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Udit Narayan

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Udit Narayan Jha
Udit Narayan in 2015
Born
Udit Narayan Jha

(1955-12-01) 1 December 1955 (age 70)[1]
Saptari, Nepal
NationalityIndian[2]
CitizenshipIndia[3][4]
EducationRatna Rajya Lakshmi Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal
Occupations See below
Years active1980–present
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Spouses
  • Ranjana Narayan Jha
    ​
    (after 1984)​
    [5]
  • Deepa Narayan Jha
    ​
    (m. 1985)​
[5]
ChildrenAditya Narayan (son)[6]
Parent(s)Hare Krishna Jha (Father) and Bhuwaneshwari Devi (Mother)
Awards
Honours
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
Website

Udit Narayan Jha (born 1 December 1955; pronunciationⓘ) is an Indian playback singer whose songs are featured primarily Hindi films and Nepali Films.[8][9][10] He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and influential playback singers in the history of Indian Subcontinent.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

He has won four National Film Awards[18] and five Filmfare Awards, with twenty nominations among many others. He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer three times for the songs Mitwa from Lagaan (2001), Jaane Kyon Log from Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Chhote Chhote Sapne Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai (2002) and Yeh Taara Woh Taara from Swades (2004). He also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri in 2005 as the producer of Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar. He was awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2015.[19][20] The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009[21] and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to arts and culture.[22]

His contribution to the Indian music industry was recognised by Lata Mangeshkar, who bestowed upon him the title Prince of Playback Singing.[23]

He made his Hindi playback debut with Mohammed Rafi in Unees-Bees (1980), while got widespread recognition for his playback singing in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988).[24]

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.[25] He is the only male singer in Filmfare Awards history to have won across three decades: the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.[26]As many as 21 of his tracks feature in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time.[27]

Career

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Narayan is regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian Subcontinent, prominent from the late 1980s through the 2000s.[12][11][14][13] He collaborated with leading composers and singers of India over the decades — and his duets with leading female vocalists such as Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal, Sadhana Sargam, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan. 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.[28]

1970s: Early career

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In 1970, Narayan performed as a staff singer for Radio Nepal at the age of 15 and sang in hotels around Kathmandu.[29][15][30][31] He made active efforts to pursue a musical career, which were not supported by his father, who urged him to pursue a profession as a doctor or engineer.[32][33]

In 1978, he received a music scholarship through a cultural-exchange programme to study classical music at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.[34]

While in Mumbai, he visited several music directors' offices and auditioned frequently, initially struggling to secure opportunities.[31]

1980s: Hindi Cinema debut and Breakthrough

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Narayan’s Bollywood career began in 1980 when music director Rajesh Roshan offered him his first playback opportunity in the film Unees-Bees, where he recorded a duet with Mohammed Rafi.[35] His major breakthrough came in 1988 with the soundtrack of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, performed with Alka Yagnik. The song Papa Kehte Hain became a nationwide hit and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1989.[36]

1990s: Career Peak

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In the 1990s, Narayan established himself as a leading playback singer in Hindi Cinema. He also worked with prominent composers of the era such as Anand–Milind, Jatin–Lalit, Nadeem–Shravan, Anu Malik, A. R. Rahman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Rajesh Roshan.[37][38][15]

Narayan in 1990s

Narayan sang numerous successful film songs throughout the 1990s. Selected films include Dil, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Beta, Darr, Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Rangeela, Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dil Se ... [39] He won his second filmfare award for Mendi Laga Ke Rakhna from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) at the 1996 Filmfare Awards. He won his third Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, for Pardesi Pardesi from Raja Hindustani (1996). [40][41]

2000s: Sustained success

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In the 2000s, Narayan remained a leading playback singer in Hindi Cinema and collaborated with composers such as A. R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Vishal–Shekhar and Himesh Reshammiya.[42] He contributed to major soundtracks, including Lagaan (2001) and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001).[43] For his work in 1999, he won his fourth Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song Chand Chhupa Badal Mein from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000).[44]

He sang Bairi Piya from Devdas (2002), composed by Ismail Darbar with debutante Shreya Ghoshal. Rediff.com affirmed Narayan successfully captures the eternal romanticism of Devdas. [45] He won his fifth Filmfare for the song Mitwa from the film Lagaan (2001). For the same song, he also won his first National Film Award, sharing with his other song Jaane Kyon Log from Dil Chahta Hai (2001).

