Updated on: 26 July, 2021 11:32 AM IST |
Alka Yagnik-Career highs
Music Directors Favourite - You name it, and Alka Yagnik has collaborated with the music director. Yes, there are rarely any music composers in the industry Alka hasnt worked with during her career. From Jatin-Lalit, Anu Malik, AR Rahman, Rajesh Roshan, Anand-Milind, Himesh Reshammiya, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, the singer has crooned to the melodies of various music directors over the years. But one duo that Alka rendered the maximum hits with was Nadeem-Shravan. Their evident favourite, Alka crooned to practically every film the duo ventured into, be it Phool Aur Kaante, Deewana, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Dilwale, Raja Hinudtsani, Barsaat, Pardes, Dhadkan, Raaz et al. With the new crop of female singers making way to Bollywood, the singer has sure cut down on the quantity of work but continues to win hearts with her live performances and as a judge on reality shows. A singer who has carved an eternal place in the hearts of all music lovers, Alka Yagnik remains inimitable.
Udit Narayan- Kumar Sanu - With so many of Alkas songs attaining a hit and superhit status, the credit also goes to her pairing with the greatest male playback singers of the times- Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu. Singing almost all her songs of the 90s and early 2000s with the two, Alka rendered some evergreen romantic numbers. While Aey Mere Humsafar, Pardesi Pardesi, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, O Mitwa with Udit became major successes, Alkas songs like Raja Ko Rani Se, Chura Ke Dil Mera, Humko Sirf Tumse Pyaar Hai with Kumar Sanu became the music mantra of every romantic.
Music albums - Away from the playback singing and live performances, the singer also ventured into singing for music albums. Alka rendered her voice for Tum Yaad Aaye, an Indipop Album, with Javed Akhtar and Hariharan. She has also sung for other notable albums like Tum Aaye and Shairana and has also rendered the Hanuman Chalisa and various devotional songs.
Awards - With so many superhits to her credit, the awards too came by in a big way. Alka shares the title for the greatest number of Filmfare Awards won -7 by a single female playback singer with the legendary Asha Bhosale. Apart from these the singer has also won two National Awards, two IIFAs, three Zee Cine Awards, four Star Screen Awards and several other honours.
New beginning - With the new millennium came in some more back to back hits. Now voicing for the new generation of actresses like Kareena, Esha, Amisha, Priyanka and the likes, Alka Yagnik refused to leave the top spot and continue her hit brigade singing for more peppy and distinctive numbers. Her songs in films like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Lagaan, Chalte Chalte, Koi Mil Gaya swayed all music fans yet again.
The 90s - The decade that saw Alka at the high point of her career, the offers only kept pouring in. Her songs, Dekha Hai Pehli Baar, Waada Raha Sanam, Ghunghat Ki Aad Se, Baazigar Oh Baazigar, Baahon Ke Darmiyaan became a runway hit. Voicing these songs for actresses like Madhuri, Juhi, Karisma, Kajol in the early 90s, the latter half of the decade saw her render hits for Aishwarya, Rani and Preity. Songs like Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Taal Se Taal Mila attained a cult status in Bollywood music scene all courtesy some great rendition by the songstress. Apart from crooning to film melodies, the singer also ventured into live music shows across the country and abroad.
Ek Do Teen - The major breakthrough came by when the singer crooned to the chartbuster song Ek Do Teen for the 1988 film Tezaab, as the voice of Madhuri Dixit. Catapulting Alka to overnight stardom, it won her some major awards that year and making her the first choice of major music directors. Her songs in Aamir-Juhi starrer Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak also became major hits making Alka Yagnik a household name.
Big Break - Foraying into Bollywood music in an era when Lataji and Ashaji held the throne, the early 80s was a tough time for any female singer to make a mark. Determined to sing her story of success, Alka received her first song for the film Payal Ki Jhankaar in 1980. This was followed by Laawaris in 1981 with the hit song Mere Angane Mein and Hamari Bahu Alka in 1982.
Bollywood dreams - At age 10, on a visit to Mumbai with her mother, Alka was introduced as a child singer. With a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor her mother obtained from the formers Kolkata distributor, the filmmaker heard out little Alka. Impressed with her voice, she was sent with a letter to music director Laxmikant. The musician gave her two alternatives-to start off immediately as a dubbing artist or a wait for later break as a singer. They settled for the latter only for much good!
Early Life - Daughter of Indian classical singer Shubha Yagnik, Alka studied at Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata. In 1972, at a tender age of 6, she began singing for Akashvani -All India Radio, Calcutta. With a rich musical background, training in the art came as a natural progression for the aspiring singer.
Alka Yagniks career highs - Heard of those rare masterpieces that God decides to endow us with only once in many many years? Yes, thats what we call Alka YagnikA true blue melody queen who rocked the 80s, 90s and 2000s in Bollywood with her immaculate voice. The singer, who came at a time when Bollywood was saturated with songs by the Mangeshkar sisters, soon became the voice of the new breed of actresses and shot to fame. And as we celebrate the beautiful singers birthday, heres taking you through some evergreen moments of Alkas life.