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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Alka Yagnik| background = solo_singer| image = Alka Yagnik.jpg| Image_size = 200 px| birth_date = birth date and age|df=yes|1966|3|20| birth_place = Kolkata , West Bengal | instrument = Vocals| genre = Bollywood songs|Bollywood and regional filmi Playback singer|playback singing | occupation = Singer| years_active = 1979–present Alka Yagnik (born March 20, 1966cite web|author=11:26 AM |url= http://www.horoscopeastrologer.com/2011/05/alka-yagnik-horoscope-vedic-astrology/ |title=Alka Yagnik & #124; Bollywood, Play Back Singer & #124; |publisher=Horoscope Astrologer |date=2011-05-17 |accessdate=2011-08-09 in Kolkata , West Bengal , India) is an Indian singer.cite web | title= Iconic Alka Yagnik| url= http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp? n_id=116054 | publisher= DajjiWorld | year= 2011 | accessdate=2011-05-03 Among the best-known playback singer s of Hindi cinema, she is a record seven-time winner of the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer from a record of 35 nominations, a two-time recipient of the National Film Award as well as several other music awards listed below. Further, as many as 20 of her tracks feature in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time" review.cite web | title= BBC Top 40 tracks of all time| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/features/top40_soundtracks_10_01.shtml| publisher= BBC Asia | year= 2008 | accessdate=2009-05-03
Early life and background
Alka Yagnik was born in Kolkata on March 20, 1966. Her mother Shubha Yagnik was a singer of Indian classical music . She received her school education from Modern High School for Girls . At the age of 6, she started singing for Akashvani ( All India Radio ), Calcutta.cite news |url= http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111016/jsp/graphiti/story_14627875.jsp |title=Fine Tuning |publisher=The Telegraph, Calcutta, India |accessdate=2011-10-16 |first=A Hit |last=Number |date=2011-10-16 At age 10, her mother brought her to Bombay as a child singer. She was advised to wait until her voice matured, but her mother remained determined. On a subsequent visit, Alka 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 & mdash; an immediate start as a dubbing artist or a later break as a singer; they settled for the latter.
Career
Alka Yagnik is classically trained and has been one of the leading playback singers in Bollywood since the late 1980s. She 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 (1979), followed by Laawaris (1981) with the hit song "Mere Angene 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). The song turned her into a star overnight and went on to become a pop hit, also winning her a Filmfare Best Female Playback Award . Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was also a career maker for her, as she along with Udit Narayan became household names.
She has sung in many languages other than Hindi , including Gujarati language|Gujarati , Oriya language|Oriya , Assamese language|Assamese , Manipuri language|Manipuri , Nepali language|Nepali , Rajasthani language|Rajasthani , Bengali language|Bengali , Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri , Punjabi language|Punjabi , Marathi language|Marathi , Telugu language|Telugu , Tamil language|Tamil , and Malayalam language|Malayalam . She has worked with Indian composers such as Kalyanji-Anandji , 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 , Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and many others.
She has also sung in many notable albums such as "Tum Yaad Aaye", as well as "Tum Aaye" and "Shairana" in which she worked in close collaboration with award-winning lyricist Javed Akhtar and noted singer Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan . She has also rendered the Hanuman Chalisa and various devotional songs.cite web|author=Posted by Ritu |url= http://bhajans-rit.blogspot.com/2008/08/alka-yagnik-hanuman-chalisa.html |title=Bhajans: Alka Yagnik-Hanuman Chalisa ?????? ?????? |publisher=Bhajans-rit.blogspot.com |date=2008-08-18 |accessdate=2011-08-09
She has lent her voice for three generation of actresses ranging from Hema Malini , Rekha , Shabana Azmi , Rakhi Gulzar , Sridevi to Madhuri Dixit , Raveena Tandon , Manisha Koirala , Juhi Chawla , Kajol , Tabu (actress)|Tabu , Rani Mukerji , Preity Zinta , Karisma Kapoor , Aishwarya Rai to Kareena Kapoor , Priyanka Chopra , Sushmita Sen , Bipasha Basu , Katrina Kaif and many others.cite web | title= Alka Yagnik filmography| url= http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/filmography/6394/index.html| publisher= Hungama | year= 2011 | accessdate=2009-05-03
Alka shares the title with Asha Bhosle for the greatest number of Filmfare Awards won (7) by a single female playback singer. Alka has also been the judge of 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. In addition to this, her song "Chamma Chamma" from China Gate (1998 film)|China Gate was featured in the song "Hindi Sad Diamonds" from the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge! . She has also been performing in live concerts around the world .
