Hema Sardesai
Encyclopedia
Hema Sardesai also known as simply Hema, is an India
n playback singer
, best known for her Hindi
songs.
During her career, Sardesai has sung playback songs for over 60 Bollywood
films, has released several successful Indipop albums, and has performed numerous live stage shows in almost all the states of India and world tours in different countries around the globe.
Sardesai is the only Indian Singer to win the Grand Prix at the 16th International Pop Song Festival in Germany
, and the only female singer other than Lata Mangeshkar
to perform at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence day.
, India
, Hema Sardesai hails from Goa
.
She began singing from a very young age and made her stage debut as an eight-year-old at the Navratri Festival. As a child, teachers and friends used to call her Happy Go Lucky Girl and even today she is frequently called so by her colleagues in the Indian music industry.
She started her playback singing career in 1989 and made her debut in the film Goonj, singing for actress Juhi Chawla
. Since then she has sung songs for over 60 Hindi films for many popular actresses like Manisha Koirala
, Urmila Matondkar
, Karisma Kapoor
, Raveena Tandon
, Tabbu, Kajol
, Preity Zinta
, Sushmita Sen
and Kareena Kapoor
, collaborating with some of India's most prominent music directors and composers, including Anu Malik
, A R Rahman, Rajesh Roshan
, Nadeem-Shravan
, Vishal Bhardwaj
and Pritam
.
Her first milestone achievement was her winning the Grand Prix at the 16th International Pop Song Festival '89 held in Germany
. This gave her an opportunity to express her stage talent and, since then, she has successfully performed on TV and live stage shows in almost all the states of India and numerous world tours to places such as the US, UK, Germany, Belgium
, Spain
, Holland, Australia
, New Zealand
, Fiji Islands, West Indies, Thailand
, Nepal
, Indonesia
and so on.
On 15 August 1997 Hema performed at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence. She sang one of her own compositions, "Mere Vatan Hindustan" at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi
witnessed by an audience of nearly 3 million people. The song was specially composed for the occasion.
Her 1999 album Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain won Hema an award for "The best selling album of the season".
During her years in the Indian film industry, Sardesai was widely praised for her song performances. Her performances for songs such as Awaara Bhavaren (Sapnay, 1997), Sona Sona Ye Na Hona (Soldier, 1998), Sar Sar Hawa Hai (Daman
, 2001), Kitne Kisse Hain (Astitva
, 2001), Hai Re Hai Re (Khushi, 2003), Sun Suniyo (Musafir
, 2004), the title track of the film Asambhav
(2005) among many other, were much appreciated and applauded by critics and audiences.
Hema is the only singer who sang playback duets with four superstars: Amitabh Bachchan
(Baghban
), Naseeruddin Shah
(Asambhav
), Govinda
(Hum Do Hamara Do) and Shahrukh Khan
(Josh).
Hema sang several hit songs in Chris Perry
's Konkani album Cu Cu Ru Cu. In 2005, she released a Konkani album, Goa Zaai.
wrote about her once "Hema Sardesai hit an all time high with 'Aawara Bhavaren'. A few albums which did exceedingly well on the charts followed. Hema has always been someone who needs to have her share of fun. She wants to concentrate on being the Indian girl who can get both critical and commercial acclaim. After all with a debut like 'Hindustani Gudiya' you would have expected that."
The Asian Age proclaimed that she is "A playback singer with a difference." Another critic from Record
wrote, "One of the most versatile performers and singers in our industry, Hema Sardesai has over the last few years made a mark for herself in the heart of every music lover. She is versatile because she not only sings for films and Indipop, but also renders Indian Classical and Western Pop songs beautifully, besides Folk and Fusion. Her live stints in India and abroad have proved her vocal strength."
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n playback singer
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
, best known for her Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
songs.
During her career, Sardesai has sung playback songs for over 60 Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
films, has released several successful Indipop albums, and has performed numerous live stage shows in almost all the states of India and world tours in different countries around the globe.
Sardesai is the only Indian Singer to win the Grand Prix at the 16th International Pop Song Festival in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and the only female singer other than Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
to perform at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence day.
