Udit Narayan | |
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 Narayan in 2024 | |
| Born | Udit Narayan Jha (1955-12-01)1 December 1955 (age 69) |
| Alma mater | Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus,Tribhuvan University |
| Occupation | Playback singer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | Aditya Narayan |
| Relatives | Shweta Agarwal (daughter-in-law) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocal |
| Labels |
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Musical artist | |
Udit Narayan Jha (born 1 December 1955)pronunciationⓘ is an Indianplayback singer whose songs have been featured primarily inHindi films. He has also sung in numerous other languages, includingTelugu,Kannada,Tamil,Bengali,Sindhi,Odia,Bhojpuri,Nepali,Malayalam,Assamese,Bagheli andMaithili.[2][3]
He has won fourNational Film Awards[4] and fiveFilmfare Awards, with twenty nominations among many others. TheGovernment of India honoured him with thePadma Shri in 2009[5] and thePadma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to arts and culture.[6]
His contribution to the Indian music industry was recognised byLata Mangeshkar, who bestowed upon him the titlePrince of Playback Singing.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
He made his Hindi playback debut withMohammed Rafi inUnees-Bees (1980) and later sang withKishore Kumar. He gained nationwide fame withQayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), performing "Papa Kehte Hain", which won him his first Filmfare Award.[14]
He has sung thousands of songs across Hindi and Nepali cinema.[15][16][17][18][19][20]
In recognition of his contribution to Nepalese music, theKing of Nepal,Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, awarded him theOrder of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu in 2001.[21] He is the only male singer inFilmfare Awards history to have won across three decades: the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.[22]
Udit Narayan was born asUdit Narayan Jha on 1 December 1955.[23] His parents wereHarekrishna Jha, a farmer andBhuvaneshwari Devi, who was known for singing traditional Maithili and Bhojpuri folk songs.[24]
He was raised in a Maithil Brahmin family in the border region. Narayan has stated in multiple interviews that he was born at his maternal grandparents’ home in Baisi village,Supaul district,Bihar, while his paternal family belongs to Bhardaha inSaptari District,Nepal.[25]
Narayan completed his schooling atJageshwar High School, Kunauli, Supaul before moving toKathmandu where he studied atRatna Rajya Lakshmi Campus, Tribhuvan University.[26] He has said that his mother’s folk singing and the cultural environment of Mithila shaped his early musical sensibilities.[27]
As a teenager, Narayan began performing folk and modern songs onRadio Nepal, where he worked as a staff singer in the 1970s. This exposure gave him experience in recording and performing across Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri genres.[28]
In 1978, he received a music scholarship that enabled him to move to Mumbai and undergo classical training atBharatiya Vidya Bhavan for six years, preparing him for a professional career in playback singing.[29]
Udit Narayan marriedRanjana Narayan Jha in the late 1970s.[30] In 1985, he marriedDeepa Narayan Jha, a singer and performer he met during stage shows and recordings.[31] Narayan later clarified both marriages publicly following media reports in 2006, stating that all matters were resolved amicably.[32]
He has one son with Deepa,Aditya Narayan, who is a playback singer, television host, and actor.[33] The father–son duo have performed together on multiple international tours.[34]
Narayan maintains a residence inMumbai, where he works in the Indian film industry, and also visitsBhardaha in Saptari District, Nepal, his ancestral home and family base. He regularly participates in cultural programmes, musical events, and social initiatives connected to both India and Nepal.[35]
Udit Narayan is widely regarded as one of the most iconic playback singers in Bollywood, especially during the 1990s and 2000s. He has lent his voice to leading actors such asAmitabh Bachchan,Aamir Khan,Shah Rukh Khan,Salman Khan,Akshay Kumar, andAjay Devgn. While many of his legendary duets are withAlka Yagnik, he has also performed with singers likeSonu Nigam,Shaan,KK,Shreya Ghoshal,Lata Mangeshkar andAsha Bhosle.[36]
Narayan began his musical journey in the 1970s as a folk singer atRadio Nepal, performing in Nepali, Maithili, and Bhojpuri. Later, he earned a scholarship from the Indian Embassy in Nepal and moved to Mumbai in 1978 to study classical music atBhartiya Vidya Bhavan.[37][38][39]
Narayan’s Bollywood break came in 1980 when music directorRajesh Roshan gave him a chance in the filmUnees-Bees. In this decade, he recorded with legends: he sang withMohammed Rafi inSwami Dada, duets withLata Mangeshkar inBade Dil Wala, withKishore Kumar inKehdo Pyar Hai, and withSuresh Wadkar under Bappi Lahiri’s compositions. He also collaborated withAsha Bhosle, performing both romantic and peppy numbers.
