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Udit Narayan
Indian playback singer (born 1955) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Udit Narayan Jha (born 1 December 1955) ⓘ is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured primarily in Hindi films. He has also sung in numerous other languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Sindhi, Odia, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Malayalam, Assamese, Bagheli and Maithili.[1][2]
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He has won four National Film Awards[3] and five Filmfare Awards, with twenty nominations among many others. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009[4] and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to arts and culture.[5]
His contribution to the Indian music industry was recognised by Lata Mangeshkar, who bestowed upon him the title Prince of Playback Singing.[6][6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
He made his Hindi playback debut with Mohammed Rafi in Unees-Bees (1980) and later sang with Kishore Kumar. He gained nationwide fame with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), performing "Papa Kehte Hain", which won him his first Filmfare Award.[12]
He has sung thousands of songs across Hindi and Nepali cinema.[13][14] [15] [16] [17][18]
In recognition of his contribution to Nepalese music, the King of Nepal, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, awarded him the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu in 2001.[19] He is the only male singer in Filmfare Awards history to have won across three decades: the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.[20]
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Early life
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Udit Narayan Jha was born on 1 December 1955 in an ethnic Maithil Brahmin family to Harekrishna Jha, a Nepalese national, and Bhuvaneshwari Jha, an Indian national.[21][22][23] In 2009, when Narayan was awarded India's fourth highest civilian honour Padma Shri, there were reports questioning his Indian citizenship, claiming that he was born in Nepal. However, Udit Narayan himself branded these reports as "completely false", and stated that he was born in the Baisi village of Supaul district in Bihar at his maternal grandparents' home near the India-Nepal border.[24] When his acceptance of the Padma Shri led to his criticism in Nepal, he told the Nepalese daily Kantipur that he was "from Nepal but his mother's home was in Bihar."[25] In a 2017 interview with the Indian magazine Outlook, he clarified that he was born in Baisi, and clarified that his father Harekrishna was a native of Bhardaha, Saptari District, Sagarmatha Zone (present-day Madhesh Province), Nepal on the border with India.[23] In September 2018, Udit Narayan revealed at a ceremony held by the Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America, that he identifies as a Bihari.[26]
Narayan studied at Jageshwar High School, Kunauli, Supaul, Bihar, India where he finished his SSC and later obtained his intermediate degree from Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Campus of Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal. His father Harekrishna Jha was a farmer and his mother Bhuvneshwari Devi was a folk singer who encouraged his career.[27][28][29]
As a teenager, Narayan began performing folk and modern songs on Radio Nepal, where he worked as a staff singer in the 1970s. This exposure gave him experience in recording and performing across Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri genres.[30]
In 1978, he received a music scholarship that enabled him to move to Mumbai and undergo classical training at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for six years, preparing him for a professional career in playback singing.[31]
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Personal life
In 2006, Ranjana Narayan claimed to be Narayan's first wife, but Narayan consistently denied it. Later, he accepted her as his wife, whom he married in 1984, and promised to provide for her maintenance.[32][33][34] Udit began a relationship with Deepa Gahatraj while still married to Ranjana. Udit and Deepa were married in 1985. With Deepa Gahatraj, he has one son, Aditya Narayan, who is also a playback singer.[35][32][36][37]
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Career
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Perspective
Udit Narayan is regarded as one of the leading playback singers in Indian cinema from the late 1980s through the 2000s. He gained prominence with his distinct youthful voice and became a preferred playback singer for actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn. Narayan has recorded extensively in Hindi films as well as in several regional industries, including Nepali, Bhojpuri, Bengali and Kannada cinema.[38]
He collaborated with many of Bollywood’s top composers over the decades — and his duets with leading female vocalists such as Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Paudwal, Sadhana Sargam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle contributed to some of the era’s most popular soundtracks.[39]
1970s: Early career
Udit Narayan completed his early schooling in Bihar in the early 1970s, near his maternal ancestral village. He then moved to Kathmandu for further studies at Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, where he pursued his intermediate education.[40]
In the early 1970s, he performed both at Radio Nepal as a staff singer and at restaurants in Kathmandu, singing Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, and other regional-language folk and modern songs to gain experience and earn income. His remuneration at that time was reportedly modest — around Rs 100 per assignment.[41]