Career
Born in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Hema Sardesai hails from Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
.
She began singing from a very young age and made her stage debut as an eight-year-old at the Navratri Festival. As a child, teachers and friends used to call her Happy Go Lucky Girl and even today she is frequently called so by her colleagues in the Indian music industry.
She started her playback singing career in 1989 and made her debut in the film Goonj, singing for actress Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
. Since then she has sung songs for over 60 Hindi films for many popular actresses like Manisha Koirala
Manisha Koirala
Manisha B. Koirala is a Nepali-Indian actress who works in Indian films, as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Koirala has primarily worked in Hindi cinema, though she has appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well...
, Urmila Matondkar
Urmila Matondkar
Urmila Matondkar is an Indian film actress.Matondkar, who made her screen debut as a child artist in the 1980 film Kalyug, debuted as an adult in Narasimha...
, Karisma Kapoor
Karisma Kapoor
Karisma Kapoor , often informally referred to as Lolo, is an Indian actress who made her debut in 1991, and appears in Bollywood films. During her career, she has been part of many commercially and critically successful films, Raja Hindustani being the most notable of them, as it was her biggest...
, Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon is a National Film Award winning Indian actress, producer, and a former model. She has primarily worked in Bollywood films, though she appeared in a few Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films as well....
, Tabbu, Kajol
Kajol
Kajol Devgn , better known as Kajol, is an Indian film actress appearing in Hindi films. She is regarded as one of India's most successful and talented female actors....
, Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
, Sushmita Sen
Sushmita Sen
Sushmita Sen is an Indian actress who appears in mainly Bollywood films. A former model, Sen was crowned Miss Universe in 1994. She was the first Indian woman to win the contest.-Personal life:Sen was born on 19 November 1975....
and Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
, collaborating with some of India's most prominent music directors and composers, including Anu Malik
Anu Malik
Anu Malik , born Anwar Sardaar Malik, is a famous music director in the Hindi film industry. Son of veteran music director Sardar Malek, Anu Malik made his debut as a music composer in the year 1977. After a considerable period of struggle, the 90's welcomed Anu with hits like 'Phir Teri Kahani...
, A R Rahman, Rajesh Roshan
Rajesh Roshan
Rajesh Roshan is a Hindi cinema music composer.-Personal life:Rajesh Roshan is the son of Hindi film composer Roshan and younger brother of film director and actor Rakesh Roshan...
, Nadeem-Shravan
Nadeem-Shravan
Nadeem-Shravan was a music director duo in the Bollywood film industry of India. The duo derives its name from the first names of its two principals, Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod....
, Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, screenwriter, music composer and playback singer.-Early life:Bhardwaj was born in Bijnor but raised in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to Satya Bhardwaj, a homemaker, and Ram Bhardwaj, a popular poet and lyricist. His father was a government employee and...
and Pritam
Pritam
Pritam Chakraborty , better known as Pritam is a music director and composer from Kolkata who currently works in Bollywood, Mumbai.- Early life :...
.
Her first milestone achievement was her winning the Grand Prix at the 16th International Pop Song Festival '89 held in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. This gave her an opportunity to express her stage talent and, since then, she has successfully performed on TV and live stage shows in almost all the states of India and numerous world tours to places such as the US, UK, Germany, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Holland, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Fiji Islands, West Indies, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and so on.
On 15 August 1997 Hema performed at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence. She sang one of her own compositions, "Mere Vatan Hindustan" at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
witnessed by an audience of nearly 3 million people. The song was specially composed for the occasion.
Her 1999 album Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain won Hema an award for "The best selling album of the season".
During her years in the Indian film industry, Sardesai was widely praised for her song performances. Her performances for songs such as Awaara Bhavaren (Sapnay, 1997), Sona Sona Ye Na Hona (Soldier, 1998), Sar Sar Hawa Hai (Daman
Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence
Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence is a 2001 Indian film directed by Kalpana Lajmi released on 4 May 2001. The lead actress, Raveena Tandon, won the distinguished National Film Award for Best Actress for her role as Durga Saikia. The film follows the story of a battered wife...
