Anuradha Paudwal
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.