Udit Narayan Jha (Hindi: उदित नारायण झा), popularly known as Udit Narayan is a playback singer in commercial Hindi, Urdu , Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya and Nepali language cinema. Narayan has sung more than 15,000 songs in more than 30 different languages.^[2] He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri award, one of India's highest civilian honours, which he received in 2009.

Udit Narayan
Born	1955 (age 53–54)[1]
Origin	Saptari, Nepal
Genre(s)	Playback singer
Occupation(s)	Singer, television personality, actor
Years active	1981–present

Career

Udit Narayan was born in Bhardah, in Saptari district in the Terai plains of Nepal in 1955 . He received training from Pandit Dinkar Kaffini. He began his career by singing in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri . He was initially denied a job at Radio Nepal . He sang folk songs for Radio Nepal throughout the early 1970s. In 1978, he moved to Mumbai on a music scholarship. In Mumbai, he was trained in Indian classical music for six years at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

He got his first break in 1980, when noted music director (composer) Rajesh Roshan asked him to do a song for the Hindi film Unees Bees, in which he got opportunity to sing with his inspiration, Mohammed Rafi. However, the actual success story of his career began in 1988 with the successful Bollywood movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, earning him a Filmfare Award.^[3] The film also brought actor Aamir Khan, actress Juhi Chawla and playback singer Alka Yagnik to stardom. After the success of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he became one of the leading playback singers in the Indian film industry, lending his voice mostly in Aamir Khan movies like Dil, and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. At the same time, he became a well-known celebrity in Nepal and sang in many popular Nepalese movies. He even acted in some Nepalese movies like Kusume Rumal and Pirati, but did not achieve that much success.

He has worked with musicians like Rahul Dev Burman, Jagjit Singh, Anu Malik, Jatin Lalit, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Kalyanji-Anandji, Bappi Lahiri, Vishal Bhardwaj, A. R. Rahman, Nadeem-Shravan, Rajesh Roshan, Shankar Mahadevan, Himesh Reshammiya, Pritam Chakraborty, Vishal-Shekhar etc., and leading directors like Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar, etc. These include Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Devdas, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Swades, Veer Zaara, etc. Throughout the 1990s, he was one of the most successful singers in India.^{[citation needed]} In 1995, his song "Mehndi Lagake Rakhna" from the movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge won him his second Filmfare Award after 7 years.^{[citation needed]} The following year, he was nominated for three songs out of five and won his third National award for the song "Pardesi Pardesi" from Raja Hindustani.^{[citation needed]}

Udit Narayan is considered one of the most prominent singers of his generation^{[citation needed]} along with Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam. He has worked with musicians like Rahul Dev Burman, Jagjit Singh, Anu Malik, Jatin Lalit, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Kalyanji-Anandji, Bappi Lahiri, Vishal Bhardwaj, and A. R. Rahman. Narayan has collaborated with a variety of singers, including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Anup Jalota, and Pankaj Udhas.

His repertoire includes songs in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, Tamil, English and Malayalam. At the same time, his discernible Nepalese accent and distinct pronunciation have been criticized by music critics who find it difficult to decipher words in his songs.^{[citation needed]}

He has worked in Nepalese films as well, in particular for composer Shambhujeet Baskota. During his early singing career, he performed songs composed by Shiva Shankar, Natikaji and Gopal Yonzan. In 2004, he released his first private Nepalese album Upahaar, in which he also sang duets with his wife Deepa Jha. At the Hits FM Awards 2004 he won awards in two major categories for the album, Record of the Year and Album of the Year.^{[citation needed]} Some of Narayan's other private albums are Bhajan Sangam, Bhajan Vatika, I love You, Dil Deewana, Yeh Dosti, Love is Life, Jhumka de Jhumka, Sona No Ghadulo, Dhuli Ganga, and Ma Tarini.

Currently, he is in the panel of judges on Sony TV for Waar Pariwaar, a reality show based on the bringing together of a singing gharana (family of singers). He shares judging duties with fellow playback singer Kumar Sanu and Jatin Pandit of the famous music duo Jatin-Lalit.

Narayan has performed in many stage shows in India and abroad and is the recipient of a large number of awards. These include Screen Videocon Award, MTV Best Video Award and Pride of India Gold Award.

Personal life

Narayan is a Maithil Brahmin and a resident of Mumbai.^[4] He is married and has one son. His wife Deepa Narayan (from Darjeeling) whom he married in 1985, is an accomplished Nepalese singer, and the two recorded an album together titled Dil Deewana.

His son Aditya Narayan started his career singing for child artists in Hindi movies in the 1990's. More recently, he has been the host of Indian television singing competition Sa Re Ga Ma Pa for the last 2 seasons.