His second National Film Award in this category came for Chhote Chhote Sapne from Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai (2002), and his third for Yeh Taara Woh Taara from Swades (2004). In addition, he won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri in 2005 as the producer of Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar.[46]

He received the Padma Shri in 2009.[47]

2010–present: Later career

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Narayan at an album launch event in 2010 In the 2010s, Narayan shifted focus to live performances, mentoring, and judging reality shows. He remained active in regional languages and served as a judge on several music reality shows, including Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. In 2016, Narayan was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his contribution to Indian music and playback singing.[48]

Nepali Cinema

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Although primarily known as a playback singer, Narayan also made appearances as an actor, primarily in Nepali cinema.

In 1979, Narayan sang a song for the Nepali film Sindoor directed by Prakash Thapa, which marked his debut as a playback singer. This was a comedy song for the Nepali comedians Gopal Raj Mainali (Chankhe) and Basundhara Bhushal (Nakkali). He sang the song with Sushma Shrestha, who later became known as Poornima in Hindi films. It was Nepal's second coloured film and the first silver jubilee film in Nepal, running for 52 consecutive weeks in Kathmandu cinemas. [49]

His debut as an actor was in the 1985 Nepali film Kusume Rumal, directed by Tulsi Ghimire, in which he both played the lead character and performed the soundtrack, which became an all time highest grosser in Nepali cinema. This record was broken in 2001 by Darpan Chaya, of the same director Tulsi Ghimire. He also acted in another Nepali movie Pirati (1987). In interviews, Narayan has stated that he took the acting role to support his career while establishing himself as a singer.[50][51][52] In 2001, the King of Nepal, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, awarded him the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu in 2001 for his contribution to Nepali music and cinema.

In 2004, he released his first non-film Nepalese 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, which earned him multiple awards in Nepal, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year during the Hits FM Awards 2004. Narayan sang in numerous Nepali movies in the 1990s and 2000s and regarded among the most prolific singers of Nepal. [9] [8]

Other works

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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.[53] 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.[54][55]

Narayan with Bollywood playback singers in the 2010s.

Early life

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Udit Narayan was born in 1955 to Nepali father Hare Krishna jha and Indian mother Bhuwaneshwari jha

In early 2025, veteran Indian playback singer Udit Narayan faced significant backlash after videos surfaced online showing him kissing female fans during live performances.  One widely circulated clip captured Narayan performing the song "Tip Tip Barsa Pani" from the 1994 film Mohra, during which several female fans approached him for selfies.  While some fans kissed him on the cheek, Narayan was seen reciprocating by kissing one fan on the lips  .[56]

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many users labeling his behavior as inappropriate and dubbing him a "serial kisser," a term previously associated with actor Emraan Hashmi  . In response to the controversy, Narayan defended his actions, describing them as expressions of affection between him and his fans.  He stated, "There is a deep pure and unbreakable bond between my fans and I. What you saw in the so-called scandalous video was a manifestation of the love between my fans and I"  .

Despite his defense, the videos led to debates about consent and appropriate behavior during public performances.  The controversy highlighted the evolving discussions around celebrity conduct and fan interactions in the digital age.

