After Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi andMukesh, there seems to be a common belief that no other singers in Bollywood's history will ever stand up to their singing prowess and legend. However, while this statement may have some merit to it, I believe that one of the most underrated and under-appreciated singers of my generation(I'm 18, born in 1989, a year AFTER Udit hit it big) is Udit Narayan, and currently, he is the only one with the credentials and talent to challenge the doors of those legendary singers.
Rather than post the 5 best songs, I'm going to post all of the songs that feature or have Udit Narayan on them that are on my music playlist. Of that list, I will break down the songs into two categories: Solos, Duets/Collaborations and **Other Languages. The order of these lists will be by personal preference and what I feel are his best songs. Remember: I'm including ALL of his songs from my playlist, so the order of these lists is dependent on how much I like the songs and how I feel about them.
Now, without further ado:
Solos
1a. Rangeela - Kya Kare
1b. Veer Zaara - Main Yahan Hoon
2. Bewafaa - Ek Dil Ruba Hai
3. Gadar - Main Nikla Gaddi Leke
4. DDLJ - Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane
5. Darr - Jaadu Teri Nazar
This was a very hard top 5 to carve out. Almost all of the top songs in the Honorable Mentions list deserve to be in the top 5 as well, but if push came to shove, I'd pick these 5 songs. Kya Kare Kya Na Kare from Rangeela is definitely my favorite song, along with Main Yahan Hoon from Veer-Zaara, and therefore both of them are in this list. Udit's singing in both of them are breath-taking, especially Kya Kare because the music of A.R Rehman and the melody that Udit sings is quite beautiful. Listen specifically to the verses of Kya Kare where Udit starts off singing on high notes and than towards the end, as the music gears towards the chorus, he simply lowers his notes and manages to sound absolutely magnificent. Ek Dil Ruba Hai from Bewafaa is a relatively new song(released in 2004) but it's quite an energetic solo that proves that even in modern times, Udit can still reign supreme if given the chance. His rendition of Ek Dil Ruba Hai is by and far better than Sonu Nigam's rendition of the same song(albeit in a negative manner). Main Nikla from Gadar is already a classic, so I need not say anything about it, as are Ruk Ja from DDLJ andJadoo Teri Nazar fromDarr. If any of you have not heard ANY of the songs on my list, I strongly advise you to listen to them; you'll end up being hooked and singing it over and over again.
Honourable Mentions
Gupt- Duniya Hasino Ka Mela
DTPH - Bholi Si Surat
Koyla - Ghunghte Mein Chanda
Diljale - Ho Nahin Sakta
Garam Masala - Falak Dekhun
Akele Hum Akele Tum- Akele Hum Akele Tum
Chand Sa Roshan Chehra- Aage Aage Chahat Chali
QSQT - Papa Kehte Hain
Raja Hindustani - Aye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein
Don - Khaike Paan Banaras Wala [Remix]
Mohabbatein - Zinda Rehti Hain
Ram Jaane - Ala La La Long
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Dastak - Jadoo Bhari
Zeher - Agar Tum Mil Jao(Male)
Humraaz - Tune Zindagi Mein
Rishtey - Rishta Tera Rishta Mera(Sad Version)
Rishtey - Rishta Tera Rishta Mera
Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke - Khoya Chand
Mujhse Dosti Karoge - Saanwali Si Ek Ladki
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Duets/Collaborations
Dhadkan- Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se
Lagaan – Mitwa
DDLJ - Mehendi Laga Ke
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam- Chaand Chupa
Muqabla - Premika Ne Pyar Se
The top 5 for the Duets/Collaborations were a little bit easier than the solos, but the Honorable Mentions list was very hard to organize, simply because there were so many songs. From the top 5, Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se from Dhadkan easily distinguished itself as #1 because Udit is BY FAR the best singer on this track and IMO outshines Kumar Sanu by a large margin, although Sanu himself is in top form. This is by far one of the sweetest melodies Udit has ever sung and he makes quick work of it, and this song is undoubtedly is a classic. The second song,Mitwa, won Udit the Filmfare award for Best Playback Singer, as did the 3rd song Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna, AND the fourth song, Chand Chupa from HDDCS. Who doesn't know these three songs? I won't even mention their tunes or Udit's impressive voice in them but he impresses in both. Premika Ne Pyar Se is a seldom heard song by even the most hardcore Udit fans, but it is from the 1993 movie Muqabla and, as always, Udit SHINES when A.R Rehman is the music director.
Honourable Mentions
Major Saab - Pyar Kiya To Nibhana
Swades - Yun Hi Chala
Kisna - Hum Hain Is Pal
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke- Dekhne Walon Ne
Mohabbatein - Aankhein Khuli
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge - Ho Gaya Hai Tujko
Dil To Pagal Hai - Chand Ne Kuch Kaha
Beta - Dhak Dhak Karne Laga
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander- Pehla Nasha
Mann- Tinak Tin Tana
Mohra - Tu Cheez Badi Hai
Tere Mere Sapne - Tere Mere Sapne
Dil To Pagal Hai - Dil To Pagal Hai
Dil To Pagal Hai - Are Re Are Yeh Kya
Dil Ka Rishta - Dil Ka Rishta
Hum Tum - Yaara Yaara
Akele Hum Akele Tum - Raja Ko Rani Se
Veer Zaara - Yeh Hum Aa Gaye Hain Kahan
K3G - Yeh Ladka Hai Allah
Tri Murti - Very Good, Very Bad
KKHH - Koi Mil Gaya
Josh - Hai Mera Dil
Masti - Chain Khuli
Mujhse Shaadi Karoge- Mujhse Shaadi Karoge
Raja - Akhiyan Milaoon Kabhi
QSQT - Ae Mere Humsafar
Bardaasht - Silsile Mulaqaton Ke
Raaz - Jo Bhi Kasmein
Madoshi - O Jaane Jana
Bombay - Kuchi Kuchi Rakhma
Raja Hindustani - Kitna Pyara
Rangeela - Yaaron Sunlo Zara
DTPH - Koi Ladka Hai
Kal Ho Na Ho - Maahi Ve
Mohabbatein - Humko Humise Churalo
Vivah - Milan Abhi Aadha Adhura Hai
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - Makhna
Duplicate - Mere Mehboob Mere
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Dil To Pagal Hai - Dholna
Mohabbatein - Soni Soni
Tumsa Nahin Dekha - Bheed Mein
Chahat- Ek Nasha- Yeh Chehra
Hum Tumhare Hain Sunam - Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
Beta - Koyal Si
Dil - Mujhe Neend Na Aaye
Main Khiladi Tu Anadi- Main Khiladi Tu Anadi
Darr - Tu Mere Saamne
Bunty Aur Babli - Dhadak Dhadak
Kyon Ki- Kyun Ki
Yaara Dildara - Bin Tere Sanam
Zeher - Jaane Ja
Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat - Pyar Ishq Aur Mohabbat
Other Languages
Udit Naryan & Deepa Narayan Jha - Dui Din Ko Jindagi(Nepali)
Mr.Romeo - Romeo Aattam Pottal(Tamil)
