UDIT NARAYAN: Born on December 1, 1955, in Baisi, Bihar, Udit Narayan (Jha) is renowned for his rich voice
that has given us melodious hits in the 80s and 90s. He continues to be a popular singer
captivating audiences across the world with his mellifluous voice and versatile singing style.
His life story is an utterly inspiring one, the journey of a small-town boy with oodles of talent who
comes to the rough and tumble city of dreams, Mumbai, and goes on to be a legendary singer.
Doubtless, it is a tale of talent, dedication, and steadfast love and passion for music.
Udit Narayan turns 68 on December 1, 2023. He began his singing career in the early 1980s as
a playback singer with the film Unees Bees (1980), starring Mithun Chakraborty. He has lent his
voice to over 140 Hindi films to date.
He has also sung playback for films in several Indian languages and has several popular solo
and duet numbers to his credit.
His initial years in Mumbai were those of struggle, patience, and perseverance. Not only did he
face several rejections despite being talented, but he was compelled to work on small projects
to meet his finances.
As the story goes, his determination and faith in his art never faltered. Finally, the big break
came in 1988 with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, the tragic-romance film starring Aamir Khan.
“Papa Kehte Hain” went on to break records and stayed on top of every youngster’s mind as
he/she hummed it everywhere. It assumed the position of a ‘youth anthem’ in India back in the
day catapulted Udit Narayan to fame. He won his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback
Singer for the song.
Thereafter, Narayan’s career zoomed in, and he was easily in the big league of Bollywood singers
of his time. He became one of the most sought-after playback singers, delivering hit after hit
across genres. His immense versatility and ability to adapt to styles soon made him a favourite
in the industry.
Narayan married Deepa Gahatraj in 1985, and the couple had their son in 1987. He was named
Aditya.
Udit Narayan’s songs remain a favorite for the generation that was growing up in the 80s and
90s of India. From Papa Kehte Hain to Tip Tip Barsa Pani, thanks to his voice, so many songs
remain immemorable today.
Bengali