Udit Narayan

Udit Narayan
Narayan in 2019
Born
Udit Narayan Jha

(1955-12-01) 1 December 1955 (age 70)
Baisi, Supaul district, Bihar, India
Alma materRatna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Tribhuvan University
OccupationPlayback singer
Years active1980–present
Spouses
  • Ranjana Jha
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1984, separated)​
  • Deepa Gahatraj
    ​
    (m. 1985)​
ChildrenAditya Narayan
RelativesShweta Agarwal (daughter-in-law)
AwardsFull list
Honours
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocal
Labels
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2020–present
GenreMusic
Subscribers3.5 million
Views3.3 billion
Last updated: 1 December 2025

Udit Narayan Jha (born 1 December 1955; pronunciationⓘ) is an Indian playback singer whose songs are featured in Indian cinema, primarily Hindi films.

He has won four National Film Awards[1] and five Filmfare Awards, with twenty nominations among many others. He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer three times for the songs Mitwa from Lagaan (2001), Jaane Kyon Log from Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Chhote Chhote Sapne Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai (2002) and Yeh Taara Woh Taara from Swades (2004). He also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri in 2005 as the producer of Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar. He was awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2015.[2][3] The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009[4] and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to arts and culture.[5]

His contribution to the Indian music industry was recognised by Lata Mangeshkar, who bestowed upon him the title Prince of Playback Singing.[6]

He made his Hindi playback debut with Mohammed Rafi in Unees-Bees (1980).[7]

In recognition of his contribution to Nepalese music, the King of Nepal, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, awarded him the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu in 2001.[8] He is the only male singer in Filmfare Awards history to have won across three decades: the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.[9]

Early life

Udit Narayan Jha was born on 1 December 1955 in an ethnic Maithil Brahmin family to Nepalese national Harekrishna Jha and Indian national Bhuvaneshwari Jha.[10][11][12] When his acceptance of the Padma Shri led to criticism in Nepal, he told the Nepalese daily Kantipur that he was "from Nepal but his mother's home was in Bihar."[13] In a 2017 interview with the Indian magazine Outlook, he clarified that he was born in Baisi, a village in Bihar, and clarified that his father Harekrishna was a native of Nepal.[12] In September 2018, at a ceremony held by the Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America, he stated that he identifies as a Bihari.[14]

Career

1970s: Early career

During his teen years, Narayan performed as a staff singer for Radio Nepal and sang in hotels around Kathmandu.[15] He made active efforts to pursue a musical career, which were not supported by his father, who urged him to pursue a profession as a doctor or engineer.[16][17]

In 1978, he received a music scholarship through a cultural-exchange programme to study classical music at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.[18]

While in Mumbai, he visited several music directors' offices and auditioned frequently, initially struggling to secure opportunities.[15]

1980s-90s: Debut and breakthrough

Narayan’s Bollywood career began in 1980 when music director Rajesh Roshan offered him his first playback opportunity in the film Unees-Bees, where he recorded a duet with Mohammed Rafi.[19]

His major breakthrough came in 1988 with the soundtrack of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, performed with Alka Yagnik. The song Papa Kehte Hain became a nationwide hit and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1989.[20]

Narayan in 1990s

Narayan won his second Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song Mendi Laga Ke Rakhna from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at the 1996 Filmfare Awards.[21][22]

2000s:

Narayan won his fourth Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song Chand Chhupa Badal Mein from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000), making him the only singer in Filmfare history to win in three different decades.[citation needed]

He won his fifth Filmfare Award for the song Mitwa from the film Lagaan (2001). For the same song, he also won his first National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer, sharing the honor with his other song Jaane Kyon Log from Dil Chahta Hai (2001). His second National Film Award in this category came for Chhote Chhote Sapne from Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai (2002), and his third for "Yeh Taara Woh Taara" from Swades (2004). In addition, he won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri in 2005 as the producer of Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar.

He received the Padma Shri in 2009.[23]

2010s:

Narayan at an album launch event in 2010

In 2016, Narayan was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his contribution to Indian music and playback singing.[24]

Discography

Main articles: List of Hindi songs recorded by Udit Narayan, Bollywood selected discography of Udit Narayan, and List of non-Hindi songs recorded by Udit Narayan

Accolades

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Udit Narayan

Narayan has won four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards. He was awarded the Order of Gorkha Dakshin Bahu, Fourth Class by the King of Nepal in 2001.[25] In India, he received the Padma Shri in 2009[26] and the Padma Bhushan in 2016,[27][28] the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Contribution Award in 2023,[29][30] and the International Buddha Peace Award & Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Award in 2023, awarded by the Maitry Peace Foundation.[31][32] Additionally, in 2012, he served as a jury member for film music at the Global Indian Music Academy Awards.[33]

Acting career

Although primarily known as a playback singer, Narayan also made appearances as an actor, primarily in Nepali cinema.

