Suresh Ishwar Wadkar is an Indian playback singer. He performs in both Hindi and Marathi films. He has sung songs in some Bhojpuri films, Odia albums and bhajans and in Konkani films.

He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018 for Sugam Sangeet. In 2020, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri.

Early life and musical training

Wadkar was born in Kolhapur in a middle-class family that soon moved to Girangaon. His father Ishwar Wadkar worked in cloth mills and his mother cooked food for the mill workers. In youth, he wrestled at akhadas and frequented the Talwalkar gym with his father, who was also a wrestler.

In 1968, when Wadkar was 13, Jialal Vasant encouraged him to work towards the "Prabhakar" certificate offered by the Prayag Sangit Samiti, because it was equivalent to a BEd and qualifies the awardee to teach professionally. Wadkar successfully completed his "Prabhakar" and joined Arya Vidya Mandir in Mumbai as a music teacher.

Singing career

Though groomed for Indian classical music, Wadkar entered the Sur-Singar competition in 1976. He won the competition which was judged by composers from the Indian film industry including Jaidev and Ravindra Jain. Ravindra Jain introduced him to the world of playback singing, and Wadkar sang Jain's composition Sona Kare Jhilmil Jhilmil Vrishti Pade Tapur Tupur in the film Paheli (1977). Jaidev also offered him the song "Seene Mein Jalan" in the film Gaman (1978).

At the time, Lata Mangeshkar was so impressed with his voice that she strongly recommended him to film personalities including Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Khayyam and Kalyanji-Anandji. Laxmikant-Pyarelal, impressed with his voice, soon recorded a duet with Lata, "Chal Chameli Bagh Mein" for Krodhi (1981). Soon after, he was given the opportunity to perform for songs in Hum Paanch, Pyaasa Sawan ("Megha Re Megha Re") and above all, his turning point in films – Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (1982). After that, Wadkar sang many songs under the R. K. Banner, and he often gave his voice for Rishi Kapoor in Heena, Prem Granth, Bol Radha Bol, Vijay and others. He also sang for Rajiv Kapoor in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. Two of his most famous songs are "Tum Se Milke" from Parinda (1989) and "Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le" from Sadma (1983).

Wadkar sang his first Tamil song in the 2009 film Kanden Kadhalai, an adaptation of the Hindi blockbuster Jab We Met. The song is a ghazal type song called "Naan Mozhi Arindhaen".

He has sung numerous devotional songs in various Indian languages for many denominations including many Vaishnav and Shaivite sampradayas such as the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

In 1996, Wadkar sang Channeache Rati among several other songs in Rajendra Talak's Konkani album Daryachya Deger with Asha Bhosle.

Marathi music career

Suresh Wadkar has worked with some of the top class Marathi music directors like Pt.Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke, Shrinivas Khale, Shridhar Phadke, Vasant Desai, Ashok Patki, Anil-Arun etc.

Other work

In 2002, Wadkar produced the film "Tanman.com".

In 2003, he collaborated with arist Shivanand (Udayraj A. Gadnis) on Cosmic Raga Mandal project.

He was a judge on the Indian TV singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs and at the 2005 Sangeet Awards.

In 2022, he was the judge for Zee TV's devotional music reality show Swarna Swar Bharat along with Kumar Vishwas and Kailash Kher.

Music schools

Wadkar is the director of the Ajivasan(Acharya Jialal Vasant Sangeet NIkaetan) Music Academy in Mumbai [14] He also has a training institute in and New Jersey/New York City area. He has also started an online music school, called SWAMA (Suresh Wadkar Ajivasan Music Academy), under Ace Open University.

Personal life

Wadkar is married to classical singer Padma and the couple has two daughters, Ananya and Jiya.

Awards

In 1976, Wadkar won the Madan Mohan Best Male Playback Singer Award at the Sur-Singar competition. He is also a recipient of the 2004 Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar instituted by Madhya Pradesh government. He also won the 2007 Maharashtra Pride Award which is given by the government of Maharashtra to citizens of note. He got awarded by Late Sadashiv Amarapurkar Award 2017 by Ahmednagar's Think Global Foundation.

He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018 for Sugam Sangeet. On January 25, 2020, his name was announced for Government of India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, for his work in the field of arts.

