Sushma Shrestha

Poornima
Poornima performing on stage
Background information
Genres	Playback singer
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1971–present

Poornima Shrestha (Nepali: पूर्णिमा श्रेष्ठ born c. 1960), also known as Sushma Shrestha, is a noted Bollywood playback singer who has sung many superhit songs in Indian music industries.^[1] Sushma started her career as a child singer in Ramesh Sippy's 1971 film Andaz. In that film, she sang under the music direction of Shankar Jaikishan the song "Hai Na Bolo Bolo" along with Mohammed Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur and Pratibha. The song went on to become a hit.^[2]

She sang numerous Nepali songs; the most popular one is from the 1980 Nepali movie Sindoor, 'Ali Ali Haar Ho'.^[3]

She is mostly remembered for her songs like "Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle" from Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973) and "Kya Hua Tera Vada" from Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977); both earned her nominations for the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award.^[4]^[5]

Poornima has sung other popular numbers like "Channe Ke Khet Main" from Anjaam (1994) and in a series of David Dhawan films like such as Coolie No. 1 (1995), Judwaa (1997), Hero No. 1 (1997) and Biwi No.1 (1999) amongst others.

Apart from Hindi, Poornima Shreshta has sung number of Marathi film and non-film songs. These include Baal Geet (children's songs), Bhavgeet etc.Music director duo Anand-Milind were very fond of her voice in early 90s and gave her many chances to sing their songs. She sang many hit songs for actresses like Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Shilpa Shirodkar, Karishma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Kajol, Rani Mukherji, Madhu, Tabu, Sridevi etc.

Life and career

Sushma's father was a music composer, Bholanath. She lost her father on 12 April 1971 when she was barely 11 years old. She sang the hit "Hai Na Bolo Bolo" when she was just nine. She has sung many super hit songs in her childhood: "Tera Mujhse Hai Nata Koi", "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" are a few. Poornima is the oldest singer in terms of experience in the industry who can boast of having worked with Naushad, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, Anil Biswas, S.D. Burman and Shankar Jaikishan.

She got her first break accidentally when Chandrakant Bhosle, a family friend and an assistant to Shankar–Jaikishan recommended her name to Shankar. In spite of the prevailing custom of women playback singers singing for children, Shankar took upon him the challenge of taking an unknown child to sing "Hai Na Bolo Bolo" for the film Andaz. Sushama recorded her first song on 11 November 1969 with Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur. Rafi was very impressed by her singing.

Sushma did a children's album called Bal Geet, which had the legendary S.Khale composing the songs and Shanta Shelke penning them. She sang four songs in it. The album proved as huge hit and gave immense exposure to Poornima who surprised everybody by singing Marathi songs with ease. Her career was planned to be launched at a function organised by the Punjab Association organised by Raj Kapoor, Pran and others. Slated to perform on 12 April 1971, tragedy struck on 11 April when her father suffered a cardiac arrest and died. She was undaunted and was encouraged by family and friends. She gave a performance, which impressed many and enabled her to get a scholarship of Rs. 250 to study music.

Marriage put a temporary halt to her singing career with regard to films as she stopped doing stage shows, which promptly dried up the offers for playback. Her last song as Sushma Shreshtha was in N.Chandra's Ankush: "Itni Shakti Humein Dena Data" (along with main singer Pushpa Pagdhare – in Hindi movie Ankush filmed on Ashalata Wabgaonkar, Nana Patekar, Suhas Palshikar and others). Jingles took her attention where the professionalism made her settle to a steady work schedule.

In the 1990s, Tips, the music company approached her with an offer. Wanting to make a clean departure from the child prodigy image, they suggested a change of name and image. Sushma took the name Poornima. Her song "Barsaat Mein Jab Aayega Saawan Ka Maheena" from Maa was a hit. Few things changed till David Dhawan's Bol Radha Bol. "Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara" was nothing short of an anthem and the remaining songs, which were a success also, gave Poornima the opportunity to savour success and adulation that had eluded for long.

She continued her association with Dhawan, she went on to sing for all his No. 1 series including Haseena Maan Jayegi and Biwi No.1. In spite of the lacklustre Indi-pop scene last year, Poornima was one of the top-ten selling artistes with her album Mera Dil Bole Piya Piya. With the adage "slow and steady wins the race" enforcing her nearly three comebacks, more of her has yet to come.

