Udit Narayan

Basic Information

• Name - Udit Narayan Jha

• Date of Birth - December 1, 1955

• Spouse - Ranjana Narayan Jha (m. 1984), Deepa Narayan Jha (m. 1985)

• Children - Aditya Narayan

• Nationality - Indian

• Profession - Playback Singer (Bollywood & Regional Indian Cinema)

• Social Media Links

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Biography

Udit Narayan Jha, popularly known as Udit Narayan, is a renowned Indian playback singer who has captivated audiences with his melodious voice for decades. Born on December 1, 1955, he has sung primarily in Hindi films but has also lent his voice to songs in several other languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Odia, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Malayalam, Assamese, and Maithili. His remarkable contributions to Indian music have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his immense contribution to arts and culture. An impressive 21 of his songs feature in the BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time."

Udit Narayan was born into a Maithil Brahmin family to Harekrishna Jha, a Nepalese citizen, and Bhuvaneshwari Jha, an Indian national. He grew up in the Baisi village of Supaul district, Bihar, near the India-Nepal border. His mother, a folk singer, played a crucial role in nurturing his musical talent. He completed his schooling at Jageshwar High School in Supaul and later pursued higher studies at Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Campus, Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal.

There were controversies regarding his nationality when he received the Padma Shri award in 2009, with some claims suggesting he was born in Nepal. However, Udit clarified that while his father was from Nepal, he himself was born and raised in Bihar. He later reaffirmed his identity as a Bihari in a 2018 event.

Udit Narayan began his musical journey as a folk singer for Radio Nepal in the 1970s. He primarily sang Maithili and Nepali songs before transitioning to Bollywood. In 1980, he got a big break in playback singing when he sang alongside the legendary Mohammed Rafi in the film Unees-Bees. He also had the opportunity to sing with Kishore Kumar, another musical icon, in the same decade.

However, his real breakthrough came in 1988 with the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, where his song "Papa Kehte Hain" became a massive hit. This song not only won him his first Filmfare Award but also cemented his place in Bollywood as one of the leading playback singers. The film라이브 바카라 soundtrack became one of the best-selling albums of the 1980s and played a pivotal role in launching the careers of music directors Anand-Milind and the music label T-Series.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Udit Narayan became the voice of Bollywood라이브 바카라 biggest stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn. His duets with Alka Yagnik were particularly popular, and together, they delivered some of the most iconic Bollywood songs of that era.

In recognition of his contribution to music, he was honored with the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the King of Nepal in 2001. Additionally, he received the Chitragupta Cineyatra Samman in 2015 for his role in Bhojpuri cinema. He remains the only male singer to have won Filmfare Awards in three consecutive decades – the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Career Timeline

• 1970s - Began his career at Nepal Radio, singing folk songs.

• 1980 - Moved to Mumbai and trained in classical music at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan.

• 1988 - Bollywood breakthrough with Papa Kehte Hain (Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak).

• 1990s - Became a top Bollywood playback singer with hits like Pehla Nasha (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar), Jaadu Teri Nazar (Darr), and Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge).

• 2000s - Continued success with Mitwa (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna), Tere Naam (Tere Naam), and Agar Tum Mil Jao (Zeher).

• 2010s - Present: Transitioned into mentoring and occasional playback singing; serves as a judge on reality music shows.

Achievements

Awards & Recognition:

• National Film Award (3 times) for Best Male Playback Singer

• Filmfare Award (5 times) for Best Male Playback Singer

• Padma Shri (2009) for contributions to Indian cinema

• Padma Bhushan (2022), one of India라이브 바카라 highest civilian honors

Records/Stats:

• Over 25,000 songs recorded in 36 different languages, including Hindi, Nepali, Bhojpuri, Bengali, and Tamil

• Most consecutive Filmfare Awards nominations in the 1990s

Philanthropic Work:

• Runs a music academy for aspiring singers in Nepal

• Actively supports initiatives for underprivileged musicians

Key Quotes / Catchphrases

• "A singer's job is to make the audience feel, to make them cry, laugh, and fall in love."

• "Music has no boundaries; it is the language of the soul."

Multimedia

Gallery