SUNIDHI CHAUHAN

In an interview with a popular Indian daily in 2002, Sunidhi said she wanted to be in the league of Mariah Carey in five years. She was 19 then and had just won the Filmfare Award for Most Promising Newcomer award (playback singing) for the Bhumro number in Mission Kashmir. Since then, it's only been an upward swing for her. She's a singing star today and her career is going great guns. A look at her career and the person behind the lilting voice.

There are thousands of aspiring playback singers but not many find fame and money in Bollywood. Sunidhi Chauhan has found it all at a very young age. She attributes that to her value system and her belief in nurturing spirituality. There's a wise head on these young shoulders, then.

She has also been lucky to sing for hit films. For instance, she has sung in Ram Gopal Verma's productions be it Mast or Jungle or Bhoot. A lot of sweat has gone behind achieving this fame, though. And one has to admit that the role of Lady Luck is very important in Bollywood too.

Coming back to her belief in God and spirituality, Sunidhi never has been one for depending completely on God. She has worked hard and has never believed that prayers alone will be adequate to achieve success. She believes in herself completely and that, she says, has been of paramount importance in dealing with roadblocks and obstacles. Belief in Self is the first step to success. She also believes in meditation and ensures that she meditates for a short while every day. It has helped her become more focused and calmer (all you aspiring Bollywood singers, take note).

On the future, Sunidhi is carrying forward the same, simple philosophy. She hopes God will give her more success. With a voice that makes millions swoon, we are sure He will bless her.

KUNNATH KRISHNA KUMAR(K.K)

KK aka Kunnath Krishna Kumar has had his shares of highs and lows with the highs more than making up for the lows. After hit numbers in blockbusters like Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Om Shanti Om, the singer who made his debut with Strawberry aankhen in Sapnay is ready to look back on a successful and eventful career.

Bollywood playback singing is not an easy place to survive and yet, KK looks content and secure in a high competitive field. He considers himself very luck to have got the kind of songs he has considering that the music composer or producer decide which singer to use. Although he sang for A.R. Rahman in Sapnay, KK has not sung for Rahman after that. He smiles and says that it is because they keep different work hours. Showbiz is a field which stays up all night but KK says he simply cannot work through the night which Rahman does.

It may also be because he has been working on Humsafar, the album he released recently. He says he enjoyed working on his albums - his first, Pal, was released eight years back - and that it was a challenge to do his album after a successful stint in Bollywood playbacks singing considering he made his debut as a composer as well. Making his own music allowed him to showcase his musical talent in an entirely different way.

His album Hamsafar has music that will appeal to every age and preference. KK says that he has used different kinds of music and beats which he hopes will make it listen-worthy. Like the legendary Kishore Kumar, KK is not a trained singer but is quite happy to sing his songs with passion and commitment. He says that he will never sing a song that he feels he will not do justice to and being untrained in classical music has never come in the way of his work.

KK has been one of the few showbiz personalities who have managed to preserve their privacy in a world increasingly intruded by the media. He says that he prefers it that way since he is a regular guy not given to doing things for publicity as so many in showbiz are.

In the meantime, his son Nakul, seems ready to follow in his famous father's footsteps. He has contributed some rap to Masti. The proud father says that it was unplanned. When his wife suggested that their son might be musically inclined, KK simply took Nakul to the studio where the youngster belted out his portion in less than 15 minutes. He seemed to understand music perfectly, amazing everyone in the studio.

The singer is known to be so devoted to his family that he always chooses family over any assignment that might demand too much of his time. KK response to that is that he has never cancelled a recording but yes, he is very careful when he decides on an assignment. His priorities are clear - family first. Besides, doing too many recordings in a day simply drains him and he's not willing to compromise on the quality of his work. He is right because the quality of his numbers for every actor including the Khans, Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan have been excellent. Nothing comes in the way of his work and his family. No surprise, then, that KK is blazing a successful path in Bollywood music.

UDIT NARAYAN

It has been a long journey made possible by a dream. After all, he was the son of a poor farmer with a music scholarship and no Godfather. He was very focused, though. And that focus helped him navigate the tricky waters of Bollywood when Udit Narayan Jha came to Mumbai to fulfill his lifelong dream by becoming a singer.

UditNarayan got his break in QayamatSe Qaylike Rishi and Anil Kapoor and continues to sing for today’s heartthrobs like Hrithik Roshan.
What strikes you about Udit is his humility. He has had quite a few hit songs in 2005 including Hum hai iss pal yahaanfrom Kisnaand Dhadakdhadak from BuntyAur Babliamong many others. Besides, his Bhojpuri film, the first as producer, was declared a hit. If anything, success has made him more humble. Considering that he has sung in 26 languages and has turned into a successful film producer, that’s saying a lot.

