With all due apologies to the fans(including me) of Suman Kalyanpur, Noorjehan, Suraiya, Amirbai, Chitra, Asha Bhosale, Lataji, Usha Mangeshkar(only because of ’Mungla’), Anuradha Paudwal and
many others, here goes my best 5 female singers.
No doubt, this is going to be a valiant effort. Picking up five best female singers in Bollywood is more than a tough task. For me, most of them rather all of them are exceptional singers but on what basis do I come out with my list? Then I decided ’’public kya bolti hain(what does the public say?). An artist’s achievement is the amount of appreciation and acceptance by his/her audience. For a singer, it is based on the number of songs sung and liked by the listeners. So popularity is the criteria. Of course, this criteria cannot be applied for male singers in Bollywood. In that case, Shabbir and mohammed aziz would catch up the top 5/;->)
That does not mean it is just based on popularity but also the variety and complex numbers they have lent their voices to.
Deliberately, did not include Lataji and Ashaji in the list as it would be sort of injustice to others. Of course, very rarely, any other commercial singer can come anywhere closer to these Mangeshkar baghinis.
1.Shamshad Begum
There have been quite a number of popular female singers since the times KL saigal. But rarely any female singer made as much impact as Noorjehan. But soon she moved across the border and Bollywood lost its emerging Gem. This paved the path for the earliest sensations in Bollywood. It was Shamshad Begum who with nasal voice was a craze for a long long time(till early 1960’s). In order to gauge her popularity and variety, just listen to some of her following numbers.
Teri Mehfil Mein Kismat Aajma Kar Hum Bhi Dekhenge(Mughal-E-Azam)Chup Chup Baithe Ho Jaroor Koi Baat Hain(Badi Bahen)
Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar(CID)
Jawan Hain Mohabbat Khushi Ka Khazana(Anmol Ghadi)
Aana Meri Jaan Meri Jaan Sunday ke Sunday(Albela)
Her voice is so clear in spite of the nasal effect that you can clearly identify that she had a very sound classical background. Her songs had more Punjabi folk touch than anything else as in ’’Dilli Shaher Ka saaaaraa Meena Bazar Leke’’. She survived being in the industry as uniquely as she started despite the fact that Asha-Lata duo reigned.
2.Geeta Dutt
Probably, the earliest of the singers who tried all experiments that were considered western or more radical. All this, thanks to OP Nayyar. Unfortunately, after a series of unforgettable songs by these two, they parted and Asha took over from where Geeta Dutt left. She had one of the most enchanting and seductive voices that can also sing some of the best romantic numbers. If not for her tragedy in personal life and hence the short career, definitely she would have been the Asha of today.Some of the following numbers can help you remember why she is in my list.
Neele Aasmani Bujho tho Naina Baabu Kiske Liye Hain(Mr And Mrs.55)Tadbir Se Bigdi Huvee Takdeer Bana Le(Baazi)
Jaane Kya Tune Kahin(Pyaasa)
Yeh Lo Main Haari Piya Huyee Teri Jeet Rey(Aar Paar)
Kaali Ghata Chaya Mora Jiya Tarsaye(Sujata)
3.Kavita Krishnamurthy
Fast Forward to the 1980s.
There has been a long wait till a voice which could share the burden of playback singing from the famous sisters.
Those were the days Mithun da and his own unique movies. In between, an unsual sentimental movie became bumper hit called ’’Pyar Jhukta Nahin’’ which popularised the scratching of ’’Dils’’ on tall trees and everywhere among lovebirds. The movie was more hit due to the songs than the story. Especially, the ’’Tumse Milkar Naa Jaane Kyun, Aur Bhi Kuch Yaad Aata Hain’’ song sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy, a regular on Chitrahaar and Chayageet in those days. Kindly ignore the male version by Shabbir Kumar/Aziz. But yes this was an instant hit. Anuradha Paudwal with her repeated ’’Jeena Teri Gali Mein ’’ type of songs became monotonous while Kavita proved her mettle by trying and succeeding variety numbers. Her variety lies in the ease with which she sings her numbers and of course her surila but Bhari voice. This I could tell as I saw her singing some live numbers in Harmony program on SONY(?).Find below some of her best ones.
Main Khwabon ki Shehzaadi Main Hoon Har Dil Pe Chaayee(Mr. India)
Ilu Ilu Ilu Ilu Ilu Ilu Ilu Ilu(Saudagar)
Pyaar Huwa Chupke Sey(1942-A love story)
Mausam Ke Sargam Ko Sunn Kya Gaa Raha Hain Sama(Khamoshi)
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Tere Ho Gaye Hain Hum(HDDCS)
4.Alka Yagnik
Alka Yagnik, personally feel is not that great a singer in comparision to the above but just like any other hindi music lover, I like her commercial romantic and dance numbers. One of the best voices when it comes to conveying your love while singing, most apt on Madhuri.
Some of her best.
Jab Haal-e-Dil Tumse Kehne Ko Main Milne Aati Hoon(Salaami)
Dekha Hain Pehli Baar Saajan Ki Aakhon Mein Pyaar(Saajan)
Akhiyan milavu Kabhi AAkhiyan Churavu Kya Main Kiya Jadoo(Raja)
Mere Angane mein Tumahra Kya Kaam hian(Laawaris)
Ghunghat Ki Aad Sey Dilbar ka(Hum hain rahi yar ke)
5.Sadhana Sargam
She has been in the industry for the last 20 years or so. But has not been as popular as the rest. The reasons could be she is singing more down south or when it comes to Hindi songs, I find her voice suitable for songs which have more classical base. Like her voice has been used mostly for actresses whose roles in the movie are sober, could be a reason why the Maestro likes to use her voice so often.
Nevertheless, a classy singer in whatever she sings.
Some of her popular picks
Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye(Jurm)
Kuch Mere Dil Ne Kaha(Tere Mere Sapne)
Na Kajre Ki Dhaar(Mohra)
Chanda Rey(Sapnay)
Pehla Nasha(JJWS)
All those fans of Shreya Ghoshal/Sunidhi Chauhan or together, there is lot of them to be seen in the near future although they have already achieved quite a lot. But 5 singers already took their place.;-(
The good thing is that Sunidhi is now going for soft songs coming out of her ’’Kaisa Jadoo Daala Rey. ’’ type of songs while Shreya on the other hand(as I hear lot of Telugu/tamil songs) is experimenting with funky numbers.
Personally, Shreya is too good.
Hope you enjoyed the list and rate and comment your views and picks.
~Sarvesh.
Sitaron Aaj Tho Hum Bhi Tumhare Saath Jaagenge(Old Movie Name: Rakhi). If anybody can share this classy song by Asha or guide me where I can get this song, that would be of great help.
=Thanks