Despite his passion for music, his father wanted him to pursue a conventional profession, advising him to become a doctor or engineer because the family were farmers.[42][43]
In 1978, he obtained a music scholarship through a cultural-exchange program, which allowed him to relocate to Bombay (now Mumbai). There he enrolled at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan for formal classical music training.[44]
During this time in Mumbai, he reportedly visited numerous music directors’ offices, auditioned frequently, and received many promises but no break, reflecting a long and uncertain struggle before eventual success.[41]
1980s
Udit Narayan’s Bollywood journey began in 1980 when music director Rajesh Roshan offered him his first playback opportunity in the film Unees‑Bees, where he recorded the song alongside legendary singer Mohammed Rafi.[45][46]
During the decade, he demonstrated his versatility across genres and composers. He collaborated with golden-era legends: a duet with Lata Mangeshkar in Bade Dil Wala (1983), songs with Kishore Kumar, and compositions by noted music director Bappi Lahiri.[47][48]
However, the defining moment of his career came in 1988 with the release of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, for which he sang the entire soundtrack alongside Alka Yagnik. The song “Papa Kehte Hain” became an instant hit, bringing him nationwide fame and earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1989. That success marked his establishment as one of Bollywood’s leading male voices.[49]
By the end of the 1980s, Udit Narayan had firmly established his presence in Bollywood as a versatile and dependable playback singer. His ability to collaborate with veteran singers and contemporary composers, combined with his emotive and melodious voice, laid the foundation for the prolific career that followed in the 1990s and beyond.[46]
1990s
In the early 1990s, Udit Narayan rose to prominence in the Hindi film music industry. He collaborated with the composer duo Jatin–Lalit, beginning with their work on Yaara Dildara (1991), and later the soundtrack for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), whose romantic track Pehla Nasha became an early hallmark of Narayan’s singing style.[50]
During the decade, Narayan became one of the most in-demand playback singers in Bollywood. He lent his voice to leading actors including Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Ajay Devgn. He worked with many top composers of the era — including Jatin–Lalit, Nadeem–Shravan, Anu Malik, A. R. Rahman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Rajesh Roshan.[38]
He recorded duets and solos with a wide variety of singers. Among female vocalists were Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Alka Yagnik, Sadhana Sargam and Kavita Krishnamurthy; among male vocalists were Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Sonu Nigam. His repertoire during the 1990s included major hits from films such as Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Beta (1992),Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), Mohra (1994), Raja (1995), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Rangeela (1995) and Aaye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein from Raja Hindustani (1996). He also recorded songs in regional languages such as Bhojpuri and Maithili.[51][52][53]
Several of his songs became chart-toppers of the decade, including Pehla Nasha, Yahaan Ke Hum Sikandar from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Mujhe Neend Na Aaye from Dil, Dhak Dhak Karne Laga, Koyal Si Teri Boli from Beta, Tu Mere Saamne and Jadoo Teri Nazar from Darr, Yeh Bandhan To from Karan Arjun, and Ae Ajnabi from Dil Se.., the latter being a notable collaboration with A. R. Rahman.[54][55]
Narayan contributed significantly to high-profile soundtracks such as Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Dilwale (1994), Judwaa (1997), Ishq (1997), Pardes (1997), Ghulam (1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Dulhe Raja (1998), Zakhm (1998) and Sarfarosh (1999). The title track of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai became one of the most recognisable melodies of the decade.[56]
Other notable works include songs from Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Biwi No.1 (1999) and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999).[57]
By the end of the 1990s, Udit Narayan was widely regarded as one of the leading male playback singers of the era and frequently received major awards and recognition. His performances across a variety of films reinforced his reputation as a versatile and dependable voice in Bollywood.[58][59]
During the 1990s, Narayan worked in a competitive musical environment alongside other leading playback singers. While he and Kumar Sanu were sometimes described as contemporaries with overlapping popularity, interviews indicate that the so-called “rivalry” was primarily professional rather than personal. Both singers have appeared together publicly and maintained cordial relations outside of work.[60]
2000s
In the 2000s, Udit Narayan continued to be a prominent playback singer in Bollywood, working alongside contemporaries such as Sonu Nigam, Shaan and KK. He collaborated with leading composers of the era — including A. R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Jatin–Lalit, Nadeem–Shravan, Himesh Reshammiya and others.[38]
He contributed to major film soundtracks, including Lagaan (2001), for which he sang Ghanan Ghanan, Mitwa, Radha Kaise Na Jale, O Rey Chhori, and O Paalanhaare, and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), where he performed Udja Kale Kawan, Main Nikla Gaddi Leke, Hum Juda Ho Gaye and Musafir Jaane Wale. [61][38]
