This year as we celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema, it would be appropriate to say that Bollywood music or Hindi film music is an integral and a characteristic motif vital to Indian cinema. It’s the various genres of music that promise instant attraction and have great entertainment value.
Even before the film is released, its songs are splashed across all the music channels, so as to enthrall the audience and get their attention to the upcoming movie. Often movies are dependent on their musical score for its box office success. Hence playback singers are as significant to the movie as the actors themselves.
Since its inception, Bollywood playback singing was dominated by the legendary sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Their singing careers span over decades and they have both set world records and also won numerous awards for their contribution to the Hindi music industry. Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamoorthy, Usha Uthup, Anradha Paudwal were the most sought after playback singers during the 80’s to 90’s era of Hindi cinema.
Apart from them, there are a few other talented singers who have carved a niche for themselves in the playback singing industry. Here is a list of the current generation of Bollywood playback singers who have carried forward the legacy of Bollywood playback singing:
Shreya Ghoshal:
Shreya was the winner of a well known singing show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa for adults. She was addressed as the girl with a golden voice and was spotted by film director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who gave her a career break in Devdas. Her soothing voice mesmerized the audience and she received the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer, the Filmfare award for Best Female Playback Singer and also the RD Burman Filmfare Award for New Music Talent for the song. Thereafter there was no turning back for her. She is very open to the various genres of music, and hence has a long list of hit songs to her name. Her best songs are Bairi Piya, Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai, Teri Ore, Piyu Bole, Barso Re, Pal Pal Har Pal, Ye Ishq Haaye, Agar Tum Mil Jao, Bahaara, Zoobi Doobi and the sensual and most recent ones Ooh La La,Chikni Chameli and Radha.
Sunidhi Chauhan:
Sunidhi Chauhan was introduced to the music industry after she bagged the first prize for a music show, Meri Awaaz Suno. But success came to her much later in Ram Gopal Varma’s film Mast. Her vivacious voice and versatility soon took her to new heights and she was declared as the queen of item numbers. Most of her songs are chartbusters. Her most prominent hits are Beedi Jalayi Le,Challiya, Crazy Kiya Re, Ainvayi Ainvayi, Desi Girl, Udi and the peppy Sheila Ki Jawani.