Albums

Simply Darun
Ankh Micholi
Balma Bada Bavaali
Jaal
Bhatta Saheb
Badal
Jogan
Patanga
Shagufa

Songs

"Jai Kali Jai Kalimal Harni" – Maiya Ke Pukaar
"Mumbai Nagariya Mein Bhayya" – Hamaara Faislaa
"Ladki Hai Tu Yaa Koi Pari" – Hamaara Faislaa
"Parody Parody" – Eena Meena Deeka
"Ras Mallai" – Chandaal
"Lahenga Bheetar Bichhua Lahenga Bheetar Bichhua" – Ee Maati Mein Sab Kuchh Baate
"Oonchi Re Dalaan Chadhi Baithal Chho – Doliya Kahaar Beti Chalal Sasurar (Part 2)
"Godna God Mohe Godna God Mohe" – Vinashak
"Vidhi Ke Banawan Aaj" – Lajaaoon Naahi Dulha
"Karisma Mein Tu" – Billa No. 786
"Main Hoon Gaon Ki Gori" – Bol Radha Bol
"So Rupaya Chanda Daike Ho Jai Phiri" – Tohke Chadaib Laal Ohaar
"Taal Mein Titeheri Bola" – Saat Farey
"Aa Tujhe Main Pyar Dun", "Bandish Aa Tujhe Main Pyar Dun", "Bandish" – Gaane Anjaane – Pyar Pyar Pyar
"Jaag Jaag-e-Barti Jaag Jaag-e-Barti" – Baans Ke Supva
"Le La Godiya Mein Sejiya" – Devar Ji
"Bidiya Pe India Deewana Ba" – Kab Hoi Milanva Hamaar
"Aajkal Ki Ladkiyan" – Chal Mere Bhai
"Channe Ke Khet Main" – Anjaam
"Mere Sine main dil mera bole" – Bhishma
"Tu Mere Dil Mein Bas Ja", "Oonchi Hai Building" – Judwaa
"Biwi No.1" – Biwi No.1
"Mr. Lova Lova" – Ishq
"Bant Na Mithai Bant Na Mithai" – Saiyan Siphaiya
"Sona Kitna Sona Hai", "Maine Paidal Se Ja Raha Tha" – Hero No. 1
"Bhola Bam Kanwar Le Ke" – Bhola Bam Kanwar Le Ke
"Baans Ke Supva" – Baans Ke Supva
"Fiyoli Jwaan Hwege" – Fiyoli Jwaan Hwege- Garhwali
"Tweel Chitthi Kiley Ni Bheji" – Garhwali
"Yeh Aalam Yeh Mausam" - Jai Kishen
"Suno Miya Suno Miya" - Kyu...ki Main Jhooth Nhi Bolta

Filmography

Year

Film

Language

Song Name

Composer

Notes

1971

Andaz

Hindi

"Hai Na Bolo Bolo"

Shankar-Jaikishan

Child artist – As Sushma Shrestha

1973

Aa Gale Lag Jaa

Hindi

"Tera Mujhse Hain Pehle Ka Nata Koi"
"Aye Mere Bete"

Rahul Dev Burman

Child artist – As Sushma Shrestha
Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for ""Tera Mujhse Hain"

1977

Hum Kisise Kum Naheen

Hindi

"Kya Hua Tera Wada"

Rahul Dev Burman

Child artist – As Sushma Shrestha
Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer

1980

Sindoor

Nepali

"Ali ali haar ho"

Nati Kaji, Shiv Shankar

1986

Ankush

Hindi

"Itni Shakti Humein Dena Data"

Kuldeep Singh

Last song as Sushma Shrestha

1989

Santaan

Nepali

"Kahawase aaibe Raam-Lachhuman"

"Piratii ko kitaab maa naulo paanaa thapchhaun"

Manohari Singh

Co-singers- Udit Narayan, Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj), Prasaad Shrestha

1990

Tilhari

Nepali

"Nilo Nilo tyo aakaash" "Dhartee bharee khojdaa khojdaa"

Jeewan Adhikari

Co-singer- Suresh Wadkar

1991

Kanyadaan

Nepali

Dhiki-chyau dhiki-chyau ghwaar ghwaar jaanto
Gaau swor kholera didi ra bahini (aka Teej ko rahar aayo baree lai)
Najaau na malaai chhodee, mukha modi, dil todi, chyaante mayalu

Manohari Singh

Co-singers- Prakash Shrestha, Udit Narayan Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj) and Prasaad Shrestha

1991

Patthar Ke Phool

Hindi

"Naa Ja Naa Ja"

Raamlaxman

1992

Bol Radha Bol

Hindi

"Main Hoon Gaon Ki Gori"
"Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara"

Sushma Shrestha

Life and career

Albums

Songs

Filmography

Awards

References

External links