His big breakthrough came in 1988 withQayamat Se Qayamat Tak, where he sang the entire soundtrack withAlka Yagnik. The film’s music was a massive hit, and he won theFilmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for it.[40][41][42][43]
In the 1990s, Udit Narayan became one of the most sought-after playback voices in Hindi cinema. He was closely associated with major stars likeAamir Khan,Shah Rukh Khan,Salman Khan,Akshay Kumar andAjay Devgn. He worked with top composers such asJatin–Lalit,Nadeem–Shravan,Anu Malik,A. R. Rahman,Laxmikant–Pyarelal andRajesh Roshan.[44]
He recorded duets with a wide variety of singers. Female singers includedLata Mangeshkar,Asha Bhosle,Alka Yagnik,Sadhana Sargam andKavita Krishnamurthy, while male singers includedKumar Sanu,Abhijeet Bhattacharya andSonu Nigam. His major hits included songs fromJo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992),Beta (1992),Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993),Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! (1994),Mohra (1994),Raja (1995),Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995),Rangeela (1995) andRaja Hindustani (1996). He also continued singing in Bhojpuri, Maithili and other regional languages.[45][46][47]
In the 2000s, Narayan continued to dominate Bollywood film music, along with his contemporariesSonu Nigam,Shaan and KK. Also, collaborating with composers likeA. R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Jatin–Lalit, Nadeem–Shravan,Himesh Reshammiya andSanjay Leela Bhansali. He contributed to major soundtracks, includingLagaan (2001) andGadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001). InLagaan, he sang key tracks such as “Ghanan Ghanan”, “Mitwa”, “Radha Kaise Na Jale”, “O Rey Chhori”, and “O Paalanhaare”. InGadar, his contributions included “Udja Kale Kawan”, “Main Nikla Gaddi Leke”, “Hum Juda Ho Gaye”, and “Musafir Jaane Wale”.[48][49][50]
Other notable songs from this period includeHum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000) — “Chaand Chhupa Badal Mein” with Alka Yagnik,Devdas (2002) — “Bairi Piya” with Shreya Ghoshal,Koi... Mil Gaya (2003),Veer-Zaara (2004) — “Main Yahaan Hoon” (solo),Krrish (2006) andDon (2006) — “Khaike Paan Banaraswala”.[51][52][53]
From the 2010s onward, Udit Narayan gradually shifted focus toward live performances, mentoring younger artists and judging reality music shows. He performed at major cultural events and concerts across India and internationally. He continued to sing in Bollywood. Some of his songs were part of moviesAgneepath (2012),Student of the year (2012) andHumpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya (2014). In 2019, Narayan sang forHrithik Roshan once again after over a decade for movieSuper 30, song namedJugraafiya. Other than Hindi, he was active in multiple regional languages including Nepali, Bhojpuri and Maithili. He served as a judge on shows likeIndian Idol andSaReGaMaPa on multiple occasions. His singing style — melodious, emotionally expressive and clear in diction — has made a lasting impact on both film and non-film music, establishing a strong legacy across generations.[54][55][56][57][58][59]
In2023, Udit Narayan sang “Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava” (withAlka Yagnik) for the filmGadar 2.[60][61] According to coverage, the recreation was praised for retaining the soul of the original while bringing a matured rendition.[62]
In early 2025, a clip went viral showing Udit Narayan kissing a female fan on the lips during a live concert.[63] He defended the act as “a deep, pure and unbreakable bond” with his fans and called it “pure affection.”[64] He also suggested that the timing of the video’s circulation might be “malicious,” claiming it surfaced long after the concert.[64] Udit described the incident as “fan craze” rather than something negative, tying it to his long career and public image.[65] Old footage also resurfaced of him kissing fellow singersAlka Yagnik andShreya Ghoshal at various events, which fueled more public criticism.[66]
Udit Narayan is widely regarded as one of the most significant playback singers in South Asia, whose musical journey bridges Nepali folk roots and mainstream Indian cinema.[67]
Narayan's singing is distinguished by itswarmth,melodic richness andexpressive clarity.[68][69][70]
His classical training atBhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai gives him precise control over pitch and melody, which he uses judiciously to serve a song's emotional core.[71] Narayan has performed romantic ballads, dance numbers, devotional songs, and folk tunes with equal ease.[72][73]
He has collaborated extensively with Alka Yagnik, their duets becoming emblematic of 1990s Bollywood romance. Narayan has said, "We are just meant to be singing together."[74]
He has sung in 36 languages, including Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese, and Odia.[75]
Udit Narayan has received numerous prestigious awards over his long career, including four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards.[76] He was honoured by the Government of India with thePadma Shri in 2009 and thePadma Bhushan in 2016.[77]
Born near the India–Nepal border into a Maithil Brahmin family, Narayan’s personal history and career embody a cross-border musical identity.[78]
He has sung in a wide range of languages — including Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Odia, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and more — demonstrating his extraordinary linguistic and musical versatility.[79]
In a 2021 interview, he reflected on his early years in Mumbai, saying he used to walk “some 10–15 kilometres each day” to make ends meet while learning and trying to break into the industry.[80] He has called his success a “dream” come true, expressing gratitude for how far he has come.[81]
Despite his decades-long career, Narayan remains deeply relevant. In a 2025 interview, he said, “I never take my success for granted … I have gone through a lot of struggles … so I value it.”[82] His appeal also continues strongly among the Indian diaspora, with veteran-singer concerts selling out abroad.[83]
Narayan’s early musical journey included singing folk songs for Radio Nepal, and he has remained connected to his Nepali roots throughout his career.[84] This cross-cultural background has contributed significantly to his identity as a bridge between Indian and Nepali musical traditions.
