Top 10 Evergreen Singers Who Once Ruled In Bollywood

Bollywood music has changed a lot over the years and it took a more drastic change after the ’90s. People started making more pop songs or at least tried I should say, and now all we get is remixed of the few good songs left from the ’90s. The originality is long gone and so are the talented singers. No one can compare to the era of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. They were legends, here is a list of some of the lost most talented singers that shaped the music of Bollywood.

Asha Bhosle

Asha Bhosle

The undisputed Indie Pop queen of India, Asha Bhosle, has transformed the Indian music industry with her varied performances like “Oh Mere Sona Re” or the sensuous “Aaiye Meherban” to voicing the famous cabaret performances of Helen like “Piyaa Tu Ab Toh Aa Jaaa”. Her versatile voice quickly transcends from one genre to another ranging from film music, pop, bhajans, ghazals, to Indian classical music, qawwalis, folk songs, or Rabindra Sangeets. No wonder she is an all-time favorite singer!

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Carvaan)
• Aao Huzur Tumko (Kismat)
• Mere Sona Re (Teesri Manzil)
• Dum Maro Dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna)
• Do Lafzon Ki Hai (The Great Gambler)

Jagjit Singh

Jagjit Singh

Jagjit Singh was the best singer of all time who was also a musician, music director, and composer. He was regarded as “Ghazal King” for his melodious and soul-piercing voice. He has struggled his way to success and has witnessed the gut-wrenching loss of his son in a car crash. His song “Chithi Na Koi Sandesh, Jaane Wo Kaun Sa Desh Jahan Tum Chale Gaye” perfectly captures the pain of losing and longing for the loved ones. He is known for his work in movies like Veer-Zaara, Prem Geet, Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai, Arth, Saath Saath, Premgeet, Tum Bin, Sarfarosh, Dushman and Tarkeeb.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Chithi Na Koi Sandesh (Dushman)
• Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar (Arth)
• Tumko Dekha To Ye Khayal Aaya (Saath Saath)
• Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho (Arth)
• Honthon Se Choo Lo Tum (Prem Geet)

Mohammad Rafi

Mohammad Rafi

Mohammed Rafi could switch from a ghazal like “Aap Ke Pehloo Main Aakar Ro Diye” to plaintive bhajan like “Sukh Ke Sab Saathi” or a whacky composition like “Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe” so effortlessly. He had an innate ability to adapt his voice to the screenplay and characters. Remember how he sang the phenomenal song “Sar Jo Tera Chakraye” featuring Johnny Walker? It felt like the actor is singing the song because Rafi managed to adapt Walker’s personality to his performance meticulously.

It would certainly not be an overstatement to say that some of the yesteryear heroes are known more for their songs rather than their performances like Bharat Bhushan – “Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat” or Biswajit’s – “Pukarta Chala Hoon Main”. All because of this greatest singer of all time.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Chaudhvin Ka Chand (Chaudhvin Ka Chand)
• Kya Hua Tera Wada (Hum Kisise Kum Naheen)
• Bahaaron Phool Barsao (Suraj)
• Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar (Hum Dono)
• Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko (Yaadon Ki Baaraat)

Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar

“Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi, Yoonhi Nahin Dil Lubhaata Koi ”, is the simplest way to define the impact this evergreen male singer has left on our hearts. Be it his madcap comedy, his yodeling, his energetic performance, or his soulful musical rendition, Kishore Kumar has the ability to express the deepest and a myriad range of emotions through his voice and performance. His quirkiness added a distinct charm to his personality.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si (Chalti ka naam Gaadi)
• Mere Sapno Ki Rani (Aaradhna)
• Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (Blackmail)
• Zindagi Ke Safar Mein (Aap Ki Kasam)
• Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna (Kudrat)

 Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar

An innocent, 13-year-old girl stepped into the Bollywood industry to make a living as an actress and a singer after losing her father to cancer. Who knew she would win so many hearts? As she is lovingly known, Lata Didi has sung more than 50,000 songs in over 36 languages and is a recipient of the highest civilian honor—Bharat Ratna.

