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She is a voice that defined an era and her songs ruled the industry through the 80s and 90s, touching millions of hearts. From romantic ballads to devotional bhajans, she could do it all. Such was the grace, depth and charm that she was even compared to legendary icon Lata Mangeshkar. We are talking about none other than Anuradha Paudwal, one of India’s most celebrated playback singers. She began her musical journey back in 1973, singing a Sanskrit verse for Jaya Bhaduri in the film Abhiman. That small start soon paved the way for a career filled with numerous hits and superhits. Her first solo track came in Aap Beeti and since then, there was no looking back. She worked with top music composers and delivered back-to-back hits. Born as Alka Nadkarni in Karwar, Karnataka, she changed her name to Anuradha Paudwal after marrying Arun Paudwal, a music arranger for SD Burman. She rose to become one of Bollywood’s most sought-after singers. Her versatility made her a favourite across languages like Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Odia, Nepali, Bengali and Kannada. Known for her fearless nature, she once openly questioned Lata Mangeshkar’s record of maximum songs recorded in a day. Her bold statements often stirred controversies in the industry. Despite the criticism, her passion for music never faded. She gave her voice to timeless hits in films like Tezaab, Aashiqui, Ram Lakhan, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Meera Ka Mohan. Her professional partnership with T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar became the talk of the town. She worked with the label, giving it some of its biggest musical blockbusters. She faced a setback in 1991 when she lost her husband Arun Paudwal, in an accident. The incident deeply affected her both personally and professionally. By the early 2000s, she stepped away from film music and devoted herself to singing bhajans. She is now remembered for her incredible impact on Indian music.
