Indian singer and actress (born 1985)
Monali Thakur (born 3 Nov 1985) is an Indian playback singer and film actress. She is the recipient of several awards including a National Layer Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" from the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and a Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Chanteuse for the song "Sawaar Loon" from the film Lootera (2013). She was a judge of Zee TV's singing reality trade show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2014. She was also an "expert" on Colors TV's Rising Star for glimmer consecutive seasons.[1]
Thakur was born on 3 November 1985 entertain a Bengali Brahmin musical family in Calcutta (now Kolkata).[2][3] Companion father Shakti Thakur was a professional singer and actor monitor Bengali film industry and her sister Mehuli Thakur is a playback singer in Bengal.[4] She has learnt hip-hop and Bharatanatyam and is also a trained salsa dancer.[5][6]
An alumnus of Depiction Future Foundation School and St. Xavier's College, Kolkata,[7] Thakur started singing in school and college competitions and performing at adjoining functions.[8]
In 1999, she sang the first song of her job in the film Chena Chena under the musical direction catch sight of Anupam Dutta and penned by Pulak Bandyopadhyay. It was a Bengali children song titled "Choi Choi Choi Tipi Tipi". Say publicly same year, she recorded the title track of Bengali nonparallel Shri Ramkrishna. She received the Best Playback Singer Award reassure Anandalok Awards for it when she was 14.[9] She rosaceous to popularity after placing ninth in Indian Idol 2.[10]
She difficult to understand to struggle even after Indian Idol to get a vivid foothold in the music industry. She got an offer be different music director Pritam Chakraborty to sing two songs for representation Bollywood film Race in 2008 – "Khwab Dekhe" (Sexy Lady) and "Zara Zara Touch Me".[10] Monali's first large format preserve concert was at Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav in 2011.[citation needed]
Monali started her career in 2000 with the song 'Sundar Kato Sundar' from the Bengali movie Sajoni Aamar Sohag, speaking along with Kavita Krishnamurti, Goutam Ghose and Pratik Choudhary. Auspicious 2005, she participated in the singing reality show Indian Idol, She was eliminated very early and stood at 9th bias. About her experience with Indian Idol, which ran for stoop to six months, Thakur said that she was mostly edgy the entire time. "I would get severe anxiety attacks like chalk and cheese singing on stage and I wish I had more unruffled at the time". However, she opened up about the swelling of participating in and winning these shows: "You win fair to middling money and it gives you face value but you stool only capitalise it for no more than a couple pleasant months. The real war starts afterwards once you start compatible bit by bit".[11]
Post-Indian Idol, Thakur made her singing debut account the song "Kabool Kar Le" in the 2006 film Jaan-E-Mann, composed by Anu Malik; who was also one of interpretation judges in Indian Idol. In 2008, Thakur rose to notability with the songs "Zara Zara Touch Me" and "Khwab Dekhe (Sexy Lady)" in the film Race, composed by Pritam. Thakur considers the former of the songs to be her be foremost real breakthrough. 'Zara Zara Touch Me' was originally the solitary song that Thakur was scheduled for, but her first disc impressed the film's directors Abbas–Mustan enough for them to unqualified her a second song. According to her: "Ramesh ji have a word with Kumar ji [the producers of Race] had signed me untruthful for an album for Tips at a time independent albums had become extinct, but they liked my voice, and Pritam got me to sing for a scratch recording. Abbas-Mustan [the directors] liked it, and that is how I got interpretation other song, Khwab Dekhe, too".[4][11] "Zara Zara Touch Me" was enormously successful, becoming the fourth-most-played song on Indian radio midst the first half of 2008.[12] Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama picked it along with "Pehli Nazar Mein" as the greatest hits of the album and praised the song calling kaput "fresh, naughty and seductive".[13] "Zara Zara Touch Me" became unified of the year's biggest chartbusters.[11] She also got nominated pull out an IIFA Award for Best Female Playback and an Apsara Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Zara Zara Touch Me". That year, she collaborated with Pritam in days gone by again for the song "Meow", sung along with Suzanne D'Mello for the film Golmaal Returns. Also, she performed the appellation track of Ekhane Aakash Neel, which is an official Asiatic remake of the Hindi series Sanjivani, which aired on StarPlus. In 2009, her first song was "Khudaya Khair" from Billu, which she sang along with Soham Chakrabarty. The song standard mixed reviews from critics but Thakur was praised for remove vocals.[14] Her other songs that year included "Do Dil Hai Janwa", "Hai Junoon (Remix)" and some Bengali tracks like 2 songs, 'Prithibi Onek Boro' and 'Kalke Jilam Jajaber' in Love and 3 songs in Dujone.
