Sudha Malhotra is known for her beautiful voice and songs in films like Arzoo, Dhool Ka Phool, Ab Dilli Door Nahin, Girl Friend, Barsaat Ki Raat, Didi, and Dekh Kabira Roya. Sudha remains an iconic figure in the Hindi film industry, both for her work and also for her personal life. She is considered one of the most talented singers who don’t get her due in the industry.
Early Life
Sudha Malhotra was born on November 30, 1936, in New Delhi, into a Punjabi Hindu family, and spent her early years in Lahore, Bhopal, and Firozpur. Sudha was the eldest of four siblings, with her brothers Arun and Vijay and sister Kiran. Her passion for music was evident from a young age. At the age of 6, Master Ghulam Haider witnessed her singing the famous song “Tu Kaun Si Badli Me Mere Chand Hai Aja,” originally sung by Madam Noorjehan in “Khandan (1942).” Haider was impressed by the little girl and encouraged her parents to educate her in music.
Sudha then starts her classical training from Deshbandhu Sethi. She also sang for All India Radio, Lahore. Later in life she learnt from Pandit Amar Nath of Husn Lal-Amar Nath fame, and she pursued her graduation in music from Agra University.
Sudha’s Entry Into Films
Sudha Malhotra made her debut as a playback singer under Anil Viswas, who was a friend of her uncle, in the film “Arzoo (1950),” where she sang the song “Mil Gaye Nain.” The first released film where she sang was “Aakhri Paigham (1949),” where she sang three songs: “Ae Bekal Bechain Nadiya Mere Man Ki Dheer Bandhaati,” “Chal Raha Swaraj Ka Jhagda,” and “Manwa Uda Jaaye Preetam Ki Ore.”
Before Lata famously sang Vande Mataram in Anand Math, Sudha sang the song in Andolan (1951). In 1953 she sang a duet” Bansuriya Kaahe Bajai,” with Lata Mangeshkar in RD Mathur‘s Aagosh. In AR Kardar’s Dil-E-Nadaan she sang “Mohabbat Ki Dhun Beqaraaron Se Poochho” and “Na Woh Hamare Na Dil Hamara.” Both of the song became popular and gets Sudha recognition.
Roshan who gave her chance in Aagosh, again used her voice for Barati. In Barati, she sang the popular duet “Kahin Door Koyaliya Gaaye Re” with Lata. She also sang for Ghulam Muhammad in Mirza Ghalib (1954). The song was the folk based gem “Ganga Ki Reti Pe Bangla Chhawayi De.” Some other notable song from this period include Some notable songs in these films include Aawaz De Raha Hai Koi Aasman Se (Gauhar), Ghir Ghir Chhayen Mast Ghatayen (Naata), Aayi Aayi Re Maalaniya Bikaner Se (Oot Patang), Kaali Kaali Yeh Ghata Thandi Thandi Yeh Hawa (Zindagi) and many more.
She also sang for films like Golconda Ka Qaidi (1954), Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja (1955), Ghar Ghar Me Diwali (1955), Haseena (1955), Hatimtai Ki Beti (1955), Patit Pawan (1955), Teen Bhai (1955), Chand (1956), Char Minar (1956), Makkhee Choos (1956), Rangeen Raten (1956), Tankha (1956), and many more.
Important Work of Sudha Malhotra
In 1957 she sang two song for Amar Kumar’s Ab Dilli Dur Nahin (1957), under music direction of Dattaram. The songs “Mata O Mata Jo Tu Aaj Hoti” “Malik Tere Jahan Mein” were widely apreciated. One of her other memorable song was ” “Tum Meri Raakho Laaj Hari” in Dekh Kabira Roya. She also sang Hum Tumhare Hain Zara Ghar Se Nikal Kar Dekh Lo in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. One of her other significant work was in Narsi Bhagat under music direction of Ravi. She sang classical based Tum Meri Raakho Laaj Hari and Darshan Do Ghanshyam and Radha Ke Rasiya Gokul Ke Basiya with great precision.