References

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  1. ↑ "Aditya bakes a cake for father Udit Narayan on birthday". Mid Day. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "UDIT NARAYAN – "The legend" | The New York City Post". Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Udit Narayan’s Indian citizenship questioned | TwoCircles.net[permanent dead link]
  4. ↑ Artistes have no borders, Udit Narayan tells Nepal - Times of India
  5. 1 2 "Singer Udit Narayan accosted by 'first' wife". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs' Aditya Narayan: Today people know me by my name". 10 March 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Awards and nominations
  8. 1 2 "Udit Narayan Jha". The Film Nepal. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Udit Narayan Jha profile". LensNepal. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Udit Narayan – Male Playback Singer". House of Starss. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Top 10 Indian Singers You Should Know". London Singing Institute. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Top Greatest Indian Playback Singers". National Film Awards. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  13. 1 2 "This Bollywood singer became Nepal's superstar". Bollywood Life. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Top 10 Melodious Playback Singers of All Time". The Newsmen. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 "Happy Birthday Udit Narayan: All about his iconic Bollywood hits, career timeline and net worth". WION. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Udit Narayan turns 70: Iconic playback singer's legacy and 10 popular romantic songs". News18. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Sonu Nigam and Shaan Celebrate Udit Narayan's 70th Birthday in Style". India New England News. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Udit Narayan National award". Filmibeat.com. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "Lata Mangeshkar Samman given to Usha Khanna, Udit Narayan and Anu Malik". NDTV. NDTV Convergence Ltd. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "National Film Award Winners". Directorate of Film Festivals – Official. Directorate of Film Festivals, Government of India. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "Seven years after Padma Shree, Udit Narayan honoured with Padma Bhushan". Radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  23. ↑ Keshri, Shweta (12 February 2022). "Udit Narayan reveals Lata Mangeshkar gave him the title 'Prince of Playback Singing'". India Today. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Udit Narayan's breakthrough song". Outlook India. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "Udit Narayan to receive India's Padma Bhushan". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  26. ↑ "Udit Narayan: Latest News, Videos and Udit Narayan Photos". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  27. ↑ "BBC - Asian Network - Top 40 Soundtracks of All Time". BBC Asian Network. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  28. ↑ BioDiary. "Udit Narayan – Singer and Actor". The Bio Diary. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "Aditya Narayan shares father Udit Narayan's Radio Nepal days photo". Aaj Tak. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  30. ↑ "Narayan started from Radio Nepal — started singing career, son shared photo". VanityStardom. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  31. 1 2 "We're a musical family". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Udit Narayan expresses gratitude to fan, wife, farmer parents". India West. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  33. ↑ "When Udit Narayan revealed what his papa asked him". AP7AM. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  34. ↑ "Struggle Is Necessary for Any Artist; Its Bitterness Makes Success Sweeter: Udit Narayan". Sahityapost English. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  35. ↑ "ICYMI: Udit Narayan In A 41-Year-Old Pic From His Debut Song Recording". NDTV. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  36. ↑ "Udit Narayan looks back at his career with affection". Filmfare. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  37. ↑ "Udit Narayan Birthday Special: Top 10 romantic songs". India.com. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "When Udit Narayan first met Anand–Milind". Outlook India. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  39. ↑ "I am living a dream, says Udit Narayan". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  40. ↑ "Udit Narayan Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Udit Narayan". Times of India. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  41. ↑ "Aditya Narayan pens heartfelt note celebrating Udit Narayan's 41 years in film industry". Republic World. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  42. ↑ "Udit Narayan Biography, Age, Family, Songs". Music School. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  43. ↑ "Udit Narayan shares anecdote about the two Gadar films". The Statesman. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  44. ↑ "Filmfare Awards Winners 2000". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  45. ↑ Verma, Sukanya. "Devdas: Music review". Rediff.com. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  46. ↑ "Udit Narayan Biography, Age, Family, Songs". Music School. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  47. ↑ "Getting Padma Shri a dream come true". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  48. ↑ "Padma Awards 2016: Full List". NDTV. NDTV. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  49. ↑ "Historic Nepali film Sindoor to screen on International Women's Day". OnlineKhabar English. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  50. ↑ Sharma, Devesh (19 February 2021). "Udit Narayan reflects on his career". Filmfare. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  51. ↑ "Indian Idol 10: Udit Narayan reveals he was paid Rs 1,500 to act as a lead hero". Mid-Day. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  52. ↑ "Udit Narayan – Singer and Actor". The Bio Diary. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  53. ↑ Jain, Ananya (1 April 2020). "Quarantine Special: 10 Classic Shows of 80s and 90s, You Can Watch For Free During Lockdown". IndiaTimes. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  54. ↑ "Nepali house-hold names go for the Guinness World Records". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  55. ↑ "Udit Narayan Biography, Age, Family, Songs". Music School. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  56. ↑ "Singer defends himself after video goes viral of kissing fans: 'Not sleazy or secret'". The Independent. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.

Other websites

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Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Udit_Narayan&oldid=10778388"