Alka Yagnik
Alka Yagnik: Indian playback singer, vocalistDate of Birth: 20th March
Birthplace: Calcutta (Kolkata), India
Mother: Shubha Yagnik
Height: 5' 6" (1.68 m)
Debut film as playback singer: Payal Ki Jhankaar (1979)
Claims to fame: with song 'Ek Do Tin' from film Tezaab (1988)
India's top playback singer, Alka Yagnik born on 20th March in Calcutta, India. Alka born in a musical Gujarati family. Her parents were also always fond of Indian classical music. Alka Yagnik, who started singing as a child singer at the age of six, is still one of the most leading singers of India. Alka Yagnik began her career as a full-fledged singer in late 1980's. At that time it was difficult for any singer to get noticed under the influence of two legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. But Alkaji with her talent made a place for herself.
Alka always has been fond of singing since her childhood. Alka Yagnik had taken training in Indian classical music at very young age. At the age of six, she started singing Bhajans (devotional songs) for Calcutta Radio.
At the age of 10, her mother took her to Mumbai to try luck in Bollywood. In Mumbai they met to the renowned music composers Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant. Both the composers get impressed by her singing but advised her to wait until her voice gets matured.
Alka got her first break as a playback singer with the film 'Payal Ki Jhankar' in 1979. She has sung few lines in the film. Her first full-fledged song was 'Hum Tum Rahenge' in Hamari Bahu Alka. Her first hit song was 'Mere Angne Mein' from Laawaris (1981). But the song which established her as prominent singer was 'Ek Do Teen' from Tezaab (1988). The song is remembered as one of the Classic songs of Bollywood. Since then she had given many hits with her soft, mellow and romantic voice.
Alka also has many Filmfare Awards on her credit. She won her first Filmfare Award as a playback singer for a song 'Ek Do Teen' from film Tezaab. She also has won Filmfare Awards for films Khalnayak, Taal, Dhadkan, Pardes, Hum Tum and Lagaan. Alka also is a two time winner of National Award for films Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1994) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1999).
Alka Yagnik successfully lent her voice to actresses Hema Malini, Rekha, Rakhi, and Farida Jalal. And also today she is a voice behind Bollywood's top heroines Aishwarya Rai, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra. Along with Bollywood (Indian Hindi film industry) songs, Alka also has sung for regional films in different languages such as Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
Alkaji recently appeared as judge to the renowned TV talent shows- Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs (2006) and Voice of India (2007).
Alka Yagnik - Discography
- Tum Aaye - 2002
- Dil Le Gaya Ajnabi - 2004
- 'Salaam Salaam' - Umrao Jaan
- 'Poochh Rahe Hain Poochhanewale' - Umrao Jaan
- 'Gaa Re Mann Piya Piya' - Babul
- 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
- 'Saanwariya Saanwariya Ho Gayi Main' - Swades
- 'Kuch to Hua Hai Kuch Ho Gaya Hai' - Kal Ho Naa Ho
- 'Oodhni Odhake Naachu' - Tere Naam
- 'Tauba Tumhare Yeh Ishaare' - Chalte Chalte
- 'Aapke Pyaar Mein Hum Sawarne Lage' - Raaz
- 'Jaane Dil Mein Kabse Hain Tu' - Mujhse Dosti Karoge!
- 'Kitni Bechain Hoke Tumse Mili' - Kasoor
- 'Jaana Kyon Log Pyar Karte Hain' - Dil Chahta Hai
- 'Badi Mushkil Baba Badi Mushkil' - Lajja
- 'Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Dil Se' - Dhadkan
- 'Mehndi Hai Rachnewali' - Zubeidaa
- 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai' - Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai
- 'Chand Chupa Badal Mein' - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
- 'Taal Se Taal Mila' - Taal
- 'Mere Mehboob Mera Sanam' - Duplicate
- 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
- 'Choli Ke Piche Kya Hai' - Khalnayak
- 'Ek Do Teen' - Tezaab
Filmfare Awards: Alka Yagnik has won seven Filmfare awards in the category Best Playback Singer - Female for following films:
- 2005 - film Hum Tum - song 'Saanso Ko Saanso Mein'
- 2002 - film Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India - song 'O Re Chhori'
- 2001 - film Dhadkan - song 'Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se'
- 2000 - film Taal - song 'Taal Se Taal Mila'
- 1998 - film Pardes - song 'Meri Mehbooba'
- 1994 - film Khal Nayak - song 'Choli ke peechhe kya hai' - shared with Ila Arun
- 1999 - film Tezaab - song 'Ek Do Teen'
- 1994 - Silver Lotus Award Best Playback Singer (Female) - for film Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke
- 1999 - film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - song Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
- 2000 - film Taal - song 'Taal Se Taal Mila'
- 2001 - film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai - song 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'
- 2001 - film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai - song 'Kaho Na Pyar Hai'
- 1995 - film Haqeeqat - song 'Dil Ne Dil Se'
- 2000 - film Refugee - song 'Paanchi Nadiyaan'
- 2005 - film Kyon ki - song 'Kyuon Ki Itna Pyaar Tumse'
- 1999 - film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - song 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'
- 2001 - film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai - song 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'
- 2007 - film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - song 'Tumhi Dekho Naa'
- 2001 - film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai - song 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'
- 2000 - film Taal - song 'Taal se Taal'