Sushma Shrestha

Biography

Poornima (born as Sushma Shrestha) is an Indian playback singer. Starting as a child artist, she became a leading playback singer in Bollywood during the 1990s.

Early life

Hailing from the Newar community from Nepal, Poornima was born as an Indian in Mumbai. Her father was music composer Bholanath Shrestha, who worked primarily with Hindi film music directors. He was from Kathmandu and settled in Kolkata and eventually in Mumbai.

Career

Her father’s friend and assistant to noted music director Shankar–Jaikishan recommended her to Shankar. In spite of the prevailing custom of women playback singers singing for children, Shankar took the challenge of using an unknown child to sing "Hai Na Bolo Bolo" for the film Andaz. Sushama recorded her first song on 11 November 1969 with Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur. She was the first successful child singer in Hindi films. She recorded a children's album called Bal Geet, which had Shrinivas Khale composing the songs and Shanta Shelke penning the lyrics. She sang four songs in it. The album proved a hit and gave her exposure. She also sang Marathi songs with ease.
Her career was planned to be launched at a function organised by the Punjab Association organised by Raj Kapoor, Pran and others.Tragedy struck the day before when her father suffered a cardiac arrest and died. She was undaunted and was encouraged by family and friends. She admitted to “almost giving up on her career for family”. She gave a performance that impressed many and enabled her to get a music scholarship. She later sang many hit songs in her childhood, including "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na". Music director R.D. Burman gave her some of her most memorable songs, "Ek Din Bik Jayega Mati Ki Mol", "Yaadoon Ki Baaraat", "Teri Hai Zameen Tera Aasman", "Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle" and "Kya Hua Tera Vada"; the later two earned her nominations for the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award becoming the youngest nominee in the category at the age of 11. She has acknowledged his contribution in her singing career:

"R.D Burman was my guru and whatever I know of singing is thanks to him."
Poornima's early start gave her the chance to work with Naushad, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, Salil Choudhury, Anil Biswas, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, S.D. Burman, and Shankar-Jaikishan.
She struggled as an adult singer during the mid 80s. Her marriage put a temporary halt to her singing career. Her last song as Sushma Shreshtha was in N.Chandra's Ankush with devotional classic "Itni Shakti Humein Dena Data" (along with main singer Pushpa Pagdhare. Jingles took her attention where the professionalism made her settle to a steady work schedule.
In the 1990s, music company Tips suggested a change of name and image. Sushma took the name Poornima. Her song "Barsaat Mein Jab Aayega Saawan Ka Maheena" from Maa was a hit. Then came David Dhawan's Bol Radha Bol. "Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara" became an anthem and the remaining songs also succeeded. She continued her association with Dhawan and sang for all his No. 1 series including Haseena Maan Jayegi and Biwi No.1.
As an adult she sang for many music directors including Chitragupt, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Bappi Lahiri, Rajesh Roshan, M. S. Vishwanathan, Ravindra Jain, Anand-Milind, Anu Malik, Jatin–Lalit, Raamlaxman, Nadeem-Shravan, M.M.Kreem, Lesle Lewis, Viju Shah, Anand Raj Anand, Nikhil-Vinay, Vishal–Shekhar, Dilip Sen -Sameer Sen, Sukhwinder Singh, Ghulam Ali, Jeet-Pritam, Aadesh Shrivastava and Mani Sharma.
She sang popular numbers such as "Channe Ke Khet Main" from Anjaam, "Batti Na Bujha" from Gopi Kishan (both 1994), "Shaam Hain Dhuan Dhuan" from Diljale (1996), "Mr Lova Lova" from Ishq (1999) and in a series of David Dhawan films like such as Coolie No. 1 (1995), Judwaa (1997), Hero No. 1 (1997) and Biwi No.1 (1999) amongst others.
She sang for actresses including Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Sarika, Manisha Koirala, Simi Garewal, Deepti Naval, Ramya Krishnan, Rambha, Sushmita Sen, Shilpa Shirodkar, Karishma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Kajol, Rani Mukherji, Madhu, Tabu, Preity Zinta, Ayesha Jhulka, Shilpa Shetty, Sonali Bendre and Mamta Kulkarni.
Poornima was one of the top-ten selling 1990s artists with her album Mera Dil Bole Piya Piya. Throughout the 1990s, Poormina along with Alka Yagnik and Kavita Krishnamurthy were the most prolific female playback singers.
No longer active in film playback singing, she performs live in India and other parts of the world.
Poornima has sung in many languages including Bengali, Nepali, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Gujarati, Oriya, Rajasthani, Assamese, Haryanvi, Garhwali and Arabic. Apart from films, she has sung numerous songs in genres such as Baal Geet (children's songs), Bhavgeet, Bhajan, Ghazal, Chutney and Indipop.

Television

Poornima was one of the judges in the third season of singing reality show Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star, which aired on Doordarshan in primetime. She was also a judge in Bhojpuri language singing reality show Zilla Top which aired on Mahuaa TV.

Non-film albums

Balgeet (Composer - Shrinivas Khale)
Hasa Milano Hasa Baal Geete (Composer - C. Ramachandra)
Marathi Disco
Gujarati Geet
Chutney Garbar
Simply Darun
Ankh Micholi
Balma Bada Bavaali
Jaal
Bhatta Saheb
Badal
Jogan
Patanga
Shagufa
Hello Hi
Maashuka Bulbul (Composer - Lesle Lewis)
Maiya Naiyya Taar Le
Maiya Bhavani
Maa Ka Darshan
Chalo Darbar
Raja Na Awjai
Shudhu Monay Rekho
Chutney Garbar
Mera Dil Bole Piya Piya
Beti Chalal Sasurar
Bijuri Kaha Giri
Navrya Ghari Maajhi Lekh Chal
Sun Sharabi
Ae Samdhi Ke Bete
Abbe Daalab
Tohke Chadhaib Laal Ohaar
Goriya
Sawan Aya Re
Aartiyan

Recognition

1973: Government of Maharashtra - Awarded for support to educational relief
1974: Filmfare Best Female Playback Award - Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle (Aa Gale Lag Jaa) - Nominated
1978: Filmfare Best Female Playback Award - Kya Huwa Tera Vada (Hum Kisise Kum Naheen) - Nominated
1998: Zee Cine Award - Best Playback Singer (Female) – Sona Kitna Sona Hain (Hero No. 1) - Nominated
2017: Mohammad Rafi Award - Presented by Vice-President of India
2020: Global Film and Music Festival - Lifetime Achievement Award

Personal life

She has a son Nishadh Chandra, who is a music composer.