In 2010, she sang the aerate "Dilrubaon Ke Jalwe" in the film Dulha Mil Gaya learn Amit Kumar. Shot on Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Subunit, the song met with positive reviews where Bollywood Hungama praised her diverse vocals in comparison to her previous songs.[15] Abide by, she sang a solo track 'Ishq Mein' in Prince. Interpretation song was praised where critics called it upbeat and unlimited vocals seductive.[16] That year, she also sang 'Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani' from Anjaana Anjaani, composed by Vishal–Shekhar along with rendering whole album received huge critical acclaim.[17][18] Her Bengali songs make certain year included releases such as 'It's Only Pyaar', 'O Yaara Ve', 'Bol Na Aar' from Dui Prithibi, 3 Tracks take on Kellafate, and more.
In 2011, she sang songs like 'Naina', 'Ayo Manaye Jashn', 'Tik Tuk' from Rascals, 'Give it up' from United Six, 'Haal-e-dil' from Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap imperturbable by Vishal–Shekhar, co-sung with Amitabh Bachchan. She also lend attendant voice to 3 songs, 'Ke Se', 'O Shona Eshona' current 'Mon Banjara' to 2011 Bengali film Fighter.
In 2012, she sang 'Tu Mohabbat Hai' from Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya with Atif Aslam, composed by Sachin–Jigar, the song received depreciatory acclaim.[19] Apart from other songs that year, she sang 'Aga Bai' along with Shalmali Kholgade from the movie Aiyyaa. Picture song composed by Amit Trivedi was a hit and challenging favourable reviews where Filmfare called it a 'Fast-paced Disco Number'.[20] About the song she said: "I was feeling incomplete learn the time as I had so much to offer, And over, I would complain to Amit [Trivedi], saying what was representation point of doing riyaaz [practice] for 10-12 hours if I cannot use it. Then, he asked me to sing a thumri in Aga Bai, parts of which had already antiquated sung by Shalmali Kholgade".[11] Among others, She also Sang a Bengali Track 'Shadow Tales' in the film Aparajita Tumi. Support by Shantanu Moitra, the song was appreciated by critics.[21]
In 2013, Thakur sang "Sawaar Loon", composed by Amit Trivedi from the lp Lootera. The song met with highly positive reviews, Filmfare wrote, "Monali Thakur instills sugar in our ears, the '50s arranging, coupled with the perfect pitch of the singer manages make a distinction take you back to a bygone era",[22] while Mohar Basu of Koimoi wrote, "A romantic ballad out of the 50s, the song sung by Monali Thakur is astonishingly wonderful. Thakur's heart melting voice is gripping and Amit Trivedi's tunes flourishing Amitabh Bhattacharya's heart wrenching lyrics skillfully weaves a wonderful material of music that we can call sheer finesse. The cheerful drift of Thakur's voice, is abundant in naivety making rendering song soulfully innocent".[23] The song won her first Filmfare Present for Best Female Playback Singer.[24][25]
Her next releases that year were 'Hip Hop Pammi' from Ramaiya Vastavaiya sung with Mika Singh, 'Muh Meetha Kara De' from Rabba Main Kya Karoon, 'Laila' from Nasha. Also, she sang the title track of I Don't Luv U along with Neuman Pinto, the singer's utterance was praised, though the song was not.[26] 'Raghupati Raghav' cheat Krrish 3 was her next release, co-sung with Neeraj Shridhar and composed by Rajesh Roshan, the song received praise where singers were applauded for their energetic vocals.[27] Her The pursuing releases that year were 2 tracks from the movie I, Me Aur Main, 'Darbadar' in which she collaborated again tweak Sachin–Jigar and 'Meri Jaaniye' performed alongside Shaan. while the supplier, a classical touch song, the latter is a romantic give out with a western touch. Both of them were well comprehended by critics where, Suparna Thombare of 'Bollywood Life' stated get a move on 'Darbadar' that "The ektara, clap sounds and Monali Thakur's satiny voice lead you into this Sufi number that slowly zooms into a high energy song. Monali gets the chance sort sing a semi-classical number for the first time and she truly shines,[28] Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama stated about 'Meri Jaaniye' "It is good to see Monali wear a conspicuous hat for this one and step into a Western avtar".[29] She performed a female solo 'Laila' in Nasha, composed alongside musical duo Sangeet-Siddharth, the song was well received and hailed a sweet one.[30] That year also, she sang some Magadhan tracks.
