Birthday wishes: Sunidhi Chauhan – Queen of versatility
If there is someone whose name can be mentioned naturally in the same breath as the playback singing in India, it’s Sunidhi Chauhan. Today, the lady with the melodious voice of turns 31.
With a devotion to music that started when she was just four-years-old, Chauhan has been never missed a step. Her voice mesmerized viewers of the first ever televised music contest, ‘Meri Awaz Suno’ (1996), which she won. Following on from that, she took the musical scene by storm with her chartbuster Ruki Ruki Thi Zindagi from Ram Gopal Varma’s film ‘Mast’ (1999), in the music of Sandeep Chowta. Today, Chauhan is enjoying being the playback voice of a range of heroines from Kareena Kapoor Khan to Bipasha Basu and from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Sridevi.
In a short span, Chauhan managed to work with leading composers like Ilaiyaraaja, Vishal-Shekhar, A.R. Rahman, Vishal Bhardwaj and many others. Give her a melody in any language: Hindi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Odiya, Tamil, Telugu just take your pick and she can make it her own, that’s the kind of range and expression her voice has. Chauhan’s versatile talent is illustrated in her wide array of hits, varying from Mehboob Mere from ‘Fiza’ (2000), Dhoom Machale from ‘Dhoom’ (2004), Bhaage Re Mann from ‘Chameli’ (2004), Beedi from ‘Omkara’ (2006), Mere Haath Mein from ‘Fanaa’ (2006), Hey Shona from ‘Ta Ra Rum Pum’ (2007), Mere Sang from ‘New York’ (2009), Sheila Ki Jawani from ‘Tees Maar Khan’ (2010), Udi from ‘Guzaarish’ (2010), Ishq Sufiyana from ‘The Dirty Picture’ (2011), Be Intehaan from ‘Race 2’ (2013), Yaaram from ‘Ek Thi Dayaan’ (2013), Tu Kuja from ‘Highway’ (2014) and many more. She marked her territory in the industry with her ever so enchanting easy to listen charming voice. She is often hailed as the true successor of the musical living legend, Lata Mangeshkar.
A singing sensation luring hearts worldwide, Chauhan is mesmerizing the listeners for almost two decades. She is a singer who gives equal importance to technique, tone and expression. Evidence of Chauhan’s contribution comes from the various awards she has received. Awards such as Filmfare Award, Zee Cine Award, PTC Punjabi Film Award, GIMA Award are the feathers in her crown. Recently, she received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Kamli from ‘Dhoom’ (2013). Her contribution to the music world is so extensive and remarkable.
There is no doubt that the songtress will give us many more melodious songs in the years to come and continue to charm us with her soulful singing. If her rendition of Beyonce’s Halo at the Royal Albert Hall in London last year was anything to go by, it would be the least surprising if, one day, she cut a western album to show off her obvious versatility.
On the occasion of this talented beauty’s birthday, BizAsia would like to wish Sunidhi Chauhan a very happy birthday.
