Sargam won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2002 for Ilaiyaraaja’s Tamil song “Paattu Solli” ( Azhagi), as well as two Filmfare Awards South in 2008 for “Akkam Pakkam” (Tamil, Kireedam) and “Manassa” ( Munna), sealing her massive success in the south.Recording at a prolific pace, the vocalist has tackled songs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and more in collaboration with renowned composers such as Ilaiyaraaja, Anu Malik, Anand-Milind and A.“Saat Samundar Paar” from 1992’s Vishwatma-with its deliciously synthy Pet Shop Boys sample-still gets everyone on their feet, while piano-laced love ballad “Pehla Nasha” ( Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar), a bracing duet with lauded playback singer Udit Narayan, made Sargam a romantic staple. The playback singer’s ’90s hits took her fame to new heights.In the ’80s her Bollywood stock steadily rose Sargam worked regularly with well-loved composer duo Kalyanji-Anandji, among others, including on radio smash “Har Kisiko Nahin Milta Yahan Pyar” from 1986’s Janbaaz.Sargam embraced music at an early age with the support of her mother-a classical singer and teacher-before she embarked on several years of training with her guru, eminent Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj.
Sadhana Sargam’s mellifluous, fluttering vocals weave through thousands of Bollywood, regional, spiritual and other classics in multiple languages, elevating her to the status of an enduring Indian favourite.