Anuradha-Arun-Paudwal is one of
                                         the most talented playback singers in
                                         the history of Hindi films and perhaps
                                         one of the most controversial artistes.
                                         Her career started with the film
                                         Abhimaan starring Amitabh and Jaya
                                         Bachchan, the music director was S.
                     D. Burman, though Lata Mangeshkar claims that Anuradha was
                     given a break by her brother Hridhaynath Mangeshkar for a
                     Marathi film. But it was Burmandada's film that got her the
                     recognition of a singer.

                     Anuradha Paudwal was a student of Xavier's college who
                     participated in the college's cultural programmes, but she did not
                     have a background of film music, she married Arun Paudwal
                     who was the music arranger of S. D. Burman.

                     In 1976 Anuradha got her big break for the film Kailcharan
                     starring Shatrugan Sinha and Reena Roy. This Subhash Ghai film
                     had music by Rajesh Roshan. Her first solo number was for the
                     film Aap Beeti starring Hema Malini and Shashi Kapoor and
                     music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Anuradha Paudwal got some good
                     numbers from the duo who were churning out hits one after the
                     other. She also sang intermittently for other music directors such
                     as Rajesh Roshan (Des Pardes), Jaidev (Dooriyan, Laila
                     Majnu), Kalyanji-Anandji (Kalaakar, Vidhataa) and Usha
                     Khanna (Souten, Sajan Bina Suhagan). Meanwhile her
                     husband Arun Paudwal in the pair of Anil-Arun gave many hit
                     numbers in Marathi films for which Anuradha sang some
                     resplendent numbers in Marathi like Disatein Mazlaa
                     (Ashtavinayak), Raja Lalkaari, Kaalya Maatita Maatitaa, etc.

                     Anuradha Paudwal became a singer to reckon with when she
                     rendered some exceptional numbers
                     for the film Hero, music by
                     Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Her song for Mere
                     Mann Bajaa Mirang Utsav won her the
                     first Filmfare award in 1985.

                     She also came into focus when she
                     challenged Lata Mangeshkar's claim to
                     having recorded the maximum number
                     of songs in a single day. She also
                     accused the Mangeshkar sisters for
                     indulging in monopoly.

                     This outspoken nature at times landed her in trouble as the music
                     directors of the industry feared to face the wrath of Lata
                     Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle and they avoided Anuradha
                     Paudwal often. Many a times Anuradha's songs were dubbed by
                     Lata such as Main Teri Dushman (Nagina) and many such
                     songs.

                     Disillusioned, since her career was not making any headway, she
                     joined hands with Gulshan Kumar who was about to bring a
                     revolution in the music industry. Her success streak began from
                     the film Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka, Tezaab, Ashiqui, Meera Ka
                     Mohan, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Ram Lakhan, etc. Her
                     success in a way set a trend for the singers, such as Kavita
                     Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik and Sadhana Sargam. Who
                     started getting better songs to sing and through T-series
                     Anuradha Paudwal brought the playback singers into focus. Her
                     new found status also got her involved in some controversies like
                     dubbing songs of her contemporaries (the infamous dubbing of
                     Alka Yagnik's songs of the films Dil and more recently Itihaas),
                     also her much rumoured affair with Gulshan Kumar. Her
                     dominance in the T-series had fueled the rumours.

                     Despite the controversies, Paudwal continued to conquer new
                     horizons and winning accolades (Anuradha has won three
                     Filmfare awards in a row for Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin
                     and Beta in a row). She was on the verge of being the next Lata
                     Mangeshkar. Even the legendary composer O. P. Nayyar
                     commented, " Lata is finished, Anuradha has replaced her."
                     During this period, everything seemed to be working for the singer
                     who left her contemporaries far behind. Kavita Krishnamurthy has
                     always stated that, "Among my counterparts (Alka Yagnik, Kavita
                     Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, etc.) Anuradha is the best
                     singer."

                     In her peak time Anuradha Paudwal announced that she would
                     exclusively sing for T-series only. This stand benefited Alka
                     Yagnik who just zoomed to the top with newfound association
                     with Nadeem-Shravan and Anu Malik, who had stopped
                     composing for Gulshan Kumar due to some differences. As she
                     stopped singing songs for films and concentrated more on
                     devotional and cover-version albums, she harmed her immensely
                     successful career. For almost five years, Anuradha Paudwal did
                     not sing for many films and for any other music company.

                     It was only recently that she started rendering songs for
                     companies outside T-series. After the brutal murder of Gulshan
                     Kumar, her hold over T-series diminished. Anuradha Paudwal has
                     started singing outside T-series and met with lukewarm response.
                     So far she has given a few hits like Kismat Se Tum (Pukar) Akeli
                     Hai Yeh Miss Khiladi (Mr & Mrs Khiladi), Zara Aankhon Se Kajal
                     (Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehtein Hai), Chaha Hai Tujhko (Mann)
                     and Jogiya (Deewane). But only time will tell if this talented
                     crooner can regain her past glory.