Suneeta Rao | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | Official site |
Suneeta Rao is an Indian pop singer, playback singer, dancer and stage actress, popular for her songs sung in the 1980s and 1990s.[1] Her most famous song isParee Hoon Main from the albumDhuan (1991).
Suneeta Rao was born in Germany in a Telugu speaking family. Her father Dr DK Rao hailed from Krishna district Andhra Pradesh while her mother Komala Sista Rao hailed from West Godavari. She has two siblings Sister Aarti Rao and brother Narsimha Rao.[2] She completed her schooling inMumbai and higher studies atSt. Xavier's College, Mumbai. During and after college, she acted in many plays such asEvita and musicals such asThey're Playing Our Song andGreased Lightning.[citation needed]
Rao started her career with the songSuneeta Senorita in 1989.[3] She became popular with the song "Paree Hoon main".
She released a Hindi pop album entitledDhuan in 1991 withGramophone Company India, which sold over 75,000 copies, with music byLesle Lewis. The song and video of "Paree" from the album made Suneeta Rao a household name, leading the press to affectionately crown her[citation needed] the "Paree of the Masses".
Her early association withA. R. Rahman was "Adi Paru Mangatha", from the 1994 Tamil filmMay Madham.[4] She released a Hindi pop album entitledTalaash in 1999 withGramophone Company India, with music byRanjit Barot.[citation needed]
Two videos that hit the screen were for the songs "Dehka Dehka" and "Kesariya", two folksy upbeat tracks that reinstated Rao at the top of the charts. She then released a new single and music video entitled "Chhoti Chhoti Baatein" as part of the Magnasound albumA Reason To Smile on the occasion of 50 years of Indian Independence. She also featured in a group song in the album called "Wajah Muskurane Ki".[citation needed]
Besides going platinum, all the above albums were at the top of the Hindi music charts. Her albumAb Ke Baras has lilting, sensuous, joyous music that blends traditional folk music with modern production values.[citation needed]
Her career includes songs from films likeGhulam-e-Mustafa,Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge andKahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye. Suneeta Rao also has shows in Pakistan and Africa in the offing, as well as several other projects for television, theatre and films.[citation needed]
She performed forNDTV in 2008.[citation needed]
Rao wrote and recorded an anthem song for global warming. This was for a campaign initiated by the ICAI and GYAAN called "Planet alert". The song launched the campaign in a radiothon that was aired from 5 June 2009 on BIG 92.7 FM! The song was produced by Dhruv Ghanekar, and sung by Rao.[citation needed]
Rao launched her new albumWaqt on 15 July 2008 at the Hard Rock Cafe. These Raag-based contemporary songs were composed by Rao, with music arranged by Nexus, DJ Gaurav Issar and Dudul Saikia. The CDs were available in stores under the Crescendo Music label. The first video was of the song "Sun Zara", a song for the Girl Child, supported by the UNFPA, to address the issue of sex-selection. The video was directed by Rachel Reuben, shot by Jason West, and stars Suneeta Rao and leading actress Suchitra Pillai.[citation needed]
Suneeta Rao gave 12 performances in the NDTV Imagine reality showDhoom Macha De and received the runner up award for the "Dhoom final stopper". In 2005, she acted in an Off-Broadway play in New York calledSidd.[citation needed]
Rao is married to Jason West, acinematographer based in Mumbai.[5] She is actively involved and is the spokesperson of an initiative called Laadli, organized by an NGO called Population First, started by her uncle, Bobby Sista, whose main agenda is "Saving the Girl Child", population control and other social movements in India.
| Year | Film | Song(s) | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Kahan Hai Kanoon | "One By One Koi Bhi Aaye, One By One Kadam Milaye" | Bappi Lahiri | Bappi Lahiri | |
| 1993 | Game | "Zindagi Hai Game" | Anand–Milind | ||
| 1994 | Teesra Kaun | "Dekha Tujhe Toh Dil Gaane Laga" | Anand–Milind | Bali Brahmbhatt | |
| Sangdil Sanam | "Le Le Mera" | Anand–Milind | |||
| 1995 | Swabhimaan | "Ek Pal" | |||
| Ahankaar | "Nasha Nasha" | Anu Malik | |||
| Ram Shastra | "Chak Lange" | Anu Malik | Gurdas Mann | ||
| 1996 | Ek Tha Raja | "Mere Khwabowale Raja" | Anand–Milind | ||
| Sapoot | "Catch Me If You Can" | Anu Malik | |||
| 1997 | Ghulam-E-Musthafa | "Sara Shehar Aaj Jaagega" | Amar Haldipur | ||
| Gupt: The Hidden Truth | "Duniya Hasino Ka Mela" | Viju Shah | Udit Narayan | ||
| Loha | "Door Na Jao Jee" | Tabun | |||
| 1998 | Angaaray | "Rangila" | Anu Malik | Anu Malik | |
| 1999 | Kaala Samrajya | "Koi Hai Diwana Dil Me Kisi Ke Dil Me Hai Masti" | Anand–Milind | Arun Bakshi | |
| Laawaris | "Kuchh Hamare Pas Hain" | Rajesh Roshan | Jolly Mukherjee,Shankar Mahadevan | ||
| 2000 | Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge | "Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge" | Himesh Reshammiya | Kumar Sanu,Alka Yagnik | |
| Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye | "Aa Meri Life Bana De" | Himesh Reshammiya | Kamaal Khan | ||
| 2001 | Asoka | "O Re Kanchi" | Anu Malik | Shaan, Alka Yagnik |
| Year | Film | Song(s) | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Lyricist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Hrudayanjali | "Achampeta Mangatha" | A. R. Rahman | Anupama,T. K. Kala,G. V. Prakash Kumar | Vennelakanti | Dubbed version ofMay Maadham |
| 2001 | Bava Nachadu | "Bang Bang" | M. M. Keeravani | Shankar Mahadevan | Sirivennela Seetarama Sastry | |
| Anandam | "Oka Merupu" | Devi Sri Prasad | Potula Ravikiran | |||
| 2002 | Holi | "Chamaku Chamak" | R. P. Patnaik | Kulasekhar | ||
| 2004 | Varsham | "Nachave Nizam Pori" | Devi Sri Prasad | Adnan Sami | Sirivennela Seetarama Sastry |
| Year | Film | Song(s) | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Lyricist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | May Maadham | "Achampeta Mangatha" | A. R. Rahman | T. K. Kala,G. V. Prakash Kumar | Vairamuthu | |
| 2002 | Samurai | "Adidadi Appatha" | Harris Jayaraj | Vadivukkarasi | Vairamuthu |
