Vasundhara Das is a versatile singer and actress. Vasundhara has received extensive training in Hindustani classical music. She was born in a Hebbar Iyengar family. When she was only six years old, she started receiving training in Hindustani classical music. She studied in Cluny Convent High school, Bengaluru. Apart from being an accomplished singer, she is also an Economics and Maths graduate. During her college days she was part of an all-girl band. Vasundhara Das holds a unique quality of being a `polyglot` (A polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages) who knows Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, English, a bit of Malayalam and Spanish as well.
Career of Vasundhara Das
Vasundhara moved to Mumbai and created a musical band, Arya along with Roberto Narain. She included musicians from various backgrounds ranging from Hindustani and Carnatic classical music to Jazz, Latin, rock and pop. Vasundhara sings the Western and Indian vocals while Roberto Narain accompanies her with the drums. Arya`s music can be broadly classified as World Music. Arya`s first performed at the prestigious festival La Mar de Musicas in Spain in 2003. Vasundhara started her singing career with veteran music composer AR. Rahman. Her first film as a singer was a Tamilian film `Mudhalvan.` She has also sung for an unreleased Tamil movie `Dhanush`, acted and directed by newcomer A M Gurumani under the music direction of maestro Ilaiyaraaja.
In the 2001 Vasundhara sang for the film `Aks.` She was nominated for the 2002 Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for the song `Rabba Rabba.` She has sung an English song in the Hindi film `Lagaan` starring Aamir Kahn. She lent her voice for the British character played by Rachel Shelley. Her most famous Bollywood song is "It`s the time to Disco" in the film `Kal Ho Na Ho.` She has recorded her own album of non-film songs. She has sung in French, English, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu.
Vasundhara was inducted in the field of acting with the Kamal Hasan film `Hey Ram` (released in 1999). She has also acted opposite Mohanlal in the Malayalam movie `Ravanaprabhu`, opposite Ajith in the Tamil movie `Citizen`, and alongside Dharshan Tugdeep in the Kannada movie `Lankesh Pathrike.` She also appeared in the Hindi T.V. serial Rab Ne Banadi Jodi.
Filmography of Vasundhara Das
As a Singer:
2008 Ugly Aur Pagli
2008 Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
2007 Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
2007 Bheja Fry
2006 Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
2006 Corporate
2006 Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone...
2006 Saawan... The Love Season
2006 Happy
2005 Dosti: Friends Forever
2005 Salaam Namaste
2005 Aashiq Banaya Aapne: Love Takes Over
2005 Ah Aah: Anbe Aaruyire
2005 Anniyan
2004 Dhoom
2004 Main Hoon Na
2004 Vajram
2004 Paisa Vasool
2004 Manmadhan
2003 Kal Ho Naa Ho
2003 Boys
2003 Talaash: The Hunt Begins
2002 Aankhen
2002 Mitr: My Friend
2001 Nayak: The Real Hero
2001 Aks
2001 Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
2000 Kushi
2000 Rhythm
As an Actress:
2011 Abhishapt
2007 Mission Ustaad (TV series)
2007 Eik Dasttak
2006 Corporate
2006 Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamaana
2005 Film Star
2004 Vajram
2001 Citizen
2001 Ravanaprabhu
2001 Monsoon Wedding
2000 Hey Ram