She also sang Mera Jala Raat Bhar Diya (Chamak Chandni), Badle Rang Zamana (Naya Zamana), Aankhon Pe Bharosa Mat Kar (Detective), Jaane Kaisa Jadoo Kiya Re (Parvarish), and Dekho Mohe Laaga Solvaan Saal (Solva Saal), among others. Some other notable films with her voice include Changez Khan (1957), Mr. X (1957), Ustad (1957), Raj Tilak (1958), Suhaag (1958), and many more.
Sudha Malhotra and Sahir
Although Sudha was a trained singer with a beautiful voice, she hardly gets chances to sing in A-list movies. Sudha met Sahir when she got the chance to sing in G.P. Sippy’s Bhai Bahen in 1959. In the film, she sang “Uth Jayenge Jahaan Se Hum Yun Hi Rote Rote” and “Mere Nadeem, Mere Hamsafar.”
This was the beginning of her professional collaboration and personal relationship with Sahir. The relationship with legendary Sahir Ludhianvi, turned out to be one of the most intriguing aspects of Sudha Malhotra’s life.
The industry was rife with rumours about their relationship. It was believed that Sahir’s nazm “Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se” was inspired by their complicated situation. Despite the speculations, Sudha repeatedly denied any romantic involvement with Sahir. However, she did acknowledge that Sahir played a significant role in her career.
Songs of Sudha and Sahir
One of Sudha and Sahir’s earliest collaboration came in Dhool Ka Phhol (1959). The film has beautiful Ssudha numbers like “Apne Khaatir Jeena Hai,” and “Kaa Se Kahoon Man Ki Baat.” In Didi (1959), Sudha composed and sang the song “Tum Mujhe Bhool Bhi Jao.” The film also has beautiful “Humne Suna Tha Ek Hai Bharat.” One of their most memorable wortk came in Barsaat Ki Raat starring Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala. In the film she sang “Jee Chahta Hai Choom Loon,” “Na To Karvan Ki Talash Hai,” and “Nigah-E-Naaz Ke Maaron,” and “Yeh Hai Ishq Ishq.” They went on to work in films like “Lal Nishan (1959),” “Babar (1960),” “Masoom (1960),” and “Sachche Moti (1960).”
Some of her other famous songs include “Maiya Mori Main Nahin Maakhan Khayo (Gokul Ka Chor),” “San San San Woh Chali Hawa (Kaagaz Ke Phool),” “Payam-E-Ishq-O-Mohabbat,” “Salaam-E-Hasrat Qubool Kar Lo,” (Babar), “Mila Le Haath Le Ban Gayi Baat (Chhabili),” “Naa Main Dhan Chahoon (Kala Bazar),” “Alif Zabar Aa (Love In Simla),” “Hum Tumhare Ho Chuke Hain (Rangeela Raja),” “Suno Ji Mohe Dar Laage (Zalim Tera Jawab Nahin),” “Deep Gagan Ke Tum Ho,” “Jao Ji Jao Bade Shaan Ke Dikhaane Wale (Razia Sultan, 1961),” and “O Mere Pyaro Zamin Ke Taaron (Zameen Ke Tare),” and many more.
Marriage and Later Work
In 1960, Sudha Malhotra married Giridhar Motwani, whose family owned the Chicago Radio Mike Company. After her marriage, she took a step back from the film industry to focus on her family.
After her marriage, she sang in very few films like Kala Bazar (1960), Gipsy Girl (1961), Sara Jahan (1961), Hamara Zameen Ke Tare (1960), Picnic (1966), Sunehre Kadam (1966), Poonam Ka Chand (1967), Jwala (1970), and Pehla Kadam (1980). In 1982, she sang the famous mujra “Yeh Pyaar Tha Ya Kuch Aur Tha” for Raj Kapoor’s film “Prem Rog.” Her last song was “Ab Ke Sawan Mein,” from the 1987 film Uddhaar.
Sudha also recorded a few albums and sang many popular Marathi songs (Bhavgeet) with Arun Date. Some of her notable bhavgeets include “Shukratara Mandwara,” “Haat Tuza Haataat,” and “Divas Tujhe he Fulayche.” Her versatility as a singer allowed her to excel in various genres, be it Ghazal, Bhajan or pure filmi songs.
In 2013, Sudha Malhotra’ was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions to the arts.
Sudha Malhotra on IMDB