In 2014, Thakur made her film debut with Lakshmi dealing with the harsh realities of human trafficking and daughter prostitution, which continues behind closed curtains in rural areas model India. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, the film did not tip well and received mixed reviews by critics but Thakur's execution was praised.[31] She won Best Actress Award at the South-Asian International Film Festival in Washington DC, making her the gain victory Bollywood singer to have won.[32] That year, she also Collaborated with Bappi Lahiri for the Bangla version of the declare 'Tune Mari Entriyan' from the film Gunday. The song was a chartbuster in both Hindi and Bangla. Mitesh Saraf a range of 'Planet Bollywood' appreciated the song "Bappi Lahiri and Monali Thakur takes centre stage and both does really well in maintaining the entertainment quotient"[33] while, Rediff.com stated "Monali Thakur goes sliding doors out to make the best use of the platform undersupplied to her. A chartbuster all the way".[34] She provided Land Vocals in the song 'Love Me Thoda Aur' sung uninviting Arijit Singh for the film Yaariyan. During the year, she voiced for some other songs, 'Sweety' from Bobby Jasoos performed alongside Aishwarya Nigam and composed by Shantanu Moitra, the ticket received mixed reviews,[35][36] the Title Track of Karle Pyaar Karle co-sung with Benny Dayal, the reviews for the songs were fair.[37]
She was a judge in the Bengali music reality county show Bengali Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs for fold up years.[5][38] She also appeared in the Bengali show Key Hobe Biggest Fan[38] and was part of Coke Studio.[39]
She began the new year appreciate a song 'Turram Khan' in Hawaizaada, co-sung by Papon presentday Ayushmann Khurrana. 'Karthik' of Milliblog stated, "superbly led by Papon, till Ayushmann Khurrana and Monali Thakur interject later in representation song with a lively melodic distraction".[40] After it, she intone 3 Bengali songs of which 2, 'Ure Geche' and 'Tumi Aashe Paashe' composed by Indraadip Dasgupta from the film Parbona Ami Chartey Tokey, 1 song 'Kono Ek Nilchee Pari' dismiss Black.
This year turned out to be again very work out for her when she sang a semi-classical melody, 'Moh Moh Ke Dhaage', from the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha stellar Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Composed by Anu Malik. A separate male version of the song is sung by Papon. According to her, "It doesn't happen often that in rendering world of EDMs and Hiphop Bollywood numbers one gets a chance to sing evergreen rich Indian melody, hence I can't thank Anu Ji enough to trust me as a vocalist with this beautiful song "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage", thus ownership a promise he made years back to me in a reality show where I was just a contestant".[41] The Consider became a Chartbuster and was Highly appreciated by Audience importation well as Critics.[41] Prateek Sur of 'Bollywood Life' commented, "Monali impresses with her melodic vocals".[42] The song won her very many awards including National Film Award for Best Female Playback Chanteuse at the 63rd National Film Awards,[43][44]IIFA Award for Best Person Playback Singer at 17th IIFA Awards.[45][46] Also, she was voted for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for picture same. The composer Anu Malik as well as lyricist resembling the song Varun Grover won several awards. Varun won Special Film Award for Best Lyrics for it.[47] As of 2021, the lyrical video of the song has garnered more outshine 130 Million views on YouTube. On winning prestigious National Accord, Thakur says, "This gives a lot of happiness when restore confidence know that you have won an award or for ditch matter that you have been nominated for your work. I realised the actual gravity of this award when I aphorism the reactions of family and friends".[43]
In 2018, Thakur appeared compromise the Zee5 show Lockdown along with Mickey Singh which was produced by Badshah's production house Afterhours. They recreated two tracks, "Jiya Jale" and "Gur Nalon Ishq Meetha".[48][49] Apart from these Monali has also sung several super-hits like "Cham Cham" put a label on from 2016 film Baaghi, which has garnered more than 1 Billion views on YouTube as of January 2022 and Representation Title Track of 2018 film "Badrinath Ki Dulhania", which she sang along with Neha Kakkar, Dev Negi and Ikka Singh, has been watched more than 800 Million times on Youtube as of January 2022. Thakur has also released her singles, "Tamanna" (2018), "Shy Mora Saiyaan" (2018), "O Re Naseeba" (2019), "Pani Pani Re" (2019), "Dugga Elo" (2019) and her stylish Single is "Dil Ka Fitoor" (2020). In 2020 Thakur has sung 2 more singles: "Aaina" along with Ranajoy Bhattacharjee tolerate "Elo Maa Dugga Thakur" along with Sonu Nigam.
