Alka Yagnik

Alka Yagnik (born 20 March 1966) is an Indian playback singer. She is noted in Indian cinema for a career spanning over three decades. She holds a record of being the only nominee in the category of Female Playback Singer, as in the year 1994 she had four solo nomination and the fifth one was with Ila Arun. She is a record seven-time winner from a record of 36 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 and honours listed below. Further, as many as twenty of her tracks feature in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time" review. She has consistently been rated as the No.1 Global Artist on YouTube. She is the 3rd topmost female playback singer after Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle who has sung maximum number of female solos in her Bollywood career. She has sung 20,000 plus songs in over 1000 films.

Yagnik was born in Kolkata on 20 March 1966 to a Gujarati family. Her father's name is Dharmendra Shankar. Her mother Shubha was a singer of Indian classical music. In 1972 at age six, she started singing for Akashvani (All India Radio), 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, Yagnik 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; Shubha chose the latter for her daughter.

A classically trained singer, Yagnik began singing bhajans for Akashvani (All India Radio), Calcutta at the age of six. Her first song was for the film Payal Ki Jhankaar in (1980). This was followed by Laawaris (1981) with the song "Mere Angane Mein", followed by the film Hamari Bahu Alka (1982). She got her big break with the song "Ek Do Teen" from the film Tezaab (1988). She has said that she had high fever on the day she recorded "Ek Do Teen". The song won her the first out of seven Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She has sung in many languages other than Hindi-Urdu, including Assamese, Awadhi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, English, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei, Odia, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Tamil and Telugu.She has also performed in live concerts around the world. In an interview to Mid Day, Yagnik told that she records five songs daily during her time.

In 1993, Yagnik sang a seductive song "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai" with Ila Arun. The song created controversy because of the lyrics written by Anand Bakshi. She got a second Filmfare award for the song, which she shared with Ila Arun.

In 1994, she sang the song "Din Mein Leti Hai" from the film Amanaat with co-singer Kumar Sanu and Ila Arun, composed by Bappi Lahiri and lyrics by Anwar Sagar. Besides the duet version, she also sang the female version of the song with Ila Arun. She has performed several shows with Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

Yagnik has such as "Tum Aaye" and "Shairana" in which she worked in close collaboration with award-winning lyricist Javed Akhtar and singer Hariharan. She has also performed the Hanuman Chalisa and various devotional songs. Her song "Chamma Chamma" from China Gate was featured in the song "Hindi Sad Diamonds" from the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge!.

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.Also in 2012, on the 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.

Yagnik has also been involved in various projects to empower girls.In 2014, Yagnik again teamed up with Sonu Nigam to sing the song "Phool Khil Jayenge" for child health awareness. She also sang a song titled "Maine Li Jo Angdai" for the album Women's Day Special: Spreading Melodies Everywhere. It was composed by Farid Sabri, Harish Chauhan, and Gurudatt Sahil; and penned by Sudhakar Sharma.

Yagnik shares, with Asha Bhosle the title for the greatest number of Filmfare Awards won (seven) by a single female playback singer. She has sung 2,486 Hindi songs in 1,114 films. She is the fifth most prolific Bollywood singer of all time after Asha Bhosle (7886 songs), Mohammed Rafi (7405 songs)Lata Mangeshkar (5596 songs) and Kishore Kumar (2,707 songs).

Besides singing, Yagnik also judged several singing reality shows on television. She judged 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.

Yagnik credits her mother as her first guru. who began singing at the age of four. According to Yagnik, her voice suites in romance (in romantic songs). Yagnik has acknowledged veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar as her inspiration, with whom Yagnik says audiences compare her. She has sung romantic, sad, peppy and item number songs.

Yagnik has sung more than 20,000 songs in over 1,000 films. Most of her duets were with Kumar Sanu, followed by Udit Narayan and Sonu Nigam. She is known, with Kumar and Narayan, as the trinity of 90s playback singing.

Yagnik stated that singers are also actors. She mentioned that when she sings a song, the actor comes through in her voice.

Yagnik is cited as "the queen of playback singing". On Mother's Day 12 May 2019, Yagnik became most-streamed Indian artist-mom on Spotify. The Times of India cited her as 'honey-voiced singer'.

Yagnik married Shillong-based businessman Neeraj Kapoor in 1989 and has a daughter named Syesha Kapoor. She and her husband were separated for four to five years but they later reunited. She compliments her husband for understanding her career in singing.

She also appeared in Star Voice of India as a judge. She appears as a guest with Udit Naraya in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs.

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.

Laxmikant-Pyarelal

Composers Laxmikant–Pyarelal created several musical songs with her in movies such as Coolie, Tezaab, Hum, Khalnayak, Khuda Gawah, Agneepath, Rajkumar and many others.

Nadeem-Shravan

Alka Yagnik's significant collaborations with Nadeem–Shravan over the years include movies such as Saajan (1991),Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Deewana (1992), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Rang (1993), Dilwale (1994), Raja (1995), Andolan(1995), Barsaat (1995), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Raaz (2002), Andaaz (2003), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2003), and Barsaat (2005).

Jatin Lalit

Alka Yagnik has often collaborated with Jatin–Lalit in movies such as Khiladi, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman,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, Yaadein (2001), 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, Yuva, Guru, Yuvvraaj, Ada... A Way of Life, Slumdog Millionaire and Tamasha are critically acclaimed.

Rajesh Roshan

Alka has created popular scores with Rajesh Roshan in films such as Kaamchor, Karan Arjun, "Dastak", Sabse Bada Khiladi, Koyla, Papa Kehte Hai, 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 Teesra Kaun Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Laadla, Gopi Kishan,Anjaam, Anari, Suhaag, Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, Coolie No.1, Army, Lootere, Loafer, Mr. Bechara, Jaan, Rakshak, Ajay, Hero No. 1, Sanam, Mrityudand, Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate, Chal Mere Bhai and 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 and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

Yagnik has won several music awards for best female playback such as Filmfare Awards, National Awards, Lata Mangeshkar Award, Bollywood Movie Awards, IIFA Awards, Star Screen Awards, Zee Cine Awards, etc. She also holds the record for most awards won (7) as well as maximum nominations (36) for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She also won 2 National Film Awards.