Other well-known tracks from the decade include Chaand Chhupa Badal Mein from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000), Humko Humise Chura Lo from Mohabbatein (2000), Dil Ne Yeh Kaha from Dhadkan (2000), Zindagi Ban Gaye Ho Tum from Kasoor (2001), Jo Bhi Kasmein from Raaz (2002), Bairi Piya from Devdas (2002), the title track of Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), Main Yahaan Hoon (solo) from Veer-Zaara (2004), Laal Dupatta from Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004),Khaike Paan Banaraswala from Don (2006), Do You Wanna Partner from Partner (2007) and Falak Tak from Tashan (2008). [62][63]
Throughout the decade, Narayan remained active in playback singing across film genres and was recognised with national honours; he was awarded the civilian honour Padma Shri in 2009.[64]
By the end of the 2000s, Udit Narayan’s continued success and adaptability reinforced his position among Bollywood’s most enduring male playback singers. [38]
2010s
From the 2010s onward, Udit Narayan gradually shifted focus toward live performances, mentoring younger artists and judging music reality shows. He performed at major cultural events and concerts across India and internationally. He continued to sing in Bollywood; some of his songs appeared in the films Agneepath (2012), Student of the Year (2012) and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014). In 2019, Narayan sang for Hrithik Roshan once again after more than a decade for the film Super 30, performing the duet "Jugraafiya". Beyond Hindi cinema, he remained active in regional languages including Nepali, Bhojpuri and Maithili. He served as a judge on shows such as Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on multiple occasions. His melodious and expressive singing style, noted for its clear diction, has left a lasting influence on both film and non-film music, shaping the work of younger generations of singers.[38] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69]
2020–2025: Later career and controversies
Works
Narayan continued to record songs for Bollywood films, including both new tracks and re-recorded or reprised versions of earlier hits in his own voice. In 2020, he sang "Hindustani" for Street Dancer 3D. [70]
In 2021, he re-recorded “Tip Tip” (a remake of “Tip Tip Barsa Paani”) for Sooryavanshi, alongside Alka Yagnik. [71] [72]
In 2023, he returned with "Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava" from Gadar 2, a duet with Alka Yagnik. [73] He is also credited for "Main Nikla Gaddi Leke" from the same film. [74]
In 2024, the original-voice reprise of his signature song "Papa Kehte Hain (Reprise)" was featured in the film Srikanth, a rendition he confirmed singing in his own voice. [75][76]
Controversies
In early 2025, a clip went viral showing Udit Narayan kissing a female fan on the lips during a live concert.[77] He defended the act as “a deep, pure and unbreakable bond” with his fans and called it “pure affection.”[78] He also suggested that the timing of the video’s circulation might be “malicious,” claiming it surfaced long after the concert.[78] Udit described the incident as “fan craze” rather than something negative, tying it to his long career and public image.[79] Old footage also resurfaced of him kissing fellow singers Alka Yagnik and Shreya Ghoshal at various events, which fuelled more public criticism.[80]
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Legacy and recognition
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Udit Narayan is widely regarded as one of the most significant playback singers in South Asia, whose musical journey bridges Nepali folk roots and mainstream Indian cinema.[81]
Voice and singing style
Narayan's singing is distinguished by its warmth, melodic richness and expressive clarity.[82][38][83]
His classical training at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai gives him precise control over pitch and melody, which he uses judiciously to serve a song's emotional core.[83] Narayan has performed romantic ballads, dance numbers, devotional songs, and folk tunes with equal ease.[82][84]
He has collaborated extensively with Alka Yagnik, their duets becoming emblematic of 1990s Bollywood romance. Narayan has said, "We are just meant to be singing together."[85]
He has sung 25000 songs over 36 languages , including Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese, Odia and more.[84][86][38][87]
Legacy
- Artistic legacy:
Udit Narayan has received numerous prestigious awards over his long career, including four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards.[38] He was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016.[88]
- Cultural / Cross‑border legacy:
Born near the India–Nepal border into a Maithil Brahmin family, Narayan’s personal history and career embody a cross-border musical identity.[88]
- Versatility & linguistic legacy:
He has sung in a wide range of languages and wide range of genres inclding — romantic, preppy dance numbers, youthful, emotional and devotional demonstrating his extraordinary linguistic and musical versatility.[88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93]
- Personal struggle & humility:
In a 2021 interview, he reflected on his early years in Mumbai, saying he used to walk “some 10–15 kilometres each day” to make ends meet while learning and trying to break into the industry.[94] He has called his success a “dream” come true, expressing gratitude for how far he has come.[94]
- Enduring popularity & relevance:
Despite his decades-long career, Narayan remains deeply relevant. In a 2025 interview, he said, “I never take my success for granted … I have gone through a lot of struggles … so I value it.”[95] His appeal also continues strongly among the Indian diaspora, with veteran-singer concerts selling out abroad.[96]
- Connection to Nepali music & identity:
Narayan’s early musical journey included singing folk songs for Radio Nepal, and he has remained connected to his Nepali roots throughout his career.[94] This cross-cultural background has contributed significantly to his identity as a bridge between Indian and Nepali musical traditions.