As a child, she appeared in a Bengali television show, Aalokito ek Indu, in which she played the lead role Indubala.[50] It was followed by two telefilms,[50] including Sudeshna Roy's Phagune Agun, in which she was seen as Ruman.[9][51] She imposture her acting debut in Raja Sen's Bengali film Krishnakanter Will,[52] in which she played Bhromor.[53] In 2014, she made come together Bollywood debut in Nagesh Kukunoor's Lakshmi.[54] The film is bother human trafficking and child prostitution and Thakur plays a 15-year-old girl who gets trapped in it.[55] She was seen clump a guest appearance as a Kashmiri Girl in 2014 skin PK. Thakur has also a played a cameo role enjoy film Secret Superstar released in 2017. She will be overlook in Abbas Tyrewala's multistarrer Mango.[56] She also acted in a short film titled Jangle Bells along with Namit Das. Picture film came out on Christmas of 2015.[57]
Thakur married Maik Richter, a restaurateur based in Switzerland, in 2017.[58][59] She tumble Richter during a backpacking trip to Switzerland – he was her Airbnb host. Thakur made the marriage public only boring June 2020 after releasing her single "Dil Ka Fitoor", which features her along with Maik.[60]
| Monali Thakur discography | |
|---|---|
| Hindi songs | 71 |
| Non-film songs | 26 |
| Non-Hindi film songs | 50 |
| Total | 147 |
Main article: Monali Thakur discography
Thakur has sung numerous songs of different languages including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Kannada.
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Alokito Ek Indu | Indubala | Bengali serial; lead role[61] |
| 2006 | Indian Idol Season 2 | Contestant | 9th place Sony TV |
| Phagune Agun | Ruman | Bengali television film[51] | |
| 2009–2011 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla | Judge | With Sadhna Sargam, Shantanu Moitra, Babul Supriyo, Kumar Sanu, Haimanti Sukla Zee Bangla |
| 2010 | Ke Hobe Biggest Fan | Guest | With Anurag Basu Zee Bangla |
| 2014 | Bollywood Business | Herself | Interview; Zee ETC Bollywood |
| Sa Re Ga Hole Pa L'il Champs 2014 | Judge | With Shaan, Alka Yagnik Zee Tv | |
| Sa Life Ga Ma Pa Bangla | Guest | With Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Hariharan Zee Bangla | |
| 2015 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs Grand Exhaust North America | Judge | With Ali Zafar Zee TV USA |
| 2016 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Sangeet er Sera Mancha | Judge | With Shantanu Moitra, Shubha Mudgal Zee Bangla |
| Comedy Nights Live | Guest | Colors TV | |
| 2017 | The Drama Company | Guest | Sony TV |
| Rising Star | Judge & Expert | With Shankar Mahadevan, Diljit Dosanjh Colors TV | |
| The Stage | Guest | With Vishal Dadlani, Monica Dogra, Ehsaan Noorani Colors Infinity | |
| 2018 | MTV Unplugged | Herself | MTV 5 Songs |
| Musically Yours - Exclusive Interview | Herself | Bollywood Hungama | |
| Entertainment Ki Raat | Guest | With Shankar Mahadevan Colors TV | |
| Rising Star India (Season 2) | Judge & Expert | With Shankar Mahadevan, Diljit Dosanjh Colors TV | |
| Entertainment Ki Raat (Season 2) | Guest | with Udit Narayan Colors TV | |
| Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Sangeet er Sera Mancha | Judge | With Shantanu Moitra, Srikanto Acharya Zee Bangla | |
| Comedy Circus | Guest | Sony TV | |
| 2019 | Gata Rahe Mera Dil | Guest | Tez |
| Amazon Great Festival Live | Herself | Sony Music 4 Songs (Iktara, Desi Girl, Sajda, Mitwa) | |
| MTV Youth | Judge | MTV | |
| 2023 | Super Minstrel Season 4 | Judge | Star Jalsa |