He celebrated 41 years in the Indian film industry in 2021, sharing a throwback picture from his first recording (with Mohammed Rafi) and reflecting on his long, humble journey.[85][86]
Narayan's friend Jiyand Nawab Deedag suggested he change his work from old to modern in order to be selected as a playback singer, but this did not work and, considering old films in 1973, Narayan sang a song for a Nepali film calledSindoor. This was a comedy song for the Nepali comedians GopalRaj Mainali (Chankhe) and Basundhara Bhushal (Nakkali). Narayan sang this song withSushma Shrestha, now known as Poornima in Hindi films. Narayan has also acted in twoNepali films –Kusume Rumal[87] andPirati in 1985.In 2004, he released his first non-movieNepalese album,Upahaar, in which he sang duets with his wife Deepa Jha. Narayan has many solo albums as well, such asBhajan Sangam,Bhajan Vatika,I Love You,Dil Deewana,Yeh Dosti,Love is Life,Jaanam,Jhumka de Jhumka,Sona No Ghadulo,Dhuli Ganga andMa Tarini.[88]
Narayan has performed in many stage shows in India and abroad and is the recipient of many awards. These include Screen Videocon Award, MTV Best Video Award and Pride of India Gold Award.In 2010, Narayan withMadhushree sang for the English independent filmWhen Harry Tries to Marry.
Narayan also sang the title song for the TV showYeh Duniyan Gazab Ki, withKumar Sanu.[89] In 2015 he was involved in a mega series campaignMelancholy, where 421 Nepali artists had sung a 33 minutes 49-second long environmental song, in which 365 artists set aGuinness World Record on 19 May 2016 at Radio Nepal Studio, Singhadurbar, Kathamandu. It is written, composed and directed by environmentalistNipesh DHAKA.[90]
Udit Narayan has maintained a significant presence on television, particularly as a judge, mentor, and guest performer on music reality shows in India and Nepal. His television work allowed him to share decades of experience with younger talent and extend his influence beyond the film industry.[91]
He appeared on major Indian reality shows such asIndian Idol, where he served as a guest judge and mentor. On these shows, he provided technical guidance, vocal coaching, and professional advice, which was appreciated by both contestants and audiences alike.[92]
In Nepal, Narayan contributed to music competitions and televised talent shows, includingNepal Idol, promoting Nepali and regional music while mentoring emerging singers. His involvement in these programs reinforced his status as a cultural ambassador for South Asian music.[93]
Beyond reality shows, he performed on award ceremonies, musical specials, and televised concerts, including charity shows and cultural festivals such asSa Re Ga Ma Pa special episodes, and Diwali and Holi musical events.[91]
Narayan's television work, particularly from the 2010s onward, highlights his transition from active playback singing to mentorship and judging. These appearances have helped him remain visible to a global South Asian audience and have been praised for his approachable personality, technical expertise and encouragement of young talent.[92]
Although primarily known as a playback singer, Udit Narayan has also made notable appearances as an actor, primarily in Nepali cinema.
His most prominent acting role was in the 1985 Nepali filmKusume Rumal, directed by Tulsi Ghimire, in which he played the lead character, Amar.[94] In this film, he also performed the entire soundtrack, combining his singing talent with his on-screen performance.[95]
In interviews, Narayan has stated that he took the acting role to support his career while establishing himself as a singer.[96]
Though the film remains his most recognized acting credit, his performance is considered an integral part of its enduring popularity in Nepali cinema.[97] Narayan has not pursued acting extensively in Bollywood films, but he has occasionally appeared in cameo roles, usually performing songs or portraying a singer, thus merging his on-screen presence with his musical identity.[98]
Udit Narayan's career began in the early 1980s and flourished during the 1990s. He had major collaboration withAlka Yagnik,Kavita Krishnamurthy,Anuradha Paudwal andSadhana Sargam along with senior artistLata Mangeshkar andAsha Bhosle. Apart from duets with notable female playback singers, he collaborated extensively with male singers across generations. He debuted alongside legendaryMohammed Rafi and shared songs withKishore Kumar,Amit Kumar,Suresh Wadkar,Mohammed Aziz and others during the 1980s.[99]
Most of his male duets are withKumar Sanu andAbhijeet Bhattacharya in the 1990s. In 2000s he had more duets withSonu Nigam andShaan.[100]
Narayan has won fourNational Film Awards and fiveFilmfare Awards.[101]
In 2012, Narayan was one of the jury members for film music at theGlobal Indian Music Academy Awards.[110]
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