Anuradha Paudwal

Anuradha Paudwal, born on October 27, 1954, is an Indian playback singer renowned for her work in Hindi cinema, particularly during the 80s and 90s. She is acclaimed as both a prominent Bhajan singer and one of the most successful playback singers of her era.

Throughout her illustrious career, Paudwal has garnered numerous accolades, including a National Film Award, four consecutive Filmfare Awards from 1990 to 1992, and two Odisha State Film Awards. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India.

Paudwal made her debut in 1973 with a Sanskrit verse in the Hindi film "Abhiman," composed by S. D. Burman. Over the years, she has lent her voice to films in various languages, including Marathi, Tamil, Odia, Nepali, Bengali, and Kannada.

Her journey in music began with the film "Abhimaan" in the early 1970s. However, it was her rendition of "Tu Mera Janu Hai" in the film "Hero" that catapulted her to fame. Collaborating with Mohammed Aziz in the mid-80s, she delivered a string of hit songs, establishing herself as a leading figure in the music industry.

Paudwal's association with notable composers such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Rajesh Roshan, and Gulshan Kumar further propelled her career. She gained recognition for her exceptional contributions to films like "Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka," "Tezaab," "Ashiqui," and "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin."

At the peak of her career, Paudwal announced her exclusive collaboration with the music company "T-Series," focusing on devotional songs and cover-version albums. After a hiatus, she resumed playback singing, delivering popular numbers like "Kismat Se Tum," "Akeli Hai Yeh Mis Khiladi," "Zara Aankhon Se Kajal," "Chaha Hai Tujhko," "Jogiya," and "Intezar."

On the personal front, Anuradha Paudwal was born into a Konkani family in Karwar, Karnataka, but was raised in Mumbai. She was married to music composer Arun Paudwal, with whom she had two children, Aditya and Kavita, the latter following in her footsteps as a singer. Tragically, Aditya passed away at the age of 35 due to kidney failure in September 2020, while their infant daughter also departed at just one-month-old.