Anuradha Paudwal

Anuradha Paudwal
Paudwal in 2011
Born
Alka Nadkarni

(1954-10-27) 27 October 1954 (age 69)[1]
Karwar,[2] Karnataka, India
Occupations
  • Playback singer
  • Bhajan singer
Years active1973–present
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
(2024 – present)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1969; died 1991)​
Children2, including Kavita Paudwal
AwardsSee below
Honours
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels

Anuradha Paudwal (born 27 October 1954) is an Indian playback singer and politician who works predominantly in Hindi cinema.[3][4][5] She has been described in media as one of the most prominent Bhajan singers[6] and also as one of the most successful playback singers of 80s and 90s era of Bollywood.[7][8][9] The recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards (winning consecutively during 1990–92) and two Odisha State Film Awards, she has been honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian honour for her contribution in the field of arts. Her contribution in Indian devotional music and Bollywood Industry gained her the titles such as "Bhajan Queen", "Melody Queen".[10][11]

She was honored with honorary degree of D.Litt. by D Y Patil University, the second singer to receive this degree after Lata Mangeshkar.[12][13] She is engaged in social work and had a foundation named Suryodaya Foundation.[14] In her career spanning over five decades Paudwal has recorded more than 9,000 songs and more than 1,500 bhajans in several languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Assamese, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Nepali and Maithili.[13][15][16] She is ranked NO. 31 in Youtube's Music Charts and Insights list of top global artist as of 3 February 2022.[8] She has been on chart since last 237 weeks.[17] She has been awarded a doctorate in music by DY Patil University felicitated by the house of commons in England and awarded the Cultural ambassador to Indian devotional by the United Nations in New York.[18][19]

She started her political career by joining Bharatiya Janata Party on 16th March 2024 ahead of 2024 Indian general election.[20]

  1. ^ Bajaj, Puja (27 October 2014). "अनुराधा पौडवाल Happy Birthday, जानें उनकी जिंदगी से जुड़ी कुछ बातें" (in Hindi). Aaj Tak. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  2. ^ Anuradha Poudwal (in Marathi). Goa Entertainment. 6 May 2020. Event occurs at 2:43. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ Ravi, S. (29 April 2016). "'Success is ephemeral': Anuradha Paudwal". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Wanted to quit playback singing at my peak: Anuradha Paudwal". Hindustan Times. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Anuradha Paudwal birthday special: Top 10 songs from the soulful voice". The Free Press Journal. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  6. ^ प्रसिद्ध गायिका अनुराधा पौडवाल के साथ खास चर्चा, retrieved 23 July 2022
  7. ^ "Bollywood singers who ruled the '90s". MSN. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Anuradha Paudwal, The Melodious Voice of '80s And '90s in India, Turns 66". News18. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Top 10 Best Female Indian Singers". TheTopTens. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  10. ^ "How Gulshan Kumar turned Anuradha Paudwal into a bhajan queen: 'He wanted me to record ten songs in a day'". The Indian Express. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ Mohanty, Nochiketa (13 October 2019). "Anuradha Paudwal: Struggles & Success Of Bollywood Melody Queen". odishabytes. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Playback singer Anuradha Paudwal to be conferred with honorary D Litt degree". The Indian Express. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Anuradha Paudwal to be conferred with honorary D.Litt degree". India Today. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Anuradha Paudwal contributes to donation of cardiac ambulance". The New Indian Express. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Suryodaya Foundation – Suryodaya Foundation". Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  16. ^ "93 Indian Popular Female Singers". thelistacademy.com. May 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  17. ^ "It is prasad for my hard work: Anuradha Paudwal on Padma Shri". The Indian Express. Mumbai. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Anuradha Paudwal gets conferred with the title of Vidushi and Ashthan Gayanee - Times of India". The Times of India. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Anuradha Paudwal Was Honoured As The Cultural Ambassador Of Devotional Music". Urban Asian. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Bollywood singer Anuradha Paudwal joins BJP". The Times of India. 16 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 16 March 2024.