His most prominent acting role was in the 1985 Nepali film Kusume Rumal, directed by Tulsi Ghimire, in which he both played the lead character and performed the soundtrack.[34][35]

In interviews, Narayan has stated that he took the acting role to support his career while establishing himself as a singer.[36]

Personal life

Narayan with his wife Deepa Narayan Jha

In 2006, Ranjana Narayan claimed to be Narayan's first wife, but Narayan consistently denied it. Later, he accepted her as his wife, whom he married in 1984, and promised to provide for her maintenance.[37][38][39] Udit began a relationship with Deepa Gahatraj while still married to Ranjana. Udit and Deepa were married in 1985. With Deepa Gahatraj, he has one son, Aditya Narayan, who is also a playback singer.[40][37][41][42]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Udit Narayan National award". Filmibeat.com. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Lata Mangeshkar Samman given to Usha Khanna, Udit Narayan and Anu Malik". NDTV. NDTV Convergence Ltd. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  3. ^ "National Film Award Winners". Directorate of Film Festivals – Official. Directorate of Film Festivals, Government of India. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Seven years after Padma Shree, Udit Narayan honoured with Padma Bhushan". Radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  6. ^ Keshri, Shweta (12 February 2022). "Udit Narayan reveals Lata Mangeshkar gave him the title 'Prince of Playback Singing'". India Today. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Udit Narayan's breakthrough song". Outlook India. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Udit Narayan to receive India's Padma Bhushan". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Udit Narayan: Latest News, Videos and Udit Narayan Photos". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Aditya bakes a cake for father Udit Narayan on birthday". Mid-Day. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  11. ^ Shaw, Shri Ram (5 July 2020). "Exclusive – Udit Narayan on completing 40 years in Bollywood: Bitterness of struggle makes success sweeter". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  12. ^ a b Udit Narayan (8 May 2017). "Song Of Life Diary". Outlook. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Artistes have no borders, Udit Narayan tells Nepal". The Times of India. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America Honors Singer Udit Narayan". PatnaDaily. 8 September 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  15. ^ a b "We're a musical family". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Udit Narayan expresses gratitude to fan, wife, farmer parents". India West. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  17. ^ "When Udit Narayan revealed what his papa asked him". AP7AM. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Struggle Is Necessary for Any Artist; Its Bitterness Makes Success Sweeter: Udit Narayan". Sahityapost English. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  19. ^ "ICYMI: Udit Narayan In A 41-Year-Old Pic From His Debut Song Recording". NDTV. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Udit Narayan looks back at his career with affection". Filmfare. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  21. ^ "Filmfare Awards Winners 1996". Filmfare. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  22. ^ "DDLJ Soundtrack". Filmfare. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  23. ^ "Getting Padma Shri a dream come true". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Padma Awards 2016: Full List". NDTV. NDTV. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Udit Narayan". Top Nepal Information. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Receiving Padma Shri is a dream come true: Udit Narayan". Zee News. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Udit Narayan to receive India's Padma Bhushan". Kathmandu Post. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Udit Narayan on Padma Bhushan: "It feels like a dream"". The Indian Express. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  29. ^ "Governor presents Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Awards to Udit Narayan". Raj Bhavan (Maharashtra). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  30. ^ "Governor confers Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Contribution Award to Udit Narayan". The Print. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Kolkata Governor graces the Buddha Peace Award". Maitry Peace Foundation. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  32. ^ "International Buddha Peace Award & Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Award – 2023 ceremony document" (PDF). Maitry Peace Foundation. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  33. ^ "GIMA Awards 2012 – Press Conference". HighOnScore.com. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  34. ^ "Indian Idol 10: Udit Narayan reveals he was paid Rs 1,500 to act as a lead hero". Mid-Day. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  35. ^ "Udit Narayan – Singer and Actor". The Bio Diary. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  36. ^ Sharma, Devesh (19 February 2021). "Udit Narayan reflects on his career". Filmfare. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  37. ^ a b "Udit Narayan meets 'first wife' Ranjana". The Times of India. PTI. 30 June 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  38. ^ "Tale of two wives". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  39. ^ "Udit Narayan's first wife Ranjana Jha files case amidst kiss controversy". Filmfare. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  40. ^ "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs' Aditya Narayan: Today people know me by my name". Hindustan Times. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  41. ^ "Indian Celebrities Who Married Their Mistresses". Indiatimes.com. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  42. ^ Sahay, Anand Mohan (28 June 2006). "Udit Narayan wants compromise with first wife". Rediff.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udit_Narayan