In 2012 she along with Sonu Nigam sang a song 'Shiksha Ka Suraj' as part of National Literacy Mission of India. cite web | title= Shiksha Ka Suraj| url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-25/news-interviews/31236243_1_literacy-rate-literacy-levels-nlma| publisher= TOI | year= 2012 | accessdate=2012-03-20 She has also been involved in various projects pertaining to empowerment of the girl child . cite web | title= Save the Girl Child| url= http://indiawest.com/news/4136--empowering-the-girl-child-campaign-launched.html | year= 2012 | accessdate=2012-03-20
Significant collaborations
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Veteran composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal who were instrumental in launching Alka have created several musical hits with her in movies such as Tezaab , Hum (film) , Khalnayak , Khuda Gawah and many others.
Nadeem-Shravan
Alka Yagnik's collaboration with Nadeem-Shravan in movies such as Saajan (1991), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Deewana (1992 film)|Deewana (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Dilwale (1994), Raja (1995 film)|Raja (1995), Barsaat (1995 film)|Barsaat (1995), Agni Sakshi (1996 film)|Agni Sakshi (1996), Jeet (1996 film)|Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (film)|Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Raaz (2002 film)|Raaz (2002), Andaaz (2003), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2003), etc. has created several chartbuster hits over the years.
Jatin Lalit
Alka Yagnik has often collaborated with Jatin Lalit in movies such as Khiladi , Ghulam , Khamoshi: The Musical , Sarfarosh , Yes Boss , Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... , Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , Chalte Chalte (2003 film)|Chalte Chalte , Hum Tum creating hugely popular scores.
Anu Malik
Alka's collaborations with Anu Malik over the years in films such as Baazigar , Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee , Imtihaan , Refugee (film)|Refugee , Vijaypath , Main Khiladi Tu Anari , Akele Hum Akele Tum , Duplicate (1998 film)|Duplicate , Soldier (1998 film)|Soldier , Aarzoo , Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega , Asoka (2001 film)|Asoka , Umrao Jaan (2006 film)|Umrao Jaan , Fiza , Josh (2000 film)|Josh , Ishq Vishk , LOC: Kargil , etc. have all been immensely successful.
Alka's collaborations with A. R. Rahman in movies such as Taal (film)|Taal , Lagaan , Zubeidaa , Swades , Yuvvraaj , Ada... A Way of Life , Slumdog Millionaire are all critically acclaimed.
Rajesh Roshan
Alka's work with Rajesh Roshan in films such as Karan Arjun , Sabse Bada Khiladi , Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000), Koi Mil Gaya (2003), Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage , Koyla , Krrish has been immensely popular.
Anand-Milind
Alka has worked in several films with Anand-Milind notably Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak , Anjaam , Suhaag (1994 film)|Suhaag , Coolie No. 1 (Hindi film) , Loafer , Jaan (film)|Jaan , Hero No. 1 , Mrityudand & Jaanwar (1999 film)|Jaanwar .
Himesh Reshammiya
Alka gave Himesh Reshammiya his first break in the movie Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998 film)|Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya . Thereafter the duo has worked together creating poplar scores in several movies such as Hello Brother (1999 film)|Hello Brother , Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000 film)|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 films such as Dil Chahta Hai , Mission Kashmir , Armaan (2003 film) , Kal Ho Naa Ho , Lakshya (film) & Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna has been immensely successful.
Awards and nominations
See also|List of awards and nominations received by Alka YagnikAlka Yagnik has won several prestigious music awards for best female playback such as Filmfare Awards, National 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 (35) in Best Female Playback category at the Filmfare Awards.cite web | title= Alka Yagnik awards| url= http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/awards/6394/index.html| publisher= Hungama | year= 2005 | accessdate=2009-05-03
National Film Award Best Female Playback SingerFilmfareAwardBestFemaleSinger Persondata | NAME = Yagnik, Alka | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = Singer | DATE OF BIRTH = March 20, 1966 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Kolkata , West Bengal , India | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Yagnik, Alka Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Bollywood playback singers Category:Indian female singers Category:Indian film singers Category:People from Kolkata Category:Filmfare Awards winners Category:Sa Re Ga Ma Pa participants Category:Indian Hindus
