Playback singer Suresh Wadkar turns 60!

Emperor of several super hit Bollywood melodious songs like Main Hoon Prem Rogi…, Saanjh Dhale…, Aay Zindagi Gale Lagale…. ; Chappa Chappa Charkha Chalein…. to name a few, Suresh Wadkar celebrates his 60th birthday today. Raaga.Com wishes him birthday greetings and a healthy life.

Born on born 7 August 1954 in a Marathi family in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Suresh Wadkar developed a passion for singing from the tender age of 8 years. Later it was his passion for music that he did his graduation in music through Prayag Sangit Samiti and joined Arya Vidya Mandir, Mumbai as a music teacher. 

Recalling his foray into Bollywood as a singer Suresh Wadkar in an interview said, “In the early 70’s there was a prominent music competition- ‘Film Sangeet Sammelan’ organized by Sursingar Sansad and was judged by distinguished music directors from India like Ravindra Jain, Jaidev, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke, Shivkumar Sharma and Harprasad Chourasia. The competition was held each year to hunt for a male and female singer competent in Indian Shastriya Sangeet. It was a very difficult competition as it was attended by talented young budding singers from all over India and the best were eventually contested for the prestigious ‘Madan Mohan Award.”

He added, “I was fortunate to enter the finals. When the result was announced by the celebrated music director Ravindra Jain, I couldn’t believe. What was most surprising is that besides awarding me the ‘Madan Mohan award’ Ravindra Jain also announced on the stage that he would be giving me the break as playback singer and he lived his words by giving me first song Vrushti Pade Taapur Tipur… in the Rajshri Production’s film PAHELI (1977).”

Wadkar informed, “Another great music director judging the contest was Jaidev. He too was quite impressed by me and offered me a song from the song Seene Mein Jalan…’ for the movie GAMAN (1978). ‘

Though these songs gave Suresh Wadkar popularity yet it was his song with Lata Mangeshkar ‘Chal Chameli Baug Mein….’ from KRODHI (1981), which made Suresh Wadkar a star singer. Suresh Wadkar however credits Lata Mageshkar for recommending his name to Laxmikant Pyarelal after she was impressed by his song Seene Mein Jalan… 

Further with Suresh Wadkar Raj Kapoor’s PREM ROG (1982) Suresh Wadkar became a singer to reckon. 

Suresh Wadkar has won many awards that include the prestigious Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar instituted by Madhya Pradesh government.