The new producer says that he would like to continue making films and is considering three films – in Maithili (his mother tongue), Bengali and Bhojpuri. His big plan is to make a Hindi film when he learns the ropes and feels ready for it. Does he have any plans to do an album? He has not been able to do an album because he has been so busy as a playback singer but is open to doing one if the opportunity presents itself.

He believes that his consistent success as a singer and now, as a producer, were possible only because he is a good person who believes in God. His professionalism over the years have been invaluable in making him a sought after singer, he says. What about his reported tiff with music director Anu Malik then? Udit Narayan quickly brushes it off as a minor skirmish and is optimistic than Anu and he will forgive and forget.

Though he admires all great singers like Kishore Kumar and Mukesh and has observed their styles, he admits that he has been influenced by Mohammad Rafi’s style of singing though he does not imitate him.
On the personal side, he is happy that his son Aditya is a good student and is learning music as well while his wife Deepa is into film production – he turned producer for her project. He also does not believe in being choosy – he sings for any film or music director since it is his job. This is what makes Udit so sought after different from the others who sit in their ivory towers after delivering a single hit.amat Takin 1988. The movie, starring debutants Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla, went on to become a huge hit. It also launched the career of Udit Narayan as a singer. Narayan was not afraid to use his own voice at a time when Hindi films were still under the thrall of Kishore Kumar, Rafi and Mukesh. He went on to sing for older heroes

ALKA YAGNIK

Alka Yagnik has been singing for nearly three decades and her popularity continues to soar. New, much younger singers may come and go, but Alka is right up there, cosily settled in her own niche.

As a talented struggler, she got her break working with great music directors like Kalyanji - Anandji and Laxmikant - Pyarelal nearly three decades back. Since then, she has continued to grow in spite of the intense competition among playback singers in Bollywood. No other female singer, except Lata Mangeshkar, has enjoyed this longevity nor commanded this respect. It is no surprise that, today, she is being considered as Lata's successor.
It has been a long journey for Alka from her first song as a solo singer in Rajesh Roshan's 'Hamari Bahu Alka'. Her first hit was 'Mere angne mein' in Laawaris but her popularity soared with 'Ek do teen char' in Tezaab. Incidentally, this song was a turning point in actress Madhuri Dixit's career too making her a star in Bollywood.

After Tezaab, there was no turning back for Alka Yagnik. Her unforgettable hits include Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Baazigar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham among many, many others.
What is the secret of Alka's longevity and spectacular career? The only logical answer is, of course, that she is phenomenally talented. After fifteen years of delighting the people with her voice, she is now slowing down. The reason, says the singer, is that she is very particular about the kind of songs she wants to sing. She likes melodious songs which composers like Anu Malik, Nadeem-Shravan, A.R. Rahman, and Rajesh Roshan gave her. Today, musical trends have changed and while she still gets songs that appeal to her, they are fewer in number.
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She goes on to say that today's music does not satisfy even the younger generation. Melody seems to have taken a backseat but she predicts that in the coming years, melody will make a comeback. Indian classical melody will always hold an irresistible appeal to all generations, she asserts. Western beats may be incorporated but the basic music will remain Indian. Until then, she makes it clear that she will continue to pick and choose songs.

For Alka, every song is a test to her talent. She takes no song lightly and gives it her full concentration. She goes on to say that during her time, it was difficult to get breaks while today's aspiring singers have it easy. They seem to achieve instant success but disappear as quickly. According to her, sustaining one's position is not easy. It has nothing to do with destiny or luck. It means sheer hard work, commitment and working on one's talent on a daily basis. However, younger singers are not aware of this many times and they lose out in the long run.
Alka considers it a blessing to have sung for music composing giants like Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant-Pyarelal. She does feel that while her generation of singers had to work harder to get breaks, it also helped hone their talent and become more committed to their talent. Besides, which singer of today's generation will have the privilege of working with maestros like Kalyanji - Anandji and Laxmikant Pyarelal?

She feels very good about being considered Lata Mangeshkar's successor and while she can never compare herself to Lata, she feels that she is being given her due at last. With typical humility she says that none of this could have happened without her family's support, her gurus, her fans and those who gave her big breaks. And none of this could have happened without her talent either.

LUCKY ALI

Maqsood Mehmood Ali has been living life on his own terms. His creations have made an impact on not only millions of his fans but also on music buffs worldwide. His first album Sunoh sold more than 10 million copies. You might have heard some of them - he is better known as Lucky Ali. Here, then, is the latest on the lucky singer.

