Sushma Shrestha aka Poornima : The Gorkha Bollywood playback singer
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(now staying at Gopuram Building,Shrirang Nagar,near Vidya Vikas Hospital,Gangapur Road, Nashik, 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 Pushpa Pagdhare).
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.
Notable Albums
- Simply Darun
- Ankh Micholi
- Balma Bada Bavaali
- Jaal
- Bhatta Saheb
- Badal
- Jogan
- Patanga
- Shagufa
Notable 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 Builiding" - 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
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