A great playback singer: Suresh Wadkar

In the film “Prem Rogi” in the year 1982, you made everyone your fan in the film world by singing the songs “Meri Kismat Mein Tu Nahin Shayed” and “Main Hoon Prem Rogi”. In this film, your voice was so solid with Mr Rishi Kapoor that you were chosen for the songs of Mr Rishi Kapoor’s films. In the next few years, Mr Suresh Wadkar sang for many big music directors, among them are many famous songs like “Haathon Ki Chand Lakiron Ka”, “Huzoor Is Kadar Bhi Na”, “Goron Ki Na Kalon Ki”, “Yeh Zindagi Gale Lag Ja” and “Lagi Aaj Sawan Ki”.

Shri Suresh Wadkar ji (Mr Suresh Vadekar) was born on 7 August 1955 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, you were very fond of singing since childhood. From the age of 10, you started taking formal music lessons from Gurudev Pandit Jiyalal Basant Ji. At the age of 20, Mr Suresh Wadkar ji participated in the music competition Sur Shringar where musicians Mr Jaidev ji and Mr Ravindra Jain ji were present as judges. Both of you heard Shri Suresh Wadkar ji’s voice and were highly impressed and assured you of playback singing in films. Mr Ravindra Jain ji made him sing the first film song “Vrishti Pade Tapur Topur” in Rajshree Production’s film “Paheli”. After this, Mr Jaidev ji allowed you to sing the song “Sene Me Jalan” in the film “Gaman”, which gained you immense popularity. After this, you sang the song “Chal Chameli Bagh Mein” in the film “Krodhi” in the year 1981 and “Megha Re Megha” in “Pyaasa Sawan” with Bharat Ratna Respected Lata Mangeshkar in the year 1981 for the famous personality of the film world Mr Laxmikant Pyarelal. After a long gap, you sang songs like “Chhod Aaye Hum” and “Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale” in the movie “Maachis” which are very much liked by the modern generation. In the year 2000s, Suresh Wadkar ji collaborated with noted music composer Vishal Bhardwaj ji and sang in many great films like Satya, Omkara, Kaminey and Haider.

Apart from Hindi and Marathi, Mr Suresh Wadkar has also sung some songs in Bhojpuri and Konkadi languages. You also made devotional albums “Shiva Gungan” in the year 1998, “Mantra Sangrah” in the year 2014 and “Tulsi Ke Ram Namak” in the year 2016. You have been awarded many honours from time to time. In the year 2007, the Government of Maharashtra honoured you with the “Pride of Maharashtra Awards”. You have also been honoured with the most prestigious award “Lata Mangeshkar Samman” by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He was also awarded the “National Award” in the category of Best Playback Singer in the year 2011 for the song “Hey Bhaskara Kshitij Vaari Ya” from the Marathi film “Mee Sindhutai Sapkal”. You have also been honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in the year 2020 for your incredible services to the country through music and songs.