Singing actors and actresses in Indian cinema
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Singing actors and actresses in Indian cinema are Indian film actors who do their own singing.
Since the 1950s, most songs in films produced by the various regional Indian cinema industries
have been sung by playback singer
s; the actors and actresses who appear to be singing and dancing are only lip-synching the words. The playback singers may not be beautiful; they may not be able to act or dance; however, they are generally outstanding singers. Actors and actresses are thus freed to cultivate their other talents.
In the earliest years of Indian cinema, actors and actresses were more likely to be singers and to leave the dancing to specialists who appeared in what are called "item numbers." Stars such as Kishore Kumar
, K. L. Saigal, Suraiyya, and Noor Jehan
were known as both singers and actors. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, producers and directors increasingly tended to hire actors and actresses who could dance and leave the singing to playback singers.
However, some stars have sung for themselves in some recent films.
Since the 1950s, most songs in films produced by the various regional Indian cinema industries
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
have been sung by 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:...
s; the actors and actresses who appear to be singing and dancing are only lip-synching the words. The playback singers may not be beautiful; they may not be able to act or dance; however, they are generally outstanding singers. Actors and actresses are thus freed to cultivate their other talents.
In the earliest years of Indian cinema, actors and actresses were more likely to be singers and to leave the dancing to specialists who appeared in what are called "item numbers." Stars such as Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
, K. L. Saigal, Suraiyya, and Noor Jehan
Noor Jehan
Noorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
were known as both singers and actors. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, producers and directors increasingly tended to hire actors and actresses who could dance and leave the singing to playback singers.
However, some stars have sung for themselves in some recent films.
- VyjayanthimalaVyjayanthimalaVyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
, sang "Bol Radha Bol" in SangamSangam (film)Sangam is a 1964 Hindi movie produced by R. K. Films and directed by Raj Kapoor. Music for the film was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, with song lyrics by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. Sangam was producer Raj Kapoor's first color film, distinguished by its technicolor and epic length...
and "Cheye Thaki Cheye Thaki" in Hatey BazareyHatey BazareyHatey Bazarey or Hate Bazare is a 1967 award winning art film by noted Bengali director Tapan Sinha and produced Asim Dutta, the story revolves around the conflict of good and evil...
. - Amitabh BachchanAmitabh BachchanAmitabh 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...
, sang "Mere Angane Mein" in LawaarisLawaarisLawaaris is a 1981 Bollywood film directed by Prakash Mehra. The film became known for its song "Mere Angene Mein, Tumhara Kya Kaam Hai" rendered twice: The first time by a young Alka Yagnik who earned her first Filmfare Nomination as best female playback singer, and the second time by Amitabh...
and has also sung in SilsilaSilsilaSilsila is a 1981 Bollywood film directed by Yash Chopra. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar and Rekha, with Shashi Kapoor in a special appearance.-Plot:...
, MahaanMahaanMahaan is a 1983 Hindi film produced by Satyanarayana and directed by S. Ramanathan. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan in a triple role alongside Waheeda Rehman, Parveen Babi, Zeenat Aman, Ashok Kumar, Amjad Khan, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, Sujit Kumar and Shakti Kapoor . The music is by R.D...
, ToofanToofanToofan is a Pakistani Urdu film starring Shaan, Saima, Resham and Laila.-Cast:* Shaan* Saima* Resham* Nargis* Laila* Arbaz Khan* Asif Khan* Shafqat Cheema...
, 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...
, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Bhootnath, Mr. Natwarlal, "Buddha Hoga Tera Baap" and "Delhi 6". - Aamir KhanAamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
sang "Aati Kya Khandala" in GhulamGhulamGhulam is a 1998 Hindi film directed by Vikram Bhatt and starring Aamir Khan. The film was inspired by Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront . It is the second remake of On the Waterfront after Kabzaa starring Sanjay Dutt...
