Bela Shende

Biography

Bela Shende is an Indian playback singer. She performed several songs in Bollywood and other film Indian industries. "Mann Mohana" from the film Jodhaa Akbar, "Su Che" from the film What's Your Raashee?, "Wajle Ki Baara" and "Apsara Aali" from Natarang are some of her famous songs. In 2014 she was awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Khurkhura" from the Marathi film Tuhya Dharma Koncha.
Shende started her career with the music album "Kaisa Yeh Jadoo" which was well received by the masses and was critically acclaimed. Her career in Bollywood started with the film Tera Mera Saath Rahen where she voiced for a brief part. She again got a big break in the 2005 submission for Academy Award, Paheli, where she voiced Rani Mukerji. In 2008 she crooned a bhajan in the Ashutosh Gowariker directorial Jodhaa Akbar for an A. R. Rahman composition and got an IIFA Award for Best Female Playback nomination for the song.
She then crooned hits in Marathi, her mother tongue, and received several awards and nominations for her excellence. Her renditions of lavnis "Apsara Aali" and "Vajle Ki Baara" from the Marathi film Natarang were well received. She became the sole voice of Kangana Ranaut in the 2013 musical Rajjo. Bela is credited as a talented vocalist and has established a career in the Marathi film industry. Besides Hindi, she has also sung in Marathi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.Bela Shende sang this song "Mala jau dyana ghari aata wajle ki bara" at a time when this song became very famous and she received a lot of fame. Bela Shende has been working in the music industry since 2001 and has sung many songs till now.

Early life

Bela Shende was born to Sanjeev Shende and Medha Shende. Her Grandmother, Kusum Shende, is a classical vocalist from the Kirana Gharana. Her sister Sawani Shende is also a classical vocalist. Bela is a graduate in commerce.

Career

Bela Shende won the Zee Sa Re Ga Ma reality TV singing contest at the age of 16.
Bela has lent her voice for various music directors most notably Ilayaraja, A. R. Rahman, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Ajay–Atul, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Lalit Pandit, M. M. Keeravaani and Sohail Sen. She went on to receive the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer, for rendering the song "Khurkhura", in the year 2014 at the 61st National Film Awards.
Bela's rendition of lavnis in the film Natarang won her widespread critical acclaim. Her renditions of "Apsara Aali" and "Vajle ki Bara" became cult songs over time. Initially she lent her voice to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the epic historical drama Jodhaa Akbar, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. She then went ahead to lend her voice for Priyanka Chopra in the film What's Your Rashee?, another Ashutosh Gowariker directorial.
In 2013 she became the sole voice of Kangana Ranaut in the musical drama Rajjo. The same year she sang Khurkhura for the film Tuhya Dharma Koncha which earned her National Award. Bela Shende next worked for A. R. Rahman in the Tamil film Kaaviya Thalaivan, its Malayalam version Pradhinayagan and Telugu Version Premaalayam for three versions of two different songs respectively.
In 2016, she recorded the title song for the film Mohenjo Daro along with Arijit Singh, A.R. Rahman and Sanah Moidutty. The song was composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.
She sang the song "Marathi Breathless" from the album Kanherichi Phule which was composed and directed by Tejas Chavan. The album won the award for best music album at Chitra Padarpan Puraskar.

Albums

Hridayamadhle Gaane – Marathi songs album released by Fountain music
Sang in Shri Taufiq Quereshi's fusion album named 'Taa Dhaa'
Sapney – Hindi songs album released by Zee Music Company
Kaisa Yeh Jadoo – Hindi songs album released by Magnasound (Audio & video)
Mazya Manaa – Marathi songs album released by Fountain Music
Doorchya Raanat– Marathi songs album on the songs written by N. D. Mahanor, released by Sony Music
Pandharicha Swami – Marathi Abhang album released by Fountain music
Motiyancha chur – Marathi songs album released by Times Music
Sahaj Tuzi Gaath Pade – Marathi album which includes 8 songs written by the greatest Marathi poet G. D. Madgulkar released by Uttam Pushpa
Son Chapha – Marathi songs album released by Fountain music
Man Mor – Marathi songs album released by Fountain Music
Pahila Vahila Prem – Marathi album released by Fountain music
Gandha Halke Halke – Marathi songs album released by Fountain music
Arpan – Marathi songs album comprising eight songs which she composed and one written by her Father and Guru Dr. Sanjeev Shende
Has sung for many commercial jingles and devotional albums like Gayatri Mantra, He Ram, etc.

Honorary awards

Winner of the TVS Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mega Final – 1998
Raja Mantri Smruti Puraskar at the hands of Vijay Tendulkar
Nargis Dutt Award
Pune Ki Asha award
Suheel Sneha Award at the hands of the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sushilkumar Shinde
"Ga Di Ma Award" by Ga Di Ma Pratishthan
"Vidya Pradnya Puraskar"
IMA (Indian Music Academy) Award for outstanding contribution in playback singing for consecutive 5 years.
Pu.La Tarunaai Puraskar (in the name of late Shri Pu.La Deshpande) for outstanding contribution in music.
Kala Gaurav Puraskar
Sahyadri Cine Award
Zee Gaurav Puraskar for her Marathi album Pandharicha Swami
Stardust Award for New Musical Sensation – Female for the song "su chhe" from the film What's Your Rashee?.