The Velvety and Unique Voice Is Her Identity – Hemlata

She is known for unique voice and is a singer who has trained herself in core classical music. Born in Hyderabad on 16^th August 1954 as Lata Bhatt, Hemlata has attained her part of fame as one of the most successful playback singers of Bollywood. In her musical career she has recorded more than 5000 songs in more than 38 Regional, National and International languages.

Hemlata was born into a traditional Marwari family. Her father late Pandit Jaichand Bhatt was a renowned international classical and folk singer, performer, musician and a teacher. Ravindra Jain, a notable Indian music director today, was one of the many disciples of Pandit Bhatt. Coming from a traditional and conservative family, Pandit Bhatt never encouraged the habit of singing in his daughter. Despite his objections, Hemlata could not stop her love for singing and sang in pooja pandals hiding herself from her father.

But it is difficult to fight against destiny. Gopal Mallick, another disciple of her father gave Hemlata the opportunity which decided her further path towards fame and success. While organising one concert in Calcutta, Mallick gave a chance to Hemlata to sing and showcase her singing talent in front of a large audience which also made her father too realise the potential talent his daughter had.

After moving to Mumbai she got an invitation from the renowned music director Naushad Ali who was so impressed with her that he signed five years contract with her. But she decided to discontinue the contract and work for other directors. In 1967, she received an invitation from the director Roshan too to sing in the ‘Roshan Night’ concert which was her first ever concert. It was a starry show with all the legendary music directors and singers of the time attending the event. This show opened the door of fortunes for the newcomer and in the same week she recorded her first song for the movie ‘Tu Khamosh Main Purjosh’ for the movie Roop Rupaiya.

With this she started her musical career in Bollywood and went on to work with directors like S.D. Burman, Kalyanji – Anandji, Laxmikant – Pyarelal, Khayyam, etc. Ravindra Jain used her voice for the song ‘Sun Teri Pukar’ in the movie Fakira (1976) which proved to be a big hit. Jain again gave her the opportunity to sing for the movie Chitchor (1976), a Rajshri production film which won her the first Filmfare award for her career. Then under the same banner Hemlata gave her voice for movies Paheli (1977), Duljhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye (1977), Akhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982), Abodh (1984), Babul (1986), and many more.

Apart from films she has also rendered her voice for Ramanand Sagar’s epic serial Ramayan, and was involved in research work for 14 Indian folk songs. As a singer she charmed her audience in her innumerable international trips. She is the only Indian singer to do a charity show in London along with the singer Ataullah Khan, for Imran Khan’s cancer hospital. This is not the end. A dedicated musician, she started a musical academy in America to spread across the significance of Indian classical and folk music.

To her credit she has the highest number of recordings of Hindi songs with Dr. K. J. Yesudas. She became the popular voice for actress like Nutan, Yogita Bali, Shabana Azmi, Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit, etc. She married the actor Yogesh Bali, who died in the year 1988. Aditya Bali is her only son who is planning to make his career in Indian cinema. On the occasion of her birthday we wish her good health and more success for her upcoming years.

One of the most popular tracks of the singer.

Yet another hit of Hemlata under the Rajshri banner.

An unforgettable track – Tu Is Tarah Zindagi Mein from the movie Aap To Aise Na The

https://youtu.be/U8t_gHYVZ6s

A song which brought the coveted Filmfare award. 

Her ‘pukar’ cannot be avoided.

Beautiful rendition of Megha O Re Megha from the movie Sunayana.