Alka Yagnik  share

Born in Calcutta on 20th March in a Gujarati family, Alka Yagnik began showcasing her talent at a very young age. Both her parents were actively involved in classical music. Her musical career began at the age of six, while she started rendering devotional songs for Calcutta Radio. At the age of eight, she was already an All India Radio artiste in Calcutta. She won a Sugam Sangeet competition in Calcutta at the age of 11. She came to Mumbai at the age of 10, along with her mother to try her luck as a child singer. Eminent music directors Kalyanji and Anandji got impressed by her gifted voice. However, they advised her to wait till her voice gets matured to become a full fledged singer. She also received the same advice from renowned music composer Laxmikant and decided to wait for three more years She began her Bollywood music career in 1979, with a few lines in Rajashri\'s Payal Ki Jhankar. Even though her first full - fledged song was Hum Tum Rahenge…. for Rajesh Roshan in Hamari Bahu her first release proved to be the super - hit Mere Angne Mein…
Around this time, she recorded her first song for Laxmikant - PyarelalJaldi Se Aa…, in Jeevan Dhara in 1982 with Anuradha Paudwal and Kavita Krishnamurty. All through the 80\'s, she did keep singing regularly in films like Loha, Mera Jawaab, Pighalta Aasman, Ghar Dwar and others. It was in 1988 that she got her breakthrough with the song that was to launch Madhuri Dixit and rank among the greatest and most evergreen cult songs - Ek Do Teen Char… in Tezaab. The song \'So Gaya Yeh Jahan… from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, had Alka as the only female singer, finally established her as a front - ranker. She had hits after hits, such as Akele Hum Akele Tum, Deewana, Baazigar, Karan Arjun, Criminal, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Khamoshi, Raja Hindustani, Taal, Refugee and many more. She has also sung in other languages such as Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Punjabi. She is one of the most sought after playback singers and has contributed immensely to the music industry.

Awards and Honor:
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - National Award -Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke - 1994.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - National Award Kuch Kuch Kota Hai - 1999.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award Tezaab - 1988.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award - Khalnayak - 1993.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award - Pardes - 1997.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award - Taal - 1999.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award - Dhadkan - 2000.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award - Lagaan - 2001.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Filmfare Award - Hum Tum - 2004.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - IIFA Award - Taal 1999.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - IIFA Award - Kaho Na Pyar Hai - 2001.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Zee Cine Award - Kuch Kuch Kota Hai - 1999.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Zee Cine Award - Kaho Na Pyar Hai - 2001.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Zee Cine Award - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - 2007.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Star Screen Award - Haqeeqat - 1995.
• Best Female Playback Singer Award - Star Screen Award - Refugee - 2000.