Indian singer (born 1955)

Suresh Ishwar Wadkar (born 7 August 1955) is an Indian playback singer. He performs in both Hindi and Marathi films. He has sung songs in some Bhojpuri films, Odia albums and bhajans and in Konkani films.

He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018 for Sugam Sangeet. In 2020, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri.

Contents

• 1 Early life and musical training
• 2 Singing career
  • 2.1 Marathi music career
• 3 Other work
  • 3.1 Music schools
• 4 Personal life
• 5 Awards
• 6 Collaborators
• 7 Filmography
• 8 References
• 9 External links

Early life and musical training

Wadkar was born in Kolhapur in a middle-cl* family that soon moved to Girangaon. His father Ishwar Wadkar worked in cloth mills and his mother cooked food for the mill workers. In youth, he wrestled at akhadas and frequented the Talwalkar gym with his father, who was also a wrestler.

In 1968, when Wadkar was 13, Jialal Vasant encouraged him to work towards the "Prabhakar" certificate offered by the Prayag Sangit Samiti, because it was equivalent to a BEd and qualifies the awardee to teach professionally. Wadkar successfully completed his "Prabhakar" and joined Arya Vidya Mandir in Mumbai as a music teacher.

Singing career

Though groomed for Indian cl*ical music, Wadkar entered the Sur-Singar compe*ion in 1976. He won the compe*ion which was judged by composers from the Indian film industry including Jaidev and Ravindra Jain. Ravindra Jain introduced him to the world of playback singing, and Wadkar sang Jain's composition Sona Kare Jhilmil Jhilmil Vrishti Pade Tapur Tupur in the film Paheli (1977). Jaidev also offered him the song "Seene Mein Jalan" in the film Gaman (1978).

At the time, Lata Mangeshkar was so impressed with his voice that she strongly recommended him to film personalities including Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Khayyam and Kalyanji-Anandji. Laxmikant-Pyarelal, impressed with his voice, soon recorded a duet with Lata, "Chal Chameli Bagh Mein" for Krodhi (1981). Soon after, he was given the opportunity to perform for songs in Hum Paanch, Pyaasa Sawan ("Megha Re Megha Re") and above all, his turning point in films – Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (1982). After that, Wadkar sang many songs under the R. K. Banner, and he often gave his voice for Rishi Kapoor in Heena, Prem Granth, Bol Radha Bol, Vijay and others. He also sang for Rajiv Kapoor in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. One of his most famous songs is "Tum Se Milke" from Parinda (1989).

Wadkar sang his first Tamil song in the 2009 film Kanden Kadhalai, an adaptation of the Hindi blockbuster Jab We Met. The song is a ghazal type song called "Naan Mozhi Arindhaen".

He has sung numerous devotional songs in various Indian languages for many denominations including many Vaishnav and Shaivite sampradayas such as the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

In 1996, Wadkar sang Channeache Rati among several other songs in Rajendra Talak's Konkani album Daryachya Deger with Asha Bhosle.

Marathi music career

Suresh Wadkar has worked with some of the top cl* Marathi music directors like Pt.Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke, Shrinivas Khale, Shridhar Phadke, Vasant Desai, Ashok Patki, Anil-Arun etc.

Other work

In 2002, Wadkar produced the film "Tanman.com".

In 2003, he collaborated with arist Shivanand (Udayraj A. Gadnis) on Cosmic Raga Mandal prjoect.

He was a judge on the Indian TV singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs and at the 2005 Sangeet Awards.

In 2022, he was the judge for Zee TV's devotional music reality show Swarna Swar Bharat along with *ar Vishwas and Kailash Kher.

Music schools

Wadkar is the director of the Ajivasan Music Academy in Mumbai He also has a training ins*ute in and New Jersey/New York City area. He has also started an online music school, called SWAMA (Suresh Wadkar Ajivasan Music Academy), under Ace Open University.

Personal life

Wadkar is married to cl*ical singer Padma and the couple has two daughters.

Awards

Wadkar was conferred upon the National award for best playback singer by President Pratibha Patil for his rendition of Hey Bhaskara in the biopic Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (2010).

