Suresh Wadkar is one of the most accomplished singers of his era, known for his classically trained, beautiful, soothing voice and iconic songs like “Seene mein jalan.” “Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le,” “Tumse Milke Aisa Laga,” “Meri kismat mein tu nahi,” Lagi aaj saawan ki,” “Aur is dil mein kya rakha hai.” “Megha re megha,” “Husn pahaadon ka,” “Huzur is kadar,” “Chappa chappa charkha chale,” and many more.
Early Life
Suresh Wadkar was born on August 7, 1955, in Karvir, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, into a family with very humble background. His father, Ishwar Wadkar, worked in cloth mills, and his mother cooked food for the mill workers. The middle-class family moved to Girangaon, Mumbai, early in his life. As a youth, Suresh wrestled at akhadas and trained at the Talwalkar gym with his father, a wrestler.
Wadkar attended Arya Vidya Mandir in Mumbai for his schooling. At the tender age of 8, Wadkar began his formal music education under Jialal Vasant. Later, he studied under Pt. Jagannathbua Purohit, Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, and Pt. Firoz Dastur, mastering Hindustani classical techniques. This rigorous training shaped his versatile vocal style. Vasnat taught him for many years and also encouraged him to continue his formal musical education. He went on to get the “Prabhakar” certificate from the Prayag Sangit Samiti, then Allahabad. This certificate allow him to teach music professionally.
Suresh Wadkar started performing stage shows as a child, impressing audiences with his unique voice. At 13, Jialal Vasant tasked him with teaching tabla to a student. By 14, he taught vocal classical music to youngsters. After earning his Prabhakar certificate, he joined Arya Vidya Mandir as a music teacher.
Suresh Wadkar In Films
Wadkar’s big break came in 1976 when he won the Sur-Singar competition, judged by notable composers like Jaidev and Ravindra Jain. Ravindra Jain gave Wadker his first break with “Sona Kare Jhilmil Jhilmil” for the film Paheli (1977).
Soon after this, Jaidev asked him to sing in the National Film Award-winning film “Gaman (1978),” which proved to be a milestone in his career. In the film, he sang the ghazal “Seene Mein Jalan, Aankhon Mein Toofaan,” which is now considered a classic. Lata Mangeshkar, impressed by his voice, recommended him to Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Khayyam, and Kalyanji-Anandji, securing his foothold in the industry.
Some of his notable songs in that period include “Jijaji Jijaji Honewale Jijaji (Saajan Bina Suhagan),” “Raat Andheri Dhoom Machi Hai (Chakra),” “Hum Paanch Pandav Ye Shakuni Mama (Hum Paanch),” “Ek Aas Liye Vishwas Liye (khwab),” “Saathi Mere Tum Jo Bane (Sau Din Saas Ke),” “Yeh Ankhen Dekh Kar (Dhanwan),” and many more. Early in his career he sang famous Chal Chameli Bagh Mein (Krodhi, 1981), a duet with Lata Mangeshkar, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Megha Re Megha Re (Pyaasa Sawan, 1981), another Laxmikant-Pyarelal composition, with Lata showcased his classical finesse.
The Voice of Rishi Kapoor
In 1982, Raj Kapoor selected Suresh Wadkar to be Rishi Kapoor’s voice. “Prem Rog” served as his key to success. He sang “Bhanware Ne Khilaaya Phool,” “Mohabbat Hai Kya Cheez,” “Main Hoon Prem Rogi,” and “Meri Kismat Mein Tu Nahi Shayad.” The latar two, giving him two nominations for the Filmfare Best Playback Singer. Next year he sang Aye Zindagi Gale Lagaa Le (Sadma, 1983), composed by Ilaiyaraaja. This soulful track, sung with minimal orchestration, captures existential longing.
He then sang memorable songs like “Kitni Khoobsoorat Yeh Tasveer Hai (Bemisal),” “Jabse Dekha Hai Tumhe,” “Nigaah-E-Yaar Ne Kuchh Aisa Jadu Kar Diya” (Dil Akhir Dil Hai),” “Goron Ki Na Kalon Ki (Disco Dancer),” “Gunja Re Chandan (Nadiya Ke Paar),” “Haathon Ki Chand Lakeeron Ka (Vidhata),” “Likhne Wale Ne Likh Dale (Arpan),” “Aur Kya Ahde Wafa,” “Teri Yaad Tera Naam,” (Sunny), “Saanj dhale gagan tale (Utsav),” “Zu Zu Zu Zu Zu (Sanjog),” “Baith Mere Paas Tujhe Dekhta Rahoon (Yadon Ki Kasam),” among others.
Other Work
Over the years, Wadkar’s voice became a staple in Hindi and Marathi cinema. His exceptionally beautiful voice lends emotion and depth to the characters portrayed on screen. His collaboration with music directors like Ravindra Jain, Jaidev, Bappi Lahiri, Khaiyyam, Kalyanji Anandji, Usha Khanna Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Ravi, Chitragupta, Rajkamal, and many more.
After the success of “Prem Rog,” Wadker went on to sing for many blockbuster songs. In 1983 he sang “Huzur Is Kadar Bhi Na Itra Ke Chaliye” in Masoom. He beautifully sang the classical compositions “Mera Man Baja Mridang,” “Sanjh Dhale” under Laxmikant Pyarelal in Utsav. His rendition of “Aur is dil mein kya rakha hai” in Imaandar became a rage of the time. Wadkar again collaborated with Raj Kapoor and Ravidra Jain for Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). In the film he sang “Husn Pahadon Ka,” “Main Hi Main Hoon,” and “Ram Teri Ganga Maili Ho Gayee.”
