Suresh Watkar – the classical singer of bollywood.
Suresh Wadkar is one of the leading classical singers of the present times who had made significant contribution in bollywood films. When he was young he learnt music from Pandit Jialal Vasant. He caught the attention of noted composer Jaidev who gave him a break in the film Gaman, in 1978, with the song “seene me jalan”. His classical andaz was recognised and within short period of time who got breaks one after the other.In Masoom, in 1983, RD Burman gave him break with the ghazal “huzur is kadar bhi na itrake chaliye”, which he had sung with noted ghazal singer Bhupinder Singh, and it was picturised on Naseeruddin Shah and Saeed Jaffery. He got the scope of singing all the songs in Raj Kapoor’s Premrog, composed by Laxmikant Pyarellal, which were picturised on Rishi Kapoor.
In the mid-80s, he became a recognised name in bollywood singing and most his songs became everlasting hits. His song “ram teri ganga maili” in the film Ram Teri Ganga Maili, in 1985, composed by Ravindra Jain, and picturised on Rajjev Kapoor, became very very successful. His song “ai zindagi gale laga le” in the film Sadma, also became a landmark hit.
In Lekin, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, made full use of his classical talent and his song “surmai shaam”, in the backdrop of deserts of Rajasthan had made people speechless. The same film had landmark songs of Lata including “kesariya balma”, “yara silli silli”, etc. Lata got national award for the best female singer in that year.
He also stormed into the commercial film arena with songs like “oh priya priya” from the film Dil. His song “tumse milke aisa laga” in the film Parinda, picturised on Anil Kapoor created a romantic appeal that brought a change in the film which was full of action sequences. He has opened his own musical school which has produced many renouned singers of the present times.
He presently participates in the Saregamapa Little Champs program as a judge along with Sonu Nigam. The program is conducted by Aditya Narayan. He gives important tips to the little singers and encourages them to learn classical singing. Viewers expect Suresh Watkar to make major contribution to bollywood films with his classical songs because singers these days hardly learn them and cannot reach beyond a level, due lack of depth of training of Hindustani classical singing.
By: CR Chatterji.