, 2001), Kitne Kisse Hain (Astitva
Astitva
Astitva is a 2000 bi-lingual film made in Hindi and Marathi, written and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.-Plot:...
, 2001), Hai Re Hai Re (Khushi, 2003), Sun Suniyo (Musafir
Musafir
Musafir is a 2004 Hindi thriller film, directed and produced by Sanjay Gupta starring Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Sameera Reddy. The film was controversial because of some sensual scenes, including kissing, between Kapoor and Reddy...
, 2004), the title track of the film Asambhav
Asambhav
Asambhav is a Bollywood action thriller directed by Rajiv Rai, the film released on 23 July 2004, starring Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Naseeruddin Shah and Dipannita Sharma, in pivotal roles. The film was shot entirely in Switzerland.-Plot:...
(2005) among many other, were much appreciated and applauded by critics and audiences.
Hema is the only singer who sang playback duets with four superstars: Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
(Baghban
Baghban
Baghban is a 2003 Bollywood drama film directed by Ravi Chopra, with a star cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Mahima Chaudhary, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen, Lilette Dubey and others...
), Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah is an Indian / Bollywood film actor and director. He is considered to be one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.-Early life:...
(Asambhav
Asambhav
Asambhav is a Bollywood action thriller directed by Rajiv Rai, the film released on 23 July 2004, starring Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Naseeruddin Shah and Dipannita Sharma, in pivotal roles. The film was shot entirely in Switzerland.-Plot:...
), Govinda
Govinda (actor)
Govinda is a Filmfare award-winning Indian actor and politician. He has appeared in over 120 Hindi language films. At the start of his career, his acting and dancing skills gained him widespread attention among film viewers. He later gained worldwide fame as a Bollywood icon through comedy films...
(Hum Do Hamara Do) and Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
(Josh).
Hema sang several hit songs in Chris Perry
Chris Perry (musician)
Chris Perry , born Pereira was a Goan musician, composer, songwriter and film producer.Chris Perry was an exceptionally gifted trumpeter, but he was also at ease with blowing instruments as saxophone, trumpet and flute as well as finger instruments like keyboard, piano and guitar. He learnt to...
's Konkani album Cu Cu Ru Cu. In 2005, she released a Konkani album, Goa Zaai.
Reviews
The Times of IndiaThe Times of India
The Times of India is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. TOI has the largest circulation among all English-language newspaper in the world, across all formats . It is owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd...
wrote about her once "Hema Sardesai hit an all time high with 'Aawara Bhavaren'. A few albums which did exceedingly well on the charts followed. Hema has always been someone who needs to have her share of fun. She wants to concentrate on being the Indian girl who can get both critical and commercial acclaim. After all with a debut like 'Hindustani Gudiya' you would have expected that."
The Asian Age proclaimed that she is "A playback singer with a difference." Another critic from Record
The Record Music Magazine
The Record is a popular monthly music magazine in India. Featuring must-read news, in-depth profiles on your favourite artists & bands, intelligent reviews and exclusive engaging interviews with the hottest bands around, it’s the gospel of every young music fan....
wrote, "One of the most versatile performers and singers in our industry, Hema Sardesai has over the last few years made a mark for herself in the heart of every music lover. She is versatile because she not only sings for films and Indipop, but also renders Indian Classical and Western Pop songs beautifully, besides Folk and Fusion. Her live stints in India and abroad have proved her vocal strength."
Famous songs
This is a list of Hema's Top Hit Playback Songs Sung by Hema, according to her website:- Ishq Chandi Hai - Biwi No.1Biwi No.1Biwi No.1 is a 1999 Bollywood comedy film directed by David Dhawan. The film stars Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, Anil Kapoor and Tabu. Saif Ali Khan has a special appearance in the film. It is remake of the 1995 Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi...
- Jungle Hai Aadhi Raat Hai - Biwi No.1Biwi No.1Biwi No.1 is a 1999 Bollywood comedy film directed by David Dhawan. The film stars Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, Anil Kapoor and Tabu. Saif Ali Khan has a special appearance in the film. It is remake of the 1995 Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi...