The interesting part about Lucky Ali is that he cannot be labeled and categorized. He has lived life to the full and continues to do so - the man once actually tried his hand at breeding racehorses and working at an oilrig! His call, though, was in music and for the past eight years, he has been enthralling us with his haunting melodies. Whether it was Sunoh, Sifar or Aks, his albums have always conveyed a message. Ali simply works on his instinct and the album shapes up by itself.

His father Mehmood, yesteryear actor-comedian passed away recently. Many of Mehmood's onscreen songs were huge hits. Ali gets a far-away look in his eyes when he thinks about his father. His favorite songs from his father's films were in Bhoot Bangla and Kunwara Baap, he says. On his own stint in Bollywood, Ali says that it was a planned move. Since his father was an actor, Ali's own association with Rakeh Roshan's Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai seemed natural; Sur followed.
Ali's latest album is Kabhi Aisa Lagta Haiis all about love. The album is romantic and Ali admits that he unconsciously include some of the lilting music of his earlier albums unconsciously. While on this, Ali has stubbornly refused to take the path often traveled - of remixes. Ali points out that remix is another way to express oneself; still, he is not part of it simply because he does not need to be.

Pinning down Ali is like pinning down a wisp of smoke perhaps. Gentle, creative and contemplative yet an enigma. He does not have any favorite genre or music nor does he have a music collection. He seems happy to be flitting from one genre to the other much like a butterfly - at his own pace. For his music videos, Ali has always preferred the meticulous Mahesh Mathai.

The father of three (one son and two daughters), Ali is living life at his own pace. On the future, he says he is considering some tours but there are no concrete plans yet. And? The rest is up to God, he philosophises. He has no long-term plan and takes life as

SHREYA GHOSHAL

Shreya Ghoshal has emerged as one of our most talented singers in the past decade. A National Award for Paheli has added yet another glitter feather in her cap and she has had a host of high profile releases including Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Om Shanti Om, Saawariya and Jab We Met. What does she plan to do now that she has scaled the heights of playback singing stardom in Bollywood?

Om Shanti Om, Saawariya and Bhool Bhulaiyaa are all doing very well at the box office and with them, the star power of playback singer Shreya Ghoshal has soared. Although Laaga Chunari Mein Daag has been panned by critics, Shreya's voice has nonetheless been appreciated. For the singer, though, this is just another day of hard work in the fickle world of film music. The difference, she points out, is that she can now afford to take it easy. After all, she has worked hard for the past five years. She wants to enjoy her songs as well but carefully says that she is not planning to be too selective. And why should she, when the best songs come to her anyway.

Om Shanti Om and its 70s music, are undoubtedly the biggest hit in recent times, was a fascinating experience for her. She recalls how music maestro Pyarelal did the recording for the number ‘Dhoom tana’ and how Yash Raj's music floor was actually filled with live musicians. It is a nostalgic trip back to the 70s for Shreya, who is used to the much more high-tech recordings of the past decade. She says Saawariya will always be special to her since it is a film made by her mentor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She compliments Bhansali's keen sense of acoustics and how much attention he pays to the music of his films.

SONU NIGAM

Chocolate boy looks, a voice to die for and a smile that makes women swoon… Sonu Nigam is undoubtedly the closest we’ve had to a pop icon. A peep into the world of the boyish-looking singer recently released his album Chanda Ki Doli.
Sonu Nigam is a sensation in India and among Indians abroad. The king of Indi-pop boasts the kind looks, talent, stamina and hits that many other singers would give their right eye and arm for. Still, Sonu has remained grounded over the years. Fame has not changed the simple Sonu one saw many years ago.

Recently, he launched Chanda Ki Doli, his most recent album as part of a concert held in Mumbai. Sonu’s father Agam Kumar Nigam released the album. During the concert, Sonu enchanted the audience with his numbers from his film and also found time to render three songs from his album. And oh, ‘Indian Idol’ Abhijeet Sawant and other Indian Idol finalists also performed to give Nigam a breather between his performances.

A host of famous personalities from the film and music personality including Jaya bachchan Anup Jalota, Falguni Pathak, T Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar, Tarun Katial of Sony actor Milind Soman and others were there to cheer Sonu during his scintillating performance.

While his career is going great guns, all is not well on the personal side for Sonu. His marriage with Madhurima is well on its way to splits Ville. A difficult decision, informs Sonu sadly, but one that had to be taken. His creativity was being affected and he finally decided to end the pretense of a relationship. Sonu’s determination and will power should get him through this difficult phase in his personal life too.