She was honoured with honorary degree of D.Litt. byD Y Patil University, the second singer to receive this degree afterLata Mangeshkar.[12][13] She is engaged in social work and had a foundation named Suryodaya Foundation.[14] In her career spanning over five decades Paudwal has recorded more than 9,000 songs for more than 550 movies[15] and more than 1,500 bhajans in several languages includingGujarati,Hindi,Kannada,Marathi,Sanskrit,Bengali,Tamil,Telugu,Odia,Assamese,Punjabi,Bhojpuri,Brajbhasha,Nepali andMaithili.[13][16][17] She is ranked NO. 26 inYoutube's Music Charts and Insights list of top global artist as of 6 February 2025.[18] She has been on chart since last 237 weeks.[19] She has been awarded a doctorate in music by DY Patil University, felicitated by the house of commons inEngland and awarded the Cultural ambassador to Indian devotional by the United Nations inNew York.[20][21]
Before entering in Bollywood she sang in a Radio program. She started her music journey in 1973 from filmAbhimaan where she sang a Sanskrit verse forJaya Bhaduri. In 1970s, she sang a few popular songs which were praised by the music composers as well as public, but doesn't get much popularity. At that time she sang as a dubbing artist.[10]
She obtained popularity from her song "Tu Mera Janu Hai" along withManhar Udhas in the filmHero. She had been asked to "dub" this song for the actual singer -Lata Mangeshkar. Later Lataji was to have sung the song for the actual recording. But when music director duoLaxmikant-Pyarelal heard Anuradha's version, they determined that since the movie had an actress,Meenakshi Seshadri, making her debut, it was only appropriate that the song should also be sung by a fresh voice. After that in mid-80s, she sang along withMohammed Aziz, and this duo was highly liked by public. It was at this time that Anuradha Paudwal started to climb the ladder of success.[26] After that she sang songs with established singers of that time and worked with many music composers. At that time she metNadeem–Shravan who were struggling at that time. She listened to some of their songs and asked them to compose music for her. They composed 23 songs which were sung by her along withKumar Sanu,Udit Narayan,Abhijeet Bhattacharya,Babla Mehta among others. Ten songs out of them are to be released as Chahat album, which were later released as film songs inAashiqui movie in 1990.[27]
As an established singer
When music of the film Aashiqui was released, it became popular in no time. It established Anuradha Paudwal as a successful playback singer. After thatDil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, andSadak were released in 1991, which were also immensely successful. Several other albums release at that time made her an established singer and she was often given preference over Mangeshkar sisters.[28] When she was at the peak of her career, she decided to sing exclusively forT-Series. And after this her immensely successful Bollywood career started falling slowly and other female playback singers likeAlka Yagnik,Kavita Krishnamurti andSadhana Sargam came into prominence.[28][29][30]
Her songs became so popular thatBinaca Geetmala list of 1990 had 14 songs of her. Her songs "Too Mera Hero Hai" fromHero and "Maine Pyaar Tumhi Se Kiya Hai" fromPhool Aur Kaante topped the list in 1984 and 1992 respectively. OnceO.P. Nayyar in one of his interview said "Lata ka yug gaya ab, Anuradha ka yug aa gaya" meaning "Lata's era is over now, Anuradha's era has arrived".
As a bhajan singer
After quitting Bollywood she started singing devotional songs. One day before NavratriGulshan Kumar asked Anuradha Paudwal to sing devotional songs of maa Durga. Anuradha sang those bhajans and when these were released in market these sold immediately. After this she started singing devotional songs one after one and never look back again.[9] Her Bhajans are extremely popular in India specially her Shiv and Durga bhajans. Apart from Hindu Bhajans she also sang some Islamic, Christian, Jain, Boddha, and Sikhh Devotional songs. She has sung thousands of bhajans and is still active in Bhajan singing.
Re-entry in Bollywood
In 1997 Gulshan Kumar got murdered and after that Anuradha Paudwal again started to sing songs for other music labels. She again started working withTips Industries,Venus Records & Tapes, and others. She got some of the best songs and became popular again, but at that time Alka Yagnik was dominating the Industry and Anuradha Paudwal did not receive much success which she achieved earlier. She continued to sing till 2006 and after that she quit Bollywood.[31]
After working with almost all notable singers and musicians and establishing herself as an established singer she completely quitted the Bollywood in 2006. She sang her last song 'Palkein uthake Dekhiye' in filmJaane Hoga Kya.
Her chhath geet are extremely popular and has crossed 47 million views on YouTube.[37] Her gayatri matra is immensely popular and crossed 220 million views on YouTube.[38][33] Her Shiv Amritwani has become highly popular and has crossed 250 million views collectively on YouTube.[39][40] Hanuman Amritwani recorded by her has crossed 450 million views on YouTube.[41] Shiv Bhajans and Durga bhajans sung by her are immensely popular in India.[42]
She has sung thousands of songs in several languages. She has won four Filmfare Awards out of twelve nominations.[43]
Her rendition of "ouch" in the song Dhak Dhak Karne Laga from the movieBeta is still highly praised.
She has also appeared in many devotional albums like Shiv Amritwani, Mamta Ka Mandir, Hanuman Amritwani and also has special appearances in various Bollywood Movies like Saathi, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain,Jai Maa Vaishno Devi
Personal life
She was born 27 October 1954[45] as Alka Nadkarni, in aMarathi speaking family inKarwar.[46][47][48]She was married toArun Paudwal, a music composer, with whom she had a son Aditya and a daughterKavita, a singer by profession.[49][50] Anuradha survived a helicopter crash in 2002 in Madhya Pradesh.[51] On 12 September 2020, her son Aditya died of kidney failure.[52]
Awards and recognitions
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Anuradha Paudwal, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 30 March 2017
^Anuradha Poudwal (in Marathi). Goa Entertainment. 6 May 2020. Event occurs at 2:43.Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved11 August 2021.