In 1976, Wadkar won the Madan Mohan Best Male Singer Award at the Sur-Singar compe*ion. He is also a recipient of the 2004 Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar ins*uted by Madhya Pradesh government. He also won the 2007 Maharashtra Pride Award which is given by the government of Maharashtra to citizens of note. In 2011, he won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Hey Bhaskara K*ijavari Ya" from the Marathi film Mee Sindhutai Sapkal. He got awarded by Late Sadashiv Amarapurkar Award 2017 by Ahmednagar's Think Global Foundation.He, along with KK, holds the record for most number of Filmfare Nominations for Best Singer without winning even one.

He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018 for Sugam Sangeet. On January 25, 2020, his name was announced for Government of India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, for his work in the field of arts.

Collaborators

Suresh Wadkar has sung for a variety of composers in the Indian film industry. These include:

• Shrinivas Khale (Marathi)
• Shridhar Phadke (Marathi)
• Anil-Arun
• Laxmikant Pyarelal
• Kalyanji Anandji
• R.D. Burman
• Ilayaraja
• Ravindra Jain
• Bappi Lahiri
• Khaiyyam
• Usha Khanna
• Arun Paudwal
• A.R. Rahman
• Vidyasagar
• Nadeem-Shravan
• Vishal Bhardwaj
• Rajesh Roshan
• Raamlaxman
• Shiv-Hari
• Jatin–Lalit
• Hridaynath Mangeshkar
• Shridhar Phadke
• Anand–Milind
• Anu Malik
• Himesh Reshammiya
• Shanker
• Ravi
• Chitragupta
• Rajkamal
• Jaidev
• Brahma *aris
• Kaushal Inamdar
• Dr Swaroop Roy

Filmography

• Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai 2 (2015)
• Haider (2014)
• Kahin Hai Mera Pyar (2014)
• Yeh Khula Aasmaan (2012)
• 7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
• Kanden Kadhalai (2009) (Tamil)
• Ghauttham (2009) (Kannada)
• Kaminey (2009)
• Ek Vivaah... Aisa Bhi (2008)
• Omkara (2006)
• Vivah (2006)
• Bal Ganesh (2006)
• Naam Gum Jaayega (2005)
• Indra (2002)
• Hu Tu Tu (1999)
• Sar Utha Ke Jiyo (1998)
• Satya (1998)
• Lahoo Ke Do Rang (1997)
• Bhai (1997)
• Maachis (1996)
• Muqaddar (1996)
• Prem Granth (1996)
• Rangeela (1995)
• Ghatak (1995)
• Udhaar Ki Zindagi (1994)
• Aaina (1993)
• In Custody (1993)
• Lootere (1993)
• Kayda Kanoon (1993)
• Sangeet (1992)
• Parampara (1992)
• Dil Aashna Hai (1992)
• Ghar Jamai (1992)
• Vansh (1992)
• Thalapathi (1991)
• Lamhe (1991)
• Lekin... (1991)
• Henna (1991)
• Kurbaan (1991)
• Aaj Ka Samson (1991)
• Patthar Ke Phool (1991)
• The Blow (1991)
• Shiva (1990)
• Dil (1990)
• Maha-Sangram (1990)
• Parinda (1989)
• Bhrashtachar (1989)
• Toofan (1989)
• Purani Haveli (1989)
• Chandni (1989)
• Hero Hiralal (1988)
• Waaris (1988)
• Hero Hiralal (1988)
• Libaas (1988)
• Thikana (1987)
• Hifazat (1987) directed by Prayag Raj
• Saveray Wali Gaadi (1986)
• Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
• Lallu Ram (1985)
• Utsav (1984)
• Sadma (1983)
• Masoom (1983)
• Disco Dancer (1982)
• Prem Rog (1982)
• Maine Jeena Seekh Liya (1982) (first Hindi movie music composition by Nadeem-Shravan)
• Pyaasa Sawan (1981)
• Hum Paanch (1980)
• Gaman (1978)
• Paheli (1977)

Devotional

• Omkar Swarupa
• Jai Shri Swaminarayan
• Sai Tum Yaad Aye
• Sai Naam Ek Rang Anek
• Sampoorana Geeta-Hindi
• Shiva Chalisa
• Gururaya Aathvito Tujhiye Paaya
• Om Namah Shivaya Mantra
• Namo Namaha He Pramukh Swami
• Koti Koti Vandan Kariye
• Swaminarayan Charan Kamalama
• Parabrahma Tame He Purushottam

References

External links

• Ajivasan Music Academy
• Suresh Wadkar at IMDb