* "Raja Hindustani" (1996) - "Pardesi Pardesi"
* "Raja" (1995) - "Aakhiyan Milau Kabhi Aakhiyan Churao, "Nazre Mile Dil Dhadka"
* "Karan Arjun" (1995) - "Jaati Hoon Main", "Yeh Bandhan To Pyar ka Bandhan Hai"
* "Akele Hum Akele Tum" (1995) - "Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya
* "Naajayaz" (1995) - "Kya Tum Mujshe Pyar Karte Ho", "Tujhe Pyaar Karte Karte"
* "Coolie No. 1" (1995) - "Mein To Raste"
* "Main Khiladi Tu Anari" (1994) - "Churake Dil Mera"
* "Criminal" (1994) - "Tu Mile Dil Khile"
* "Mohra" (1994) - "Tip Tip Barsa Paani"
*" Dilwale (1994)" - Mauka Milega To Hum Pyar, Jeeta Tha Jiske Liye, Jeeta Hoon Jiske Liye, Saaton Janam Mein Tere
* "Baazigar" (1993) - "Baazigar O Baazigar"
* "Darr" (1993) - "Ang Se Ang Lagana"
* "Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aaye" (1993) - "Sairana Si Hai", "Dil Deta Hai Ro Ro"
* "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) - Ghunghat Ki Aad se, Kash Koi Ladka, Yuhi Kat Jayega Safar, Bombay Se Poonha
* "Khiladi" (1992) - "Waada Raha Sanam"
* "Bekhudi" (1992) - "Jab Na Maana Dil Deewana"
* "Saajan" (1991) - "Dekha Hai Pehli Baar"
* "Phool Aur Kaante (1991) - "Tumse Milne ko Dil Karta Hai", "Dheere Dhere Pyar Ko Badhna"
* "Sapne Saajan Ke" (1992) - "Kehta Hai Mausam", Kabhi Bhula Kabhi Yaad Kiya, "Aara Hai Mazza",
* "Afsana Pyar Ka" (1991) - "Yaad Teri Aati Hai"
* "Tridev" (1989) - "Gali Gali Mein"
* "Bhrashtachar" (1989) - Mere Seene Se Lagja
* "Mujrim (1989) - Raat Ke Bara Baje
* "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" (1988) - "Akela Hain To Kya Ghum Hai", "Kahe Sataaye Kah", "Ey Mere Humsafar"
* "Batwara" (1989} - 'Tu Maro Kaun Lage"
* "Tezaab" (1988) - "Ek Do Teen"
* "Yudh (1985) - "Yudh Kar", "Doston Tum Sab Ko"
* "Love Marriage (1984) - "Beeswin Sadi Ke"
* "Coolie" {1983 - Mujhe Pine Ka Shock Nahin
* "Nastik" (1982) - "Sagre Jagat Ka Ek Rakhwala"
* "Kaamchor (1982 - "Tum Se Badhkar Duniya Mein"
* "Jeevan Dhaara (1982)" - Jaldise Aana"
* "Lawaaris" (1981) - "Mere Angane Mein Tumhara"
* "Jeevan Dhaara (1982)" - Jaldise Aana"

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0003504
* [http://www.ndtv.com/ent/musicprofiles.asp?id=16&language=Hindi Profile on NDTV]