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Sharda Rajan Iyengar Age, Death, Children, Family, Biography & More

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Death Date: 14/06/2023
Religion: Hinduism
Hometown: Kumbakonam

Sharda Rajan Iyengar

Bio/Wiki
Birth name• Sharada Iyengar
Other name(s)• Sharada
• Sharda
Profession• Singer
• Lyricist
• Music Director
Famous songTitli Udi song in Suraj film (1966)
Physical Stats & More
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourSalt & pepper
Career
Awards, Honours, Achievements • U. P. Film Journalist Award under the Best Playback Singer category in 1966
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's Best Playback Singer of a Film Award
• Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer for the song Titli Udi of the film Suraj in 1966
• Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song Baat Zara Hai Aapas Ki of the film Jahan Pyar Miley in 1970
• Special Award by the Music Composer Association of India in 2021
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's Special Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award by Bollywood Pulse Entertainment in 2023
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's Lifetime Achievement Award
Personal Life
Date of BirthSource 1: 25 October 1933 (Wednesday) [1]Facebook - Sudha
Source 2: 25 October 1937 (Monday)
BirthplaceKumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India (then-Madras Presidency, British India)
Date of Death14 June 2023
Place of DeathMumbai, India
Age (at the time of death)Source 1: 89 Years
Source 2: 85 Years
Death CauseCancer [2]Facebook - Sudha
Zodiac signScorpio
Nationality Indian
HometownKumbakonam
Educational QualificationBachelor in Arts
ReligionHinduism
CasteBrahmin (Vaishnavite Iyengar)
Address602, Jyoti Building, 68 Napeansea Road, Rungta Lane, Mumbai - 400006 Maharashtra, India
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)Married
Family
Husband/SpouseName not known
ChildrenSon- Shammi Rajan
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's son Shammi Rajan
Daughter- Sudha Madeira
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's daughter, Sudha Madeira, with her husband, Dudley Madeira
ParentsNames not known
SiblingsBrother- Desikan Bharathan (Scientist, died in August 2018)
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's brother, Desikan Bharathan
Sister- Srithala Rajan
Other RelativesSon-in-law: Dudley Madeira
Maternal granddaughter: Sonya Madeira Welde
Maternal grandson-in-law: Rahul Welde
Maternal great granddaughter: Lilya Welde
Sharda Rajan Iyengar's daughter, Sudha (second from left) with her family
Grandson: Two
• Vikrant Rajan
• Vedant Rajan
Sharda Rajan Iyengar with her grandson, Vedant Rajan

Sharda Rajan Iyengar

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sharda Rajan Iyengar

  • Sharda Rajan Iyengar was an Indian singer, lyricist, and music director who became famous in Bollywood during the 1970s and 1980s. She passed away on 14 June 2023 after battling cancer.
  • Her grandfather imparted the knowledge of Sanskrit and Vedic culture to her, nurturing her curiosity and love for these subjects. From an early age, she displayed a keen interest in music and showcased her talents by participating in numerous school functions.

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar when she was learning music

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar when she was learning music

  • She learnt Carnatic music initially, from famed gurus such as Pandit Jagannath Prasad, Pandit Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale, and the mother of Indian actor Govinda, Nirmala Devi (aka Nirmala Arun).
  • During one of her performances in Tehran, Iran, destiny intervened when the renowned Indian actor and director, Raj Kapoor, chanced upon her mesmerizing talent. Impressed by her skills, he invited her to undergo a voice test at R. K. Studios. This paved the way for her remarkable journey into the world of Bollywood music.
    Sharda Rajan Iyengar with the first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru (right)

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar with the first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru (right)

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar before her voice test in R. K. Studios

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar before her voice test in R. K. Studios

  • Having successfully cleared the voice test, she received practical singing training from the esteemed director duo Shankar-Jaikishan. With their guidance, she honed her skills and began her singing career under their direction.
    Shankar, Sharda Rajan Iyengar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, and Jaikishan (left to right)

    Shankar, Sharda Rajan Iyengar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, and Jaikishan (left to right)

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar with Raj Kapoor (right)

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar with Raj Kapoor (right)

  • Her melodious voice graced numerous films such as ‘Around the World in 8 Dollars’ (1967), ‘Suraj’ (1966), ‘Gumnaam’ (1965), ‘Pyar Mohabbat’ (1966), ‘Shatranj’ (1969), ‘An Evening in Paris’ (1967), ‘Gunahon Ka Devta’ (1967), ‘Sapnon Ka Saudagar’ (1968), and ‘Ek Naari Ek Brahmachaari’ (1971).

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar during her early singing career

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar during her early singing career

  • In 1966, she received her first major opportunity when her song ‘Titli Udi’ from the film ‘Suraj’ became a massive hit, captivating audiences everywhere. This remarkable achievement led to her nomination for the esteemed Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer; however, during that time, the award was not divided by gender, and it was given to a single singer, irrespective of being male or female. As a result, she had to share the award with the renowned Mohammed Rafi, who was nominated for his song ‘Baharo Phool Barsao.’ Nevertheless, the following year, the Filmfare Awards committee started presenting separate awards for male and female singers.

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar with Mohammed Rafi (left)

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar with Mohammed Rafi (left)

  • She was nominated for the prestigious Filmfare awards for four consecutive years from 1968 to 1971.
  • In 1971, she achieved a notable milestone in her career by becoming the first Indian female singer to release a pop album titled ‘Sizzlers.’
  • In addition to her contributions to Bollywood, she lent her voice to songs in various languages including Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and English.
    Sharda Rajan Iyengar recording a song

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar recording a song

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar singing in her 80s

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar singing in her 80s

  • She also worked under different directors such as Usha Khanna, Ravi, Dattaram, and Iqbal Qureshi.
  • Her final Hindi film song was featured in the movie ‘Kaanch Ki Deewar’ in 1986. Despite this, she remained dedicated to her craft and continued to release albums, enchanting listeners with her mesmerizing ghazals and soulful bhajans. On 21 July 2007, she unveiled her Ghazal album titled ‘Andaaz-e-Bayan Aur,’ a compilation of ghazals by the renowned poet Mirza Ghalib.

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar singing during a live show

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar singing during a live show

  • She exhibited her talent as a songwriter by penning the song ‘Ek Chehra jo Dil Ke Kareeb’ for the film ‘Garam Khoon’ (1980) under the pseudonym Singaar. The song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and depicted on screen by Sulakshana Pandit.
  • She showcased her versatility by stepping into the role of a music director for several films in the 1970s, including notable titles like ‘Maa Behen Aur Biwi’ (1974), ‘Tu Meri Main Tera’ (1980), ‘Kshitij’ (1974), ‘Mandir Masjid’ (1977), and ‘Maila Anchal’ (1981). In 1974, under her direction, the esteemed Mohammed Rafi lent his voice to the song ‘Achcha Hi Hua Dil Toot Gaya’ from the film ‘Maa Behen Aur Biwi,’ earning him a nomination for the esteemed Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer Award.
  • On 14 June 2023, after bravely battling cancer for an extended period of time, she passed away in Mumbai, India. The news of her demise was shared with the world by her daughter Sudha on the social media platform Facebook. [3]Facebook – Sudha

    Facebook post of Sharda Rajan Iyengar's daughter Sudha after her demise

    Facebook post of Sharda Rajan Iyengar’s daughter Sudha after her demise

  • In addition to her vocal prowess, she was also a proficient Tanpura player.

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar playing Tanpura

    Sharda Rajan Iyengar playing Tanpura

References/Sources:[+]