On 20 April 2006 Ranjana Jha, a resident of the Supaul district in Bihar, created a controversy by claiming to be Udit Narayan's first wife.^[5] While Narayan initially rejected her claims, after she presented photographs and documents to prove her claim he finally agreed to recognize her as his wife and reached a settlement with her.^[6]

Notable songs

• "Log Jahan Par Rahte Hain" - Pyar Ka Mandir (1988)
• "Papa kehte hai" - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)
• "Ae Mere humsafar" - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)
• "Mujhe need na aye"- Dil (1990)
• "Hum ne ghar chora hai"- Dil (1990)
• "Hum payer karne wale"- Dil (1990)
• "Mera Dil Tere Liye Dhadakta Hai" - Aashiqui (1990)
• "Bin Tere Sanam" - Yara Dildara (1991)
• "Pehla Nasha" - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)
• "Dhak Dhak Karne laga" - Beta (1992)
• "Jadoo teri nazar" - Darr (1993)
• "Tu mere samne" - Darr (1993)
• "Phoolo sa chera tera" - Anari (1993)
• "Tu cheez badi hai mast mast" - Mohra (1994)
• "Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane" - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)
• "Ho gaya Hai Tujko To Pyar Sajna" - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)
• "Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya" - Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995)
• "Pardesi Pardesi" - Raja Hindustani (1996)
• "Aaye Ho Mere Zindagi Mein" - Raja Hindustani (1996)
• "Ho Nahin Sakta" - Diljale (1996)
• "Mohabbat Ki Nahi Jati" - Hero No. 1 (1997)
• "Are Re Are" - Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)
• "Ishq Hua Kaise Hua" -Ishq (1997)
• "Chand Chupa" - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
• "Taal Se Taal Mila" - Taal (1999)
• "Chaha Hai Tujko" - Mann (1999)
• "Mera Mann" - Mann (1999)
• "Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se" - Dhadkan (2000)
• Chupke Se Sun, Socho Ke Jheelon Ka - Mission Kashmir (2000)
• "Bole Chudiyan" - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
• "Udhja Kaale Kawwa" - Gadar (2001)
• "Chalak Chalak" - Devdas (2002)
• Jo Bhi Kasmein - Raaz (2002 film) (2002)
• Koi Mil Gaya - Koi Mil Gaya (2003)
• Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala - Koi Mil Gaya (2003)
• Main Yahan Hoon - Veer Zaara (2004)
• Mujhse shaadi karogi - Mujhse shaadi karogi (2004)
• Lal Dupatta - Mujhse shaadi karogi (2004)
• Rab Kare - Mujhse shaadi karogi (2004)
• Aisa des hai mera -Veer Zaara (2004)
• Yeh hum aa gaye hai kahan - Veer Zaara (2004)
• Yeh Tara Woh Tara - Swades (2004)
• Yun Hi Chala Chal - Swades (2004)
• Kyon Ki - Kyon Ki (2005)
• Falak Dekhoon - Garam Masala (2005)
• Khaike Paan Banaraswala - Don - The Chase Begins Again (2006)
• Mujhe Haq hai - Vivah (2006)
• Milan abhi adha adhura hai- Vivah (2006)
• Sahana - Sivaji: The Boss (2007)
• Do U Wanna Partner - Partner (2007)
• Deewangi Deewangi - Om Shanti Om (2007)
• Falak Tak Chal Saath Meray - Tashan (2008)
• Dil Dance Maare - Tashan (2008)
• Thean Thean - Kuruvi (2008)
• Main Hawaon ke - Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008)

Awards and Nominations

Padma Shri

• 2009: Padma Shri, India's 4th highest civilian honour.^[7]

Filmfare Awards

Filmfare Best Male Playback Award (Won):

• 1988: "Papa Kehte Hai" - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
• 1995: "Mehndi Lagake Rakhna" - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
• 1996: "Pardesi Pardesi" - Raja Hindustani
• 1999: "Chand Chupa Badal Mein" - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
• 2001: "Mitwaa" - Lagaan

Filmfare Best Male Playback Award (Nominated):

• 1992: "Pahla Nasha" - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
• 1993: "Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera" - Anari
• 1994: "Tu Cheez Badi Hai" - Mohra
• 1996: "Ho Nahin Sakta" - Diljale
• 1996: "Ghar Se Nikalte Hi" - Papa Kehte Hain
• 1997: "Dil To Pagal Hai" - Dil To Pagal Hai
• 1998: "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
• 2000: "Dil Ne Yeh Kaha" - Dhadkan
• 2001: "Udhja Kaale Kawwa" - Gadar
• 2003: "Tere Naam" - Tere Naam
• 2003: "Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala" - Koi Mil Gaya
• 2004: "Main Yahaan Hoon" - Veer Zaara
• 2004: "Yeh Tara Woh Tara" - [[[Swades]]

National Film Awards

National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer:

• 2002: "Mitwa" - Lagaan
• 2003: "Chhote Chhote Sapne" - Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai
• 2005: "Ye Taara Wo Taara" - Swades

Star Screen Awards

Star Screen Award Best Male Playback:

• 1996: "Aye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein" - Raja Hindustani
• 2002: "Woh Chand Jaisi Ladki" - Devdas

Zee Cine Awards

Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- Male:

• 2000: "Chand Chupa Badal Mein" - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

IIFA Awards

IIFA Best Male Playback Award:

• 2000: "Chand Chupa Badal Mein" - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Bollywood Movie Awards

• 1998: "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

source:- Wikipedia