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

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

• 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 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)

  

  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

• 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)

• She was nominated for the prestigious Filmfare awards for four consecutive years from 1968 to 1971.

• She had the privilege of singing alongside esteemed singers such as Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Yesudas, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, and Suman Kalyanpur.
  

  Sharda Rajan Iyengar with Kishore Kumar (left)

  

  Sharda Rajan Iyengar with Mahendra Kapoor (left)

• 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 singing in her 80s

• Her mesmerizing songs were beautifully portrayed on screen by a multitude of renowned actresses from the 70s and 80s, including Vyjayanthimala, Sadhana, Saira Banu, Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Rekha, and Helen.

• 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

• 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

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

  Sharda Rajan Iyengar playing Tanpura