- Milestone & legacy of perseverance:
He celebrated 41 years in the Indian film industry in 2021, sharing a throwback picture from his first recording (with Mohammed Rafi) and reflecting on his long, humble journey.[97][98]
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Other work
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Perspective
Narayan's friend Jiyand Nawab Deedag suggested that he modernize his singing style to be selected as a playback singer, but this did not succeed. In 1973, Narayan sang a song for the Nepali film Sindoor. This was a comedy song for the Nepali comedians GopalRaj Mainali (Chankhe) and Basundhara Bhushal (Nakkali). He sang the song with Sushma Shrestha, who later became known as Poornima in Hindi films. Narayan has also acted in two Nepali films – Kusume Rumal[99] and Pirati (1985).
In 2004, he released his first non-film Nepali album, Upahaar, in which he sang duets with his wife Deepa Jha. Narayan has also released many solo albums, including Bhajan Sangam, Bhajan Vatika, I Love You, Dil Deewana, Yeh Dosti, Love is Life, Jaanam, Jhumka de Jhumka, Sona No Ghadulo, Dhuli Ganga, and Ma Tarini.[100]
Narayan has performed in numerous stage shows in India and abroad and has received many awards, including the Screen Videocon Award, MTV Best Video Award, and Pride of India Gold Award. In 2010, he collaborated with Madhushree to sing for the English independent film When Harry Tries to Marry.
He also sang the title song for the TV show Yeh Duniyan Gazab Ki with Kumar Sanu.[101] In 2015, he participated in the mega-series campaign Melancholy, where 421 Nepali artists performed a 33-minute 49-second environmental song, in which 365 artists set a Guinness World Record on 19 May 2016 at Radio Nepal Studio, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. The song was written, composed, and directed by environmentalist Nipesh DHAKA.[102]
Television career
Narayan has maintained a significant presence on television as a judge, mentor, and guest performer on music reality shows in India and Nepal.[103]
He appeared on major Indian reality shows such as Indian Idol, where he served as a guest judge and mentor.[104]
In Nepal, Narayan contributed to music competitions and televised talent shows, including Nepal Idol, where he promoted regional music and mentored emerging talent.[105]
He has also performed at award ceremonies, musical specials, and televised concerts, including cultural festivals and charity shows.[106]
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Acting career
Although primarily known as a playback singer, Udit Narayan has also made notable appearances as an actor, primarily in Nepali cinema.
His most prominent acting role was in the 1985 Nepali film Kusume Rumal, directed by Tulsi Ghimire, in which he played the lead character, Amar.[107] In this film, he also performed the entire soundtrack, combining his singing talent with his on-screen performance.[108]
In interviews, Narayan has stated that he took the acting role to support his career while establishing himself as a singer.[109]
Though the film remains his most recognised acting credit, his performance is considered an integral part of its enduring popularity in Nepali cinema.[110] Narayan has not pursued acting extensively in Bollywood films, but he has occasionally appeared in cameo roles, usually performing songs or portraying a singer, thus merging his on-screen presence with his musical identity.[38]
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Discography
Collaborations with Other Singers
Udit Narayan's career began in the early 1980s and flourished during the 1990s. He had major collaboration with Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Paudwal and Sadhana Sargam along with senior artist Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Apart from duets with notable female playback singers, he collaborated extensively with male singers across generations. He debuted alongside legendary Mohammed Rafi and shared songs with Kishore Kumar, Amit Kumar, Suresh Wadkar, Mohammed Aziz and others during the 1980s.[111]
Most of his male duets are with Kumar Sanu and Abhijeet Bhattacharya in the 1990s. In 2000s he had more duets with Sonu Nigam and Shaan. [112]
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Awards and nominations
Narayan has won four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards.[38]
Civil honours
- Order of Gorkha Dakshin Bahu, Fourth Class (Nepal, 2001) — awarded by the King of Nepal.[113]
- Padma Shri (India, 26 January 2009) — awarded by the Government of India.[114]
- Padma Bhushan (India, 25 January 2016) — third-highest civilian honour.[115] [116]
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Contribution Award (12 January 2023) — presented by the Governor of Maharashtra.[117] [118]
- International Buddha Peace Award & Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Award (2023) — awarded by the Maitry Peace Foundation.[119] [120]
Jury Positions
In 2012, Narayan was one of the jury members for film music at the Global Indian Music Academy Awards.[121]
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See also
References
External links
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