National Film Awards
Wins
2010 – Best Male Playback Singer – "Hey Bhaskara Kshitijavari Ya" (Mee Sindhutai Sapkal)

Filmfare Awards

He, along with KK, holds the record for most number of nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer without even winning.

Nominations

1983 – Best Male Playback Singer – "Mein Hoon Prem Rogi" (Prem Rog)
1983 – Best Male Playback Singer – "Meri Kismat Tu" (Prem Rog)
1986 – Best Male Playback Singer – "Main Hi Main Hoon" (Ram Teri Ganga Maili)
1990 – Best Male Playback Singer – "Lagi Aaj Sawan Ki" (Chandni)
1991 – Best Male Playback Singer – "O Priya Priya" (Dil)
1997 – Best Male Playback Singer – "Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale" (shared with Hariharan) (Maachis)

Collaborators

Suresh Wadkar has sung for a variety of composers in the Indian film industry. These include:

Shrinivas Khale (Marathi)
Shridhar Phadke (Marathi)
Anil-Arun
Laxmikant Pyarelal
Kalyanji Anandji
R.D. Burman
Ilayaraja
Ravindra Jain
Bappi Lahiri
Khaiyyam
Usha Khanna
Arun Paudwal
A.R. Rahman
Vidyasagar
Nadeem-Shravan
Vishal Bhardwaj
Rajesh Roshan
Raamlaxman
Shiv-Hari
Jatin–Lalit
Hridaynath Mangeshkar
Shridhar Phadke
Anand–Milind
Anu Malik
Himesh Reshammiya
Shanker
Ravi
Chitragupta
Rajkamal
Jaidev
Mohinderjit Singh
Brahma Kumaris
Kaushal Inamdar
Dr Swaroop Roy

Filmography

Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai 2 (2015)
Haider (2014)[4]
Kahin Hai Mera Pyar (2014)
Yeh Khula Aasmaan (2012)
7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
Kanden Kadhalai (2009) (Tamil)
Ghauttham (2009) (Kannada)
Kaminey (2009)
Ek Vivaah... Aisa Bhi (2008)
Omkara (2006)
Vivah (2006)
Bal Ganesh (2006)
Naam Gum Jaayega (2005)
Indra (2002)
Hu Tu Tu (1999)
Sar Utha Ke Jiyo (1998)
Satya (1998)
Lahoo Ke Do Rang (1997)
Bhai (1997)
Maachis (1996)
Muqaddar (1996)
Prem Granth (1996)
Rangeela (1995)
Ghatak (1995)
Udhaar Ki Zindagi (1994)
Aaina (1993)
In Custody (1993)
Lootere (1993)
Kayda Kanoon (1993)
Sangeet (1992)
Parampara (1992)
Dil Aashna Hai (1992)
Ghar Jamai (1992)
Vansh (1992)
Thalapathi (1991)
Lamhe (1991)
Lekin... (1991)
Henna (1991)
Kurbaan (1991)
Aaj Ka Samson (1991)
Patthar Ke Phool (1991)
The Blow (1991)
Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991)
Shiva (1990)
Dil (1990)
Maha-Sangram (1990)
Parinda (1989)
Bhrashtachar (1989)
Toofan (1989)
Purani Haveli (1989)
Chandni (1989)
Hero Hiralal (1988)
Waaris (1988)
Hero Hiralal (1988)
Libaas (1988)
Thikana (1987)
Hifazat (1987) directed by Prayag Raj
Imaandaar (1987)
Saveray Wali Gaadi (1986)
Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
Lallu Ram (1985)
"Bihari Babu" (1985)
Utsav (1984)
Sadma (1983)
Masoom (1983)
Disco Dancer (1982)
Prem Rog (1982)[5]
Maine Jeena Seekh Liya (1982) (first Hindi movie music composition by Nadeem-Shravan)
Pyaasa Sawan (1981)
Hum Paanch (1980)
Gaman (1978)
Paheli (1977)

Devotional

Omkar Swarupa
Jai Shri Swaminarayan
Sai Tum Yaad Aye
Sai Naam Ek Rang Anek
Sampoorana Geeta-Hindi
Shiva Chalisa
Gururaya Aathvito Tujhiye Paaya
Om Namah Shivaya Mantra
Namo Namaha He Pramukh Swami
Koti Koti Vandan Kariye
Swaminarayan Charan Kamalama
Parabrahma Tame He Purushottam