Female Playback Singers are the lyrical ventriloquists to the heroines of Bollywood. Bollywood leading ladies and item girls are nowhere near half as attractive without the presence of the voices of Playback Singers. What`s more, while the cinematic experiences with our on-screen goddesses have a time limit, our playback goddesses are always with us in iPods, tablets, computers, radios and more.
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India with a career that has spanned more than six decades. She is the only playback singer to have been awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation`s highest civilian honour. Although she sang mainly for Hindi language and Marathi language films, Lata Mangeshkar`s popularity and influence transcends barriers of region and language. She has sung 35 major Indian languages. Lata is also popularly referred to as the `Nightingale of India`.
Asha Bhosle another pillar of Playback Singing is but a living legend. Asha Bhosle is considered as one of the most versatile of South Asian singers - her range of songs includes film music, pop, ghazals, bhajans, traditional Indian Classical music, folk songs, qawwalis, and Rabindra Sangeet. She has sung in over 14 languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, English, Russian and Malay). Asha Bhosle is believed to have sung over 12,000 songs, but such estimates are not easy to validate.
Neha Bhasin of Viva fame and `Kuch Khaas` brings to the fore the essence of Punjabi rock chick; she being the one who commanded a nation to rock and roll with her in `Dhunki` (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan). She created a gharana of her own through her soulful renditions.
Harshdeep Kaur Sufi Ki Sultana and winner of Junoon reminded the doubtful why she was victorious in the aforementioned televised competitions. `Katiya Karoon` from Rockstarwas hugely applauded despite being tucked away in male-orientated album thanks to Harshdeep`s immaculate rendition. She was also briefly heard in `Jhak Maar Ke` (Desi Boyz) with Neeraj Shridhar which may not have been that elegant but Harshdeep stood out in any case and made her way into our list.
Mahalaxmi Iyer`s vocals bring back the aura of classical music notes. Her voicing in the extremely popular `Laung Da Lashkara` and `Rola Pe Gaya` from Patiala House has made a permanent mark in the hearts of Indian listeners. She hit those flirty Punjabi nuances on the spot and complimented her duet partners well. Her first venture in Hindi with Sur is still afresh in the musical memory of the music lovers.
Shreya Ghosal is what Lata Mangeshkar had been to Playback Singing as had been Alka Yagnik and Kavita Krishnamurthy who took the centre stage in 90s. Currently she has essentially replaced the aforementioned ladies in the current era. Shreya started her musical journey with Devdas and had a super 2011 with undeniable hits like `Saathiya` (Singham), `Saibo` (Shor In The City), `Teri Meri` (Bodyguard), `Rab Rakha` (Love Breakups Zindagi) and `Accha Lagta Hai` (Arakshan). She also showcased her classical achievements with `Saans Albeli` (Aarakshan) and gave listeners a hint of what`s to come in 2012 with `Chikni Chameli` (Agneepath). Naturally, Ghoshal is still going strong since the glorious moment we heard her voice Paro for Bansali`s Devdas in 2002.
Sunidhi Chauhan achieved what not a lot of female singers have achieved that is, the uncanny ability to sing any song with a precision and conviction that knows no bounds. Till date only the likes of Asha Bhosle have pulled it off. However, since her breakthrough performance in Ram Gopal Verma`s Mast, Sunidhi has been slowly attempting and undoubtedly conquering all genres of Indian music. This year when she wasn`t getting us hot under our collars with `Shake It Saiyan` (Rascals), `Chandigardh Ki Star (Buddha Hoga Tera Baap) and `Aa Zara` (Murder 2) she was vocalising musical gold with `Tu` (My Friend Pinto), `Thoda Sa Pyaar` (Kuch Luv Jaisa), `Te Amo` (Dum Maaro Dum) and `Sufiaana` (The Dirty Picture). So, whether, it is a romantic duet, a sober sufi, a scorching item number, an adrenalised dance track or a situational number, Chauhan has one covered.
