Udit Narayan is a famous Indian singer. He became popular in the 1980s and sang many hit songs in Hindi and other languages. He has won many awards and is loved by fans across India and Nepal. His voice is known for being very sweet and melodious.
QUICK FACTS
- Full name: Udit Narayan
- Birthdate: 1st December 1955
- Birthplace: Baisi, Supaul district, Bihar, India
- Professions: Playback Singer, Stage Artist
- Awards: Filmfare Award and IIFA Award for Best Male Playback Singer, Lata Mangeshkhar Award
- Honour: Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu, Padma Shri (2009), Padma Bhushain in (2016)
- Genres: Filmi, pop, Semi-Classical, Bhajan, folk
Udit Narayan Early Years –
Udit Narayan was born to a Maithili Brahmin family on 1 December 1955. His father, Harekrishna Jha, was Nepali and his mother, Bhuvaneshwari Jha, was Indian. After receiving the Padma Shri in 2009, his citizenship came into question. Udit clarified that he was born in Baisi village, in Bihar, at the house of his maternal grandparents close to the India-Nepal border.
He later explained that although his father originated from Bhardaha, Nepal, he is Bihari. In a number of interviews, such as one with Outlook in 2017 and during a 2018 event in North America, he reaffirmed his Indian ancestry.
Udit completed his secondary education in Supaul, Bihar, and received his intermediate degree from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. His mother was a folk singer, and his father was a cultivator. Both of them encouraged and motivated him towards music.
Career
1970–1989: Early Career
Udit Narayan started his career as a Radio Nepal folk singer in 1970. He later went to Mumbai on scholarship to study classical music. He debuted in Bollywood in 1980 with the film Unees-Bees. His breakthrough came in 1988 when he sang all the songs for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak with Alka Yagnik and won his first Filmfare Award.
1990–2000: Rise to Frame
During the 1990s, Udit was one of the top Bollywood singers. He sang for big stars like Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan. His duets with Alka Yagnik were very popular. He delivered many hit songs in movies like Dil, Dhadkan, Lagaan, and Pehla Nasha.
2001–Present: Continued Success
Udit continued singing in the 2000s too with Veer-Zaara and Devdas being huge hits. He sang “Bairi Piya” with Shreya Ghoshal and remained a favourite among music listeners. He is praised by fellow singers and is considered to be one of the best playback singers of India.
Musical Training
Udit Narayan received his initial training in music in Nepal where he sang folk songs for Radio Nepal in Kathmandu in the early 1970s. He then went to Mumbai (Bombay then) on a scholarship from the Embassy of Nepal to study classical music at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan under the guidance of Pandit Dinkar Kaikini.
Personal life
Udit Narayan got married twice. Ranjana Narayan in 2006 claimed to be his first wife, which he denied at first but later agreed and assured to keep her support. He wedded his second wife Deepa Gahatraj in 1985 while being married to Ranjana. Udit and Deepa have one son, playback singer Aditya Narayan.
Conclusion
Udit Narayan is a very popular playback singer in Indian cinema, with an evergreen voice and hit numbers to his credit. He started his musical journey as a folk singer in Nepal but became popular in Bollywood during the late 1980s and continued to be a top singer of the 1990s and 2000s. With numerous awards, such as multiple Filmfare and National Film Awards, to his credit, Udit Narayan has left an indelible mark in the music world.
His versatility and emotional rendering have made him a favorite with listeners across generations. Besides his professional success, he is also well-liked for being a good guru and for his deep connections with Nepal and India. Udit Narayan continues to touch and entertain millions of lives with his unforgettable musical legacy.
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