Sharda

Sharda was a playback singer in Hindi films in the 1960s and 70s. She won the Filmfare best Female Playback Singer award for the cabaret "Baat zara hai aapas ki" in Jahan pyar Miley (1970).

Sharda belonged to a conservative Brahmin family from Tamil Nadu and was inclined towards music from childhood. She got her first big break in Bollywood with the song "Titli udi in Suraj" (1966). She was promoted by Shanker of the Shanker-Jaikishen duo.

"Titli udi" turned out to be a top chartbuster in 1966. Thereafter she continued singing for Shanker in nearly all his films while he was alive. Her voice was last heard in "Kaanch ki Deewar" (1957).

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 top leading ladies of the time like Vyjayanthimala, Saira Banu, Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Rajashree and even Helen. She was the first Indian female singer to cut out her own pop album in India sometime in 1968. She also performed on stage on several occasions like Filmfare Awards Functions, charity shows, naval functions, and many others.

Sharda was somehow never able to reach the top bracket of singers and she blames some of the highly successful singers of the time to have deprived her of her chances by indulging in dirty politics. She also has the distinction of being a BA graduate, a qualification that Shanker tried his level best to highlight claiming that if the heroine is a college going girl, then only Sharda can sing for her as the other female singers of the time had not been to college. This remark was not well received by others and worked against Sharda. The critics also took digs at her highly South Indian accented pronunciations and nasal intonations which were very obvious. But in spite of all that she did manage to create a certain section of the music listeners as her fans and well wishers.

Shankar tried his level best to promote Sharda as the new generation Lata in the late 60s but somehow things did not really work out. Besides Shankar she also recorded songs with Usha khanna, Dattaram, Iqbal Qureshi and a few others.

Besides Titli udi, Sharda's most popular tracks are:
* 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 & Suman Kalyanpur
* Kisike dil ko (Kal Aaj Aur Kal)
* Jab bhi yeh dil udaas (Seema) - with Mohd Rafi

She was nominated four times for the Filmfare Best Female Singer award and won it once. In the 1970s, she turned music director with films like "Mandir Masjid", "Maila Aanchal" and also penned lyrics for some songs specially for Shanker.

Sharda conducts music lessons for children and aspiring singers. On 21 July 2007 Sharda released her Ghazal Album "Andaaz-e-Bayan Aur" compiling Mirza Ghalib's Ghazals. The Album was released at Juhu Jagriti Mumbai at the hands of veteran Actress Shabana Azmi. Music Director Khayyam was also present at the event where Sharda thrilled the audiences by singing a few songs from the album in her well preserved voice.

Filmfare Awards Nominations and Award

* 1968 - Tumhari bhi jai jai-(Diwana) - nominated
* 1969 - Mere ang ka rang -(Chanda Aur Bijli) - nominated
* 1970 - Baat zara hai-(Jahan pyar miley) - won
* 1971 - Aapke piche pad gayi-(Ek nari ek brahmchari) - nominated

;Partial filmography

1966- Suraj,Gumnaam,Pyar Mohabbat,Street Singer
1967- Around the world,An evening in Paris,Hare kanch ki chooriyan,Gunahon Ka Devata
1968- Diwana,Sapnon ka Saudagar
1969- Shatranj,Tumse Achcha kaun Hai,Chanda aur Bijli,Bhai behen
1970- Jahan Pyar Miley,Pehchan,Dil daulat duniya
1971- Mera Naam Joker,Jane Anjane,Seema,Elaan,EK nari ek brahmchari,Kal aaj aur kal
1972- Beimaan
1973- Naina,Pyar ka rishta,Maa behen aur biwi,Tu meri main tera,Rivaaj
1974- International crook
1975- Saazish
1976- Gold Medal
1977- Mandir Masjid
1978- Kshitij
1979- Garibi Hatao
1980- Maila Aaanchal,Garam Khoon
1981- Sanjh ki Bela
1982-
1983-
1984- Papi pet ka sawal hai
1985-
1986- Krishna krishna
1987- Kaanch ki deewar