Last night, singer Alka Yagnik added another feather to her illustrious cap, receiving the Padma Bhushan from Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The gifted singer has gone through some health troubles recently and we wish her a speedy recovery. A gifted young singer, she sang with contemporary stars as well as legends like Kishore Kumar! The first hit song I can remember of Alka is Mere Angne main in Laawaris!
A quick dive into Alkaji's career;
Alka Yagnik (born March 20, 1966) is one of India’s most celebrated playback singers, renowned for her versatile voice and immense contribution to Hindi cinema with a staggering number of songs and record breaking digital downloads. Born in Kolkata to a Gujarati family, she grew up in a musically inclined household. Her father, Dharmendra Shankar, worked as a Navy officer, while her mother, Shubha Yagnik, a trained classical singer, became her first guru and strongest supporter.
Alka began singing devotional songs (bhajans) for All India Radio, Kolkata, at the tender age of six. At ten, her mother took her to Mumbai to pursue a singing career. Though initially advised to wait until her voice matured, Alka’s determination paid off. She made her Bollywood debut with a few lines in Payal Ki Jhankaar (1979) and sang her first full song in Laawaris (1981) when she was just 15! Even Shreya Ghoshal was 16 when she sang for Devdas!
Alka's big breakthrough came in 1988 with the chart-topping, energetic number “Ek Do Teen” from Tezaab, which won her the first of her seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer. This catapulted her to stardom in the late 1980s and 1990s, where she became the dominant female voice in Bollywood alongside singers and frequent singing partners like Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan.
Alka’s voice is celebrated for its clarity, emotional depth, and ability to handle diverse genres - from romantic melodies and dance numbers to qawwalis and folk-infused tracks. Iconic songs include “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” (Khalnayak), “Taal Se Taal” (Taal), “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” “Hum Tum,” and , well, too many memorable duets to list. She has, allegedly, sung over 2,400 Hindi songs across more than 1,100 films and recorded in over 25 languages.
Her accolades include two National Film Awards, a record seven Filmfare Awards (from 37 nominations), and, as of yesterday, the prestigious Padma Bhushan (2026). Despite facing hearing challenges later in life, Alka remains a revered figure in Indian music for her four-decade journey as the “Melody Queen” of Bollywood.
Alka sang over two dozen songs for Sridevi - from the passable ditties in Ghar Sansar in 1986, to the fabulous solo Hakka illa re in the underrated Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha. Funnily enough, both by Rajesh Roshan, king of the underrated Music Directors of India!
Though she famously sang many of Madhuri Dixit's major hits (Ek do teen, Dekha hai pehli baar etc onwards), she was a playback singer for Sridevi in several memorable films (and a few forgettable ones!). Here's a chronological list of songs Alka Yagnik - who was only three years younger than Sridevi - sang for the screen queen;
| Year | Film | Song Title | Music Director | Lyricist | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Ghar Sansar | Jeevan Ke Raaste Mein | Rajesh Roshan | Indeevar | With Kishore Kumar & Mohammed Aziz |
| 1986 | Ghar Sansar | Meri Oonchi Nahin Deewaar | Rajesh Roshan | Indeevar | Solo |
| 1991 | Garajna | Bambai Mein Baat Hui / Pyar Hua | Bappi Lahiri | Indeevar / Anjaan | Duet (with Bappi Lahiri) |
| 1991 | Pathar Ke Insan | Tu Hi Meri Prem Kahani | Bappi Lahiri | Indeevar | Duet (with Mohammed Aziz) |
| 1991 | Pathar Ke Insan | Pathar Ke Insan (Title Song) | Bappi Lahiri | Indeevar | Duet (with Amit Kumar) |
| 1991 | Farishtay | Apna Hai Raaj Phir Kahe Ka Raja | Bappi Lahiri | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Shabbir Kumar) |
| 1991 | Banjaran | Teri Banjaran Rasta Dekhe | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Solo |
| 1991 | Banjaran | Mere Dil Ki Galiyon Mein | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Suresh Wadkar) |
| 1992 | Khuda Gawah | Tu Na Jaa Mere Badshah | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Mohammed Aziz) |
| 1992 | Khuda Gawah | Deewana Mujhe Kar Gaya | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Mohammed Aziz) |
| 1992 | Khuda Gawah | Mere Watan Mein Maine | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Suresh Wadkar) |
| 1993 | Chandramukhi | Tere Dil Ki Baat Main Janoon | Anand-Milind | Sameer | Duet (with Kumar Sanu) |
| 1993 | Gumrah | Tere Pyar Ko Salaam | Bappi Lahiri | Sameer | Duet (with Kumar Sanu) |
| 1994 | Laadla | Mere Ghulam Tera | Anand-Milind | Sameer | Duet (with Udit Narayan) |
| 1996 | Army | Main To Hoon Pagal Munda | Anand-Milind | Sameer | Duet (with Vinod Rathod) |
| 1996 | Army | Ek Beeti Hui Kahani | Anand-Milind | Sameer | Solo |
| 1996 | Army | Ho Gayee Tiyar Hamari Army | Anand-Milind | Sameer | Multi (with Vinod Rathod, Abhijeet & others) |
| 1996 | Mr. Bechara | Jaanam Meri Jaanam | Anand-Milind | Sameer / Nawab Arzoo | Duet (with Udit Narayan) |
| 1996 | Mr. Bechara | Khoyi Khoyi Aankhon Mein | Anand-Milind | Nawab Arzoo | Duet (with Udit Narayan) |
| 1997 | Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha | Chanchal Hawaon Se | Rajesh Roshan | Sameer | Solo |
| 1997 | Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha | Dil Se Judi Dil Ki Kadi | Rajesh Roshan | Sameer | Duet (with Kumar Sanu) |
| 1997 | Judaai | Judaai Judaai | Nadeem–Shravan | Sameer | Multi (with Hariharan & Jaspinder Narula) |
| 2004 | Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin | Aisa To Koi Aur Duja | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Kumar Sanu) |
| 2004 | Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin | Hamra Sajan Sang Tha Wada | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Solo |
| 2004 | Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin | Hum Sang Kitna Pyar Hai | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | Anand Bakshi | Duet (with Udit Narayan) |
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