Anuradha Paudwal

Anuradha Paudwal is a popular playback singer in Bollywood in India. She has been one of the leading playback singers since Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.She was the first singer to challenge the monopoly of the Mangeshkar singers, with a spate of successes in the hindi Playback industry, achieving the number one position. She studied at Xavier's College in Mumbai (Bombay). She was married to Arun Paudwal, who worked with music director S. D. Burman as his assistant. Anuradha's career started in 1973 with the movie, Abhimaan, (starring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan) She sang a melodious "shloka" in that movie. In the same year she made her Marathi film debut with "Yashoda" (music by Datta Davjekar).In 1974, she brought out a record of Non-film Marathi songs or "bhav geeten" which became very popular. In 1976, she got her break as a playback singer in the movie, Kalicharan, (which starred Shatrugan Sinha and Reena Roy). Her first solo was in the movie, Aap Beeti, (starring Hema Malini and Shashi Kapoor). Laxmikant-Pyarelal was the music-composing duo for that movie. She also occasionally sang songs which were composed by Rajesh Roshan (Des Pardes), Jaidev (Dooriyan, Laila Majnu), Kalyanji-Anandji (Kalaakar, Vidhataa), and Usha Khanna (Souten, Sajan Bina Suhagan). Anuradha sang in a number of Marathi movies: some memorable numbers such as "Disate Majalaa" (in the movie, Ashtavinayak), "Raja Lalakaari", and "Kaalyaa Maatita Maatitaa". most of these movies had music by the duo of Anil-Arun. Arun being her husband, who collaborated with Anil Mohile to form a pair.

Before gaining a foothold in the Hindi film industry, she achieved popularity in Marathi cinema with a spate of melodious renditions. Popular movies include "Ashtavinayak", "Assa Navra Nako Ga Bai", "Mumbaicha Fauzdar", "Navri mile Navryala", "Gammat Jammat", "Devta", "Ashi Hi Banwabanwi" to list a few. She has also sang with Asha Bhosle in the movie 'Ha Khel Sawlyancha"

She gained recognition when she rendered some exceptional numbers for the movie, Hero. (Laxmikant-Pyarelal was the music-composing duo for Hero.) She collaborated with movie producer, Gulshan Kumar, and her success streak began with the movies, Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka, Tezaab, Aashiqui, and Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin. While she declined offers in acting, T-Series used her attractive and pleasing looks to good effect in numerous Bhajan and promotional videos.

At her peak, Anuradha announced that henceforth she would sing exclusively for the music company, "T-series", and concentrated on devotional songs and "cover-version" albums, which have now become her forte. After about five years, she has restarted providing playback singing for movies, and some of her recent movie songs have been popular, including "Kismat Se Tum" (Pukar), "Akeli Hai Yeh Mis Khiladi" (Mr & Mrs Khiladi), "Zara Aankhon Se Kajal" (Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehtein Hai), "Chaha Hai Tujhko" (Mann), "Jogiya"' (Deewane) and "Intezar" (Paap).

Awards

Anuradha Paudwal has won numerous awards for her singing. She is a winner of the National Award, and has won the Filmfare award for Best Female Playback singer for three consecutive years from 1990-1992.

Filmfare Awards

1985: Best Female Playback for Mere Mann Bajaa Mridang in the movie, Utsav.
1990: Best Female Playback for Nazar Ke Saamne in the movie, Aashiqui.
1991: Best Female Playback for Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin in the movie, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin.
1992: Best Female Playback for Dhak dhak in the movie, Beta.