- Jaanam Samjha Karo - Jaanam Samjha KaroJaanam Samjha KaroJaanam Samjha Karo is an Indian Bollywood film directed by Andaleeb Sultanpuri who is the son of veteran lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri. It was released on 2 April 1999...
- Apun Bola - Josh
- Sona Sona Ye Na Hona - Soldier
- Tere Pyaar Mein - ZorZor (film)Zor is a Bollywood film released in 1997. Zor was produced by Vivek Kumar and directed by Sangeeth Sivan.- Plot :Zor is a film about how innocent people are targeted by mafia and politicians to turn them into terrorist for their benefits. Arjun a Photographer is only a son of Police Commissioner ...
- Mein Kudi Anjaani Ho - ZorZor (film)Zor is a Bollywood film released in 1997. Zor was produced by Vivek Kumar and directed by Sangeeth Sivan.- Plot :Zor is a film about how innocent people are targeted by mafia and politicians to turn them into terrorist for their benefits. Arjun a Photographer is only a son of Police Commissioner ...
- Awaara Bhavaren - Sapnay
- Hulle Hulle - Aar Ya PaarAar Ya PaarAar Ya Paar is a 1997 Bollywood film produced and directed by Ketan Mehta. The film stars Jackie Shroff, Deepa Sahi , Ritu Shivpuri, Paresh Rawal and Kamal Sidhu. The music is by Viju Shah-Story:...
- Hai Re Hai Re - KhushiKhushi (2003 film)Khushī is an Indian Bollywood film released on 7 February 2003, starring Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor in main roles, directed by S. J. Suryah and produced by Boney Kapoor under Narsimha Enterprises. The movie was a failure at the box office...
- Kehna Hai Tumse Kehna - MannMannMann may refer to:* Isle of Man, known as "Mann" as an alternative shorter name* Mann , a Nazi paramilitary rank* Mannaz, the Futhorc m-rune* Mann Theatres, a theatre chain corporation* Mann , a Norwegian magazine...
- Naach meri Jaan - Mujhe Meri Biwi Se BachaaoMujhe Meri Biwi Se BachaaoMujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao is a 2001 Indian film directed by Harry Baweja.It stars Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah.This film is a remake of the 1986 American comedy Ruthless People starring Danny DeVito and Bette Midler....
- Na Heera Na Moti - Kunwara
- Eli Re Eli - Yaadein
- Tere Sang Ek Simple Si Coffee - ZameenZameenZameen could mean:*Zameen - Persian word for "land"* Zameen - list of films with the title Zameen...
- O Maria - Josh
- Chali Chali Phir Chali Chali - BaghbanBaghbanBaghban is a 2003 Bollywood drama film directed by Ravi Chopra, with a star cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Mahima Chaudhary, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen, Lilette Dubey and others...
- Khalli Valli - MarketMarket (film)Market is a 2003 film directed by Jay Prakash and starring Manisha Koirala. The film follows the story of Muskaan Bano from her life in Indian brothels after being sold there by her Arab husband to her attempts at revenge later in life...
- Qayamat Qayamat - QayamatQayamatIn Shi'a Islam, Qayāmat means "The Day of Judgment" and denotes that God will raise mankind for Judgment. It is one of the Shi'a Roots of Religion ....
- Asambhav - AsambhavAsambhavAsambhav is a Bollywood action thriller directed by Rajiv Rai, the film released on 23 July 2004, starring Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Naseeruddin Shah and Dipannita Sharma, in pivotal roles. The film was shot entirely in Switzerland.-Plot:...
- Chori Chori - Garam MasalaGaram masalaGaram masala is a blend of ground spices common in North Indian and other South Asian cuisines. It is used alone or with other seasonings. The word garam refers to intensity of the spices rather than capsaicin content...
- Badal Pe Paon Hai - Chak De! India
Awards and honors
- 1989 - 16th International Pop Song Festival, Grand Prix in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- 1999 - The best selling album of the season for the album Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain
- 2006 - All India Woman's Conference, Gomant Tejaswini Award for her outstanding achievements in the music field.