On 27 January 1963, when she sang “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon”, it struck a chord with millions of Indians and brought tears to India’s then prime minister – Jawaharlal Nehru. The effect has not faded even a bit after so many years and justifies why she is regarded as the “Nightingale of Bollywood” and the best female singer of all time.

A Dose of Nostalgia:

• Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna (Guide)
• Kora Kagaz Tha Yeh Man Mera (Aradhana)
• Ajib Dastan Hai Yeh (Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai)
• Lag Ja Gale Ke Phir (Woh Kaun Thi)
• Tere Bina Zindagi Se (Aandhi)

Mukesh

Mukesh

Mukesh Kumar is popularly known as “The Voice of Raj Kapoor” because of their superhit pairing, most notably in Awaara, Shree 420, Anadi, Aag, Sangam, and Mera Naam Joker. He was regarded as the greatest male playback singer in Bollywood who possessed a golden voice. He had a distinctive melancholy in his voice that can have tears rolling down your cheeks in an instant.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Awara Hoon (Awara)
• Suhana Safar Aur Ye Mausam Haseen (Madhumati)
• Kisi Ki Muskurahaton (Anari)
• Duniya Bananewale (Teesri Kasam)
• Maine Tere Liye Hi Saat Rang Ke Sapne (Anand)

Manna Dey

Manna Dey

The fifties were the time when classical music ruled Bollywood and that’s when Manna Dey set his foot in the industry. Not only was he well versed in Hindustani classical music, but he was equally remarkable across a variety of styles and genres. Who can forget his cult performance in Ek Chatur Naar in Padosan, where he had to lend his voice to Mehmood. He was truly a musical genius and greatest singer of all time.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli Haai (Anand)
• Ek Chatur Naar (Padosan)
• Ae Meri Zohra Zabeen (Waqt)
• Laga Chunri Mein Daag (Dil Hi To Hai)
• Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandani Mein Hum (Chori Chori)

 Usha Uthup

Usha Uthup

Usha Uthup has ‘unconventional’ written all over her with her trademark massive bindi, gajra, and Kancheepuram saris and a powerful, almost manly baritone. She has ruled the Indian music industry for over 5 decades now and is still relevant and in demand for her power-packed stage performance in Indian pop, filmi, and jazz.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• One…Two…Cha Cha Cha (Shalimaar)
• Hari Om Hari (Pyaara Dushman)
• Shaan Se (Shaan)
• Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache (Disco Dancer)
• Darling (7 Khoon Maaf)

Pankaj Udhas

Pankaj Udhas at Westin Hotel New Year Bash. Photo: FilmiTadka

Pankaj Udhas has an ethereal voice that is light as a feather touch and reaches deep into our souls. He started his journey with a stage performance when he was just 11 years old but did not get the success he deserved until he got a chance to sing for the movie “Naam”. Since then, he has launched more than 40 albums and has given his voice to various Bollywood songs like ”Mahiya Teri Kasam” from the movie “Ghayal” and has successfully carved a niche for himself.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Chitthi Aayi Hai (Naam)
• Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera (The legend forever)
• Na Kajare Ki Dhaar (Mohra)
• Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise (Saajan
• Aur Aahista Kijiye Baatein (Stolen Moments)

Geeta Dutt

Geeta Dutt

Geeta Dutt was known for a mellifluous tone in her voice that had the power to fuel all kinds of emotions into every song she sang. Initially, she was stereotyped as a religious and sad song singer, but with the release of Baazi in 1951, she transformed her image completely and showcased her rare ability to transition from traditional songs to western music without skipping a beat. From 1947 to 1949, she was the reigning queen of playback singing and reserved a favorite spot among the top 10 female singers of all time.

Dose of Nostalgia:

• Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam (Kaagaz Ke Phool)
• Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le (Baazi)
• Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan (CID)
• Aaiye Meherbaan (Howrah Bridge)
• Babuji Dheere Chalna (Aar Paar)