. - Abhishek BachchanAbhishek BachchanAbhishek Bachchan is an Indian actor and producer. He is the son of Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and is married to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai....
sang a rap song in Rohan SippyRohan SippyRohan Sippy is an Indian film director and producer who has directed three films: Kuch Naa Kaho , Bluffmaster! and Dum Maaro Dum . He is the son of Ramesh Sippy, the director of the Hindi blockbuster film Sholay, and grandson of producer G. P. Sippy...
's film BluffmasterBluffmasterBluffmaster! is a 2005 Bollywood film, a remake of the Argentine film Nine Queens. Starring Abhishek Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh and Priyanka Chopra. Boman Irani and Nana Patekar have supporting roles in the film. This film is not related to Manmohan Desai's film Bluff Master released in 1963.The...
. - Shahrukh KhanShahrukh KhanShahrukh 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....
sang "Apun Bola" in JoshJoshJosh is a diminutive of the given name Joshua. "Josh" may also refer to:* Josh, the nom-de-plume of the poet Josh Malihabadi* "Josh", an early pseudonym of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain* Josh , a Canadian Indian/Pakistani fusion band...
(2000) - Salman KhanSalman KhanSalman Khan is an Indian film actor. He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films.Khan, who made his acting debut with a minor role in the drama Biwi Ho To Aisi with Rekha in a lead role, had his first commercial success with the blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya , for which he won a Filmfare Award for...
sang "Chandi Ki Daal Par" in Hello Brother (1999) - Madhuri DixitMadhuri DixitMadhuri Dixit is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Hindi films. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, she established herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses and most accomplished dancers. She appeared in numerous commercially successful films and was recognised for several of...
sang Kaahe Chedd in DevdasDevdasDevdas is a Bengali Romance novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Essentially, it is a retelling of the Krishna, Radha, and Meera myths, the relationships between its three protagonists - Devdas, Parvati, and Chandramukhi - paralleling the Hindu deities'.-Plot summary:Devdas is a young man from...
(2002) - Juhi ChawlaJuhi ChawlaJuhi 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...
sang in Bhootnath along with Amitabh Bachchan(2008) - Sridevi sang O Meri Chandni in ChandniChandniChandni is a Hindi film released in 1989. The film stars Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna, and was directed by Yash Chopra....
(1989) - Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
sang many numbers in his films. Lately, he has sung Oh Ho Sanam in DasavatharamDasavatharamDasavathaaram is a 2008 Tamil science fiction disaster film co-written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. Kamal Haasan, who wrote the screenplay and story of the film, stars in ten distinct roles, including the lead character. Asin Thottumkal appears in a dual role and Mallika Sherawat plays a...
. Another famous hit song of his would be Kaasu Melae Kaasu Vanthu from Kadhala KadhalaKadhala KadhalaKaathala Kaathala is a Tamil language film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and produced by P. L. Thenappan. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Prabhu Deva, Soundarya and Rambha in the lead roles with an ensemble cast in supporting roles...
in which he sang with Udit NarayanUdit Narayan-Career:King of melody, Udit Narayan Jha was born on 1 December, 1955 in a village called Bhardaha in the Saptari district , Nepal. His father was Hare Krishna Jha and his mother was Bhuwaneshwari Devi.Narayan studied at P.B...
. - VijayJoseph VijayVijay is an Indian film actor and playback singer, who is based in the cinema of Tamil Nadu. He is the son of film producer and director S. A. Chandrasekhar. After performing uncredited roles as a child actor in films produced by his father, he made his debut in a lead role in the 1992 film...
also sang many songs for his films, but occasionally. He last sang Vaadi Vaadi from SacheinSacheinSachein is a 2005 Tamil romance film directed by John Mahendran, starring Vijay and Genelia D'Souza. It also features Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, in her Tamil cinema debut, Vadivelu and Raghuvaran. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The film released along with...
. He also lent his voice for Surya Sivakumar in the film PeriyannaPeriyanna-Plot:Suriya, the main character, killed the villains who murdered his family and has been sent to jail. During his time in jail a well-respected collector celebrates his daughter's birthday in the prison. The collector's daughter is impressed by Surya's talent in singing and convinces her father...
for a couple of songs.