Some of his finest songs in the 1980s include “Mera Karma Tu (karma),” “Kis Kaaran Naiya Doli (Dacait),” “Patjhad Saawan Basant Bahaar (Sindoor),” “Ganga Jamuna Saraswati (Ganga Jamuna Saraswati),” “Raqeebon Se Habeebon Se,” “Sooni Sooni Ankhiyon Mein (Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka), “Khamosh Sa Afsana (Libaas),” “Parbat Ke Us Paar (Parbat Ke Us Paar), “Tere Naina Mere Naino Se Meethi Meethi Baatein Karte Hain (Bhrashtachar),” “Lagi aaj saawan ki,” “Tu Mujhe Suna Main Tujhe Sunaoon Apni Prem Kahani” (Chandni), “O Dhola Dhol Manjira Baaje (Joshilaay),” “Kitni Hai Pyari Pyari,” “Tumse Milke Aisa Laga” (Parinda),” and many more.
Suresh Wadkar in The 90s
In the early 1990s Suresh Wadkar continue to sing beautiful songs like “O Priya Priya (Dil),” “Surmai shaam is tarah (Lekin),” “Har Ek Se Milna Hans Hans Kar (Aayee Milan Ki Raat),” “Der Na Ho Jaye Kahin,” “Main Der Karta Nahin,” “O Jaanewale” (Henna), “Yaar Wai Wai Yaar Pe Yeh Dil Mera Qurbaan (Patthar Ke Phool),” “Mohabbat Ki Ki,” “Teri Yaad Aati Hai” (Saudagar), “O Rabbaa Koi To Bataae Pyaar Hotaa Hai Kyaa Sangeet (1992)” “Bol Radha Bol Tune Yeh Kya Kiya (Bol Radha Bol),” “Pyaar Ye Jaane Kaisa Hai (Rangeela),” “Pardesi Pardesi Jana Nahin (Raja Hindustani),” “Bajoo Bandh (Prem Granth)” “Baadal Ghumad Badh Aaye (Saaz),” “Bajoo Bandh (Prem Granth)” and many more.
Apart from those he also sang for films like Shiva (1990), Patthar Ke Phool (1991), Kurbaan (1991), Lamhe (1991), Thalapathi (1991), Dil Aashna Hai (1992), Parampara (1992), Aaina (1993), In Custody (1993), Lootere (1993), Ghatak (1995), and many more.
One of Wadkar’s most significant collaborations came with Vishal Bharadwaj in films like “Maachis (1996),” “Satya (1998),” “Betabi (1999),” “Omkara (2006),” “Kaminey (2009),” “7 Khoon Maaf (2011),” and “Haider (2014).” Some of the iconic songs from this collaboration are “Chappa chappa charkha chale,” “Chhod Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan,” (Maachis), “Tere Liye (7 khoon Maaf),” “Gungunati Hui Ik Nadi Mil Gayi,” “Tum Mere Ho,” (Betaabi), “Chal Padi (Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!!),” Sapne Mein Milti Hai O Kudi Meri (satya), “Jag Ja Ri Gudiya (Omkara),” “Raat Ke Dhai Baje (Kaminey),” “Do Jahan (Haider),” and “Totey Ud Gaye (Ek Thi Daayan),” among others.
Some of his later films include Vivah (2006), and Ek Vivaah… Aisa Bhi (2008), and many more.
Marathi Career
Apart from Hindi playback singing Suresh Wadkar’s most acclaimed work came in Marathi music. Veteran music composer Ram Kadam gave him his first break with films like Sushila (1978), followed by Aayatya Bilavar Nagoba (1979) and Duniya Kari Salam (1979). In 1979, he worked with Hridaynath Mangeshkar in Janki (1979). Wadakar won his first Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Male Playback for “Gandh Phulancha Gela Sangun” in Bholu.
Over the years Wadkar worked with many Marathi luminaries like Vasant Desai, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke, Ashok Patki, Anil-Arun, Shrinivas Khale and Shridhar Phadke, and many more.
Some of his memorable songs include “Aga Naach Naach Radhe” (Gondhalat Gondhal), “Aga Dis Jatil Dis Yetil” (Shapit), “Pahile Na Mi Tula” (Gupchup Gupchup), “Jeevanachi Ghadi” (Rath Jagannathacha), “Urala Surala Gharpan Sarala” (Khatyal Sasu Nathal Soon), “Me Avaguni” (Pandharichi Waari), “Ubhe Abhagi Jeevan Sare” (Aaghat), “Saibabancha Mahima Apaar” (Saibaba), “Kshitijavaril Tara” (Jodidaar), and many more.
In 2011 he sang “Hey Bhaskara Kshitijavari Ya (Mee Sindhutai Sapkal),” composed by Ashok Patki. The song for a Marathi biopic about activist Sindhutai Sapkal earned Wadkar a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Its classical structure and poignant delivery captured the film’s emotional core.
Personal Life and Legacy
Suresh Wadkar’s contributions to music extend beyond playback singing. He has sang in various Indian languages, including Bhojpuri, Odia, and Konkani, and has performed numerous devotional songs. His contribution to music was recognised with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Sugam Sangeet in 2018 and the prestigious Padma Shri in 2020.
Apart from his singing career, Wadkar has been passionate about teaching music. He has opened music schools in Mumbai and New Jersey and launched an online music academy, SWAMA, under Ace Open University. His commitment to nurturing new talent ensures that his legacy will continue to influence future generations.
Suresh Wadkar married Padma Wadkar, a playback singer, in July 1988. They have two daughters, Ananya and Jiya, both singers. Ananya debuted with “Mera Jahan” in Taare Zameen Par (2007), and Jiya with the album Sapnon Ka Gaon (2016) at age eight. The family resides in Mumbai, maintaining a private life rooted in music.
Suresh Wadkar on IMDB
