Sukhwinder Singh

• Birth Date: 16 Sep 1968
• Birth Place: Amritsar

Artist Information

Sukhwinder Singh is one of the most in-demand singers in Bollywood. The Chaiyya Chaiyya man arrived in style. Chaiyya Chaiyya needs no introduction, nor does the Mirchi number from Biwi No. 1 needs a memory test. At a time when all the singers were sounding like twins, with no vigorousness in the voice or intensity in emotion, there came a voice atop a train, which changed many positions in the singing fraternity. Sukhwinder Singh had arrived.

The first stage performance was at the age of 7 – 8 when he sang the Lata number ‘Sa re ga ma pa, pa, pa, ga ma re, ga re mere sang mere saajna’. He also released a Punjabi album called Munda Southhall Da with T – Series and came to collect an award and decided to stay back. He joined Laxmikant Pyarelal’s troupe and quickly became a music arranger. Then as with Hindi film actors, he went looking for work to the south of India and did a film called Rakshagan.

Luck seemed to favour him as he got a break in a Madhuri Dixit starrer called Khilaaf in which he sang a hit song ‘Aa ja sanam’. But the singer himself realised that something was missing in his voice. He left his dream city to tour England and America to learn more about music. To see, hear and understand the various forms of music. After this broadening of his musical horizons he returned to Mumbai to kick-start his musical career.

His first effort in Hindi films, Aaja Sanam, went largely unremarked, even though the music carried the names of Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Then, along came Dil Se. A R Rahman, always interested in something new, used Sukhwinder for the unforgettable Chaiyya Chaiyya. It was no flash in the pan, and Sukhwinder is now highly regarded as a sensitive and eloquent singer. Other films followed, including Taal, Biwi No 1, 1947 Earth, Daag, Dillagi and Thakshak have now made him a household word. Sukhwinder owes a large part of his success to Rahman's encouragement, and makes no effort to gloss over that fact.

Sukhwinder has some pretty strong opinions about writing music - he has once stated that if he was ever involved in writing music for film, he would delve deep into the Indian musical landscape and not simply conjure up some digital tricks with pop and fusion.Rahman and Sukhwinder are presently working very closely together, and the duo have decided to make music that is not tailor-made to fit in with films, but to venture into realms where they can truly express themselves.

Apart from his work with Rahman, Sukhwinder is also engaged in a few other projects.He came back with Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya , with music director Sandeep Chowta. He is planning to set up a high-tech recording studio in Mumbai, to develop more experimental and non-film projects.His Aaj Mera Jee Kardaa (Today My Heart Desires) was featured in the hugely popular Monsoon Wedding and accompanying CD.