Suresh Wadkar

Suresh Ishwar Wadkar (; born 7 August 1955) is an Indian playback singer. He performs in both Hindi and Marathi films. He has sung songs in some Bhojpuri films, Odia albums and bhajans and in Konkani films.
In 2020, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri.
Musical training.
In 1968, when Suresh Wadkar was 13, Jialal Vasant encouraged him to work towards the "Prabhakar" certificate offered by the Prayag Sangit Samiti, because it was equivalent to a BEd and qualifies the awardee to teach professionally. Wadkar successfully completed his "Prabhakar" and joined Arya Vidya Mandir in Mumbai as a music teacher.
Singing career.
Though groomed for Indian classical music, he entered the Sur-Singar competition in 1976. Wadkar won the competition which was judged by composers from the Indian film industry including Jaidev. Jaidev later offered him the song "Seene Mein Jalan" in the film "Gaman" (1978). He also performed in the film "Paheli" (1977).
At the time, Lata Mangeshkar was so impressed with his voice that she strongly recommended him to film personalities including Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Khayyam and Kalyanji-Anandji. Laxmikant-Pyarelal, impressed with his voice, soon recorded a duet with Lata, "Chal Chameli Bagh Mein" for "Krodhi" (1981). Soon after, he was given the opportunity to perform for songs in "Hum Paanch", "Pyaasa Sawan" ("Megha Re Megha Re") and above all, his turning point in films – Raj Kapoor's "Prem Rog" (1982). After that, Wadkar sang many songs under the R. K. Banner, and he often gave his voice for Rishi Kapoor in Heena, Prem Granth, Bol Radha Bol, Vijay and others. He also sang for Rajiv Kapoor in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. One of his most famous songs is "Tum Se Milke" from Parinda (1989).
Wadkar also produced the film "Tanman.com".
He was a judge on the Indian TV singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs and at the 2005 Sanjeet Awards.
Wadkar sang his first Tamil song in the 2009 film Kanden Kadhalai, an adaptation of the Hindi blockbuster Jab We Met. The song is a ghazal type song called "Naan Mozhi Arindhaen".
He has sung numerous devotional songs in various Indian languages.
In 1996, Wadkar sang Channeache Rati among several other songs in Rajendra Talak's Konkani album "Daryachya Deger" with Asha Bhosle.
Marathi music career.
Suresh Wadkar has worked with some of the top class Marathi music directors like Pt.Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke, Shrinivas Khale, Shridhar Phadke, Vasant Desai, Ashok Patki, Anil-Arun etc.
Music schools.
He has a music school in Mumbai, India (www.ajivasan.com) and New Jersey/New York City (www.sureshwadkarmusic.com) where methodical training is given to students. He has also started an online music school, called SWAMA (Suresh Wadkar Ajivasan Music Academy), under Ace Open University.
Personal life.
Wadkar is married to classical singer Padma.
He has two daughters, Ananya and Jiya
Awards.
In 1976, Wadkar won the Madan Mohan Best Male Singer Award at the Sur-Singar competition. He is also a recipient of the 2004 Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar instituted by Madhya Pradesh government. He also won the 2007 Maharashtra Pride Award which is given by the government of Maharashtra to citizens of note. In 2011, he won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Hey Bhaskara Kshitijavari Ya" from the Marathi film "Mee Sindhutai Sapkal". He got awarded by Late Sadashiv Amarapurkar Award 2017 by Ahmednagar's Think Global Foundation.
He, along with KK, holds the record for most number of Filmfare Nominations for Best Singer without winning even one.
On January 25, 2020, his name was announced for Government of India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, for his work in the field of arts.
Collaborators.
Suresh Wadkar has sung for a variety of composers in the Indian film industry. These include:
Filmography.
Devotional