Alka Yagnik live in concert next month

Alka Yagnik, the Melody Queen of Bollywood, is coming to the shores of Auckland for a live in Concert performance next month. Alka Yagnik has reigned supreme in the world of playback singing in India for a long time.

She is among the best-known playback singers of Hindi cinema with a career spanning for more than three decades. She is a record seven-time winner from a record of 35 nominations of the Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and a two-time recipient of the National Film Award as well as several other music awards.

The “Ek Do Teen” girl has been pushed even further into the limelight since the nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar, took a partial break from singing. Being the premier female playback singer in India today, Alka has achieved what few can hope to do.

Alka shares the title with Asha Bhosle for the greatest number of Filmfare Awards won (seven) by a single female playback singer. She has also been the judge of various Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge shows, and Star Voice of India. Alka Yagnik, born in Kolkata, India, had started her singing career at the tender age of six for All India Radio. As a classically trained singer Alka has been one of the leading playback singers in Bollywood since the 1980s.

She got her big break with the song "Ek Do Teen" from the film Tezaab in 1988. The song turned her into a star overnight and went on to become a pop hit, also winning her a Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for that song. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was also another career maker for her, as she along with Udit Narayan became household names.

She has sung in many languages other than Hindi, including Gujarati, Punjabi, Nepali, Rajasthani, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. She has worked with Indian composers such as AR Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Laxmikant- Pyarelal, Nadeem-Shravan, Anu Malik, Himesh Reshammiya, Sajid-Wajid, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and many others.

She has lent her voice for three generation of on screen actresses ranging for the likes of Hema Malini, Rekha, to Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Karisma Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai to Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Sushmita Sen, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and many others.

Alka has had hits after hits, such as, Milenge Milenge, Ringa Ringa (Slumdog Millionaire), Hum Tum, Lagaan, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (Gazab Ka Hai Din), Akele Hum Akele Tum (Raja Ko Rani Se), Dil Chahta Hai, Deewana (Aisi Deewangee), Baazigar (Baazigar O Baazigar), Kal Ho Naa Ho, Karan Arjun (Jaati Hoon Main), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (Ghunghat), Khamoshi (Bahon Ke Darmiyan), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Raja Hindustani (Pardesi Pardesi), Taal (Taal Se Taal), Khalnayak, Khuda Gawah, Tezaab, Refugee (Panchi Nadiya and many many more.

Alka has created several chartbuster hits over the years and perhaps it’s only fair to say she is truly the legend after Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. She has completed numerous hits as lead female singer throughout her career creating hugely popular scores.

Alka gave Himesh Reshammiya his first break in the movie Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. Thereafter, the duo has worked together creating poplar scores in several movies such as Hello Brother, Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, Humraaz, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Kyon Ki, 36 China Town, Milenge Milenge to name a few.

This will be an experience to witness one of the very few living legends perform live in Auckland.

Alka is coming for one New Zealand show in Auckland with top Bollywood musicians; stand-up comedians and support male playback singers. So gear up New Zealand, Alka is ready to warm up the stage this winter.

Friday, August 17, 8pm Logan Campbell Centre, Greenlane, Auckland. Tickets out now at major Indian outlets. For information: Prakash Mani 021888528 Vineet Sharma 0274752522.