Rewind. Play. Nostalgia!

Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle ruled for decades. And, there were Suman Kalyanpur, Hemlata, Usha Khanna and the feisty Usha Uthup who carved a niche of their own. Some fresh Indi-pop singers also ruled the music business. Film historian Dhruv Somani chronicles popular female singers of the pre-new-millennium times whose voices are rarely heard today Sapna Awasthi

A trained folk singer, she started off at Delhi radio at an early age. She sang and also acted in a few episodes of Gulzar’s serial Mirza Ghalib but quit acting. Composer Dilip Sen who gave her a break as a playback singer for Shekhar Kapoor’s Dushmani, had heard her first song Banno Teri Aankhiyan. But, her first released song was Saawre

Saawariya for Ekka Raja Rani Mere Sawre Sawaria. She is remembered for

crooning Pardesi Pardesi ( Raja Hindustani). A. R. Rahman’s Chhaiya Chhaiya from Dil Se was another feather in her cap. She kept in the music groove with songs for Hum Tumhare Hai Sanam, Darmiyaan, Rockstar, Anjaam, Raavan and Dulhan Banno Main Teri.

Salma Agha

Born in Pakistan and raised in the United Kingdom, she sang and acted in both Pakistani and Hindi films. She made her big screen debut with B.R. Chopra’s

Nikaah. The Nikaah soundtrack became a bestseller even before its theatrical release. The memorable songs Faza

Bhi Hai Jawan Jawan and Dil Ke Armaan Ansoo Mein Beh Gayee appealed to the masses. She also recorded the album Welcome with Anil Kapoor making his singing debut. Her songs featured in Aap Ke Saath, Pataal Bhairavi, Cheekh, Kanwarlal and Param Dharam.

Alisha Chinai

The queen of Indi-pop, she started out with the album Jadoo (1985). There is no doubt that her albums Madonna, Kamasutra and the highly popular Made in India made her a household name. Her film songs from Tarzan, Dance Dance,

Guru, Love Love Love elevated her right to the top. There was no stopping her with hits after hits for

Vijaypath ( Ruk Ruk Ruk), Raja Hindustani ( Tere Ishq Mein Nachange), Murder ( Dil Ko Hazaar Baar Roka) and songs from No Entry, Don, Dhoom 2, Kambakht Ishq, Kya Love Story Hai, not

to forget Kajra Re from Bunty Aur Bubbly and Tinka Tinka from Karm.

Parvati Khan

Parvati had listeners swaying to her catchy tunes as she transformed from one trendy outfit to another on the video promos. Her Papa number, which became a success, was a direct lift from Madonna’s popular number Papa Don’t Preach. Her ticket to fame came with the Disco Dancer song — Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja. Some of the other films she was heard in were Maa Kasam, Love Love Love, Aasman Se Ooncha, Tirchhi Topiwale, Rock Dancer, Misaal, Parbat Ke Us Paar and 7 Bijliyaan.

Sharon Prabhakar

She ruled the pop era of the 1980s, becoming a top ranker when she swept the polls of the television show Pop Time. Her debut album Shabash Sharon for HMV did well. She also performed the opening act when Michael Jackson arrived in India. She had been seen in the art-house film Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaye, directed by M.S. Sathyu, opposite Anil Kapoor, but had decided that acting wasn’t her scene. Her song in Armaan — Aa Meri Jaisi Haseena became a whopper success. Subsequently, she was heard in Tarzan, Veerana, Kasme Rasme, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avatar, Shapath and Insaaf Main Karoonga. Besides being a singer Sharon was also a theatre personality, encouraged by her husband Alyque Padamsee, to play starring roles in Evita, Cabaret and The Odd Couple.

Suneeta Rao

She arrived on the Indi-pop scene with the album Dhuan in 1991. The track Pari

Hoon Main was an instant crowd-pleaser. Her stint for playback singing was rather brief with some songs for Gulaam-EMustafa, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaaye.

Ila Arun

A specialist at folk songs, particularly with the earthy flavour of Rajasthan, her albums Nigodi KaisiJawaniHai, HauleHaule, ChappanChhuri and Banjaran became a rage. She was lavishly praised for MorniBagamaBole AadhiRaatMa ( Lamhe) followed by renditions for Jaal, Batwara, Naaraz, DiyaAurToofan and Raavan. Her popularity grew by leaps and bounds with CholiKe PeechheyKyaHai and NayakNahin KhalnayakHaiTu from Khalnayak. Ila Arun has multi-tasked as a stage and as a film artiste in Mandi, Ghaatak, Jaal, ChinaGate, WelcometoSajjanpur, Chingaari, BegumJaan and the recently released OTT film RaatAkeliHai.

Shweta Shetty

Deewane Toh Deewane Hai sang Shweta Shetty and was marked out for her husky voice and bold videos. Her first album

Johnny Johnny Joker was averagely successful. She rendered songs for Bichhoo

( Tote Tote Ho Gaya), Salaakhen ( Peechu Pade Hai), Rangeela ( Mangta Hai Kya), Ziddi, Aflaatoon and Zameen after which she got married and shifted base to Germany. Now she is back in India, so here’s hoping she resumes her singing career.

Penaz Masani

An accomplished ghazal singer, she began her career at an early age during the 1980s. She mostly performed at concerts in India and abroad, besides appearing on TV shows. Her film repertoire includes songs for Vishkanya, Hum Naujawan, Mohabbat ka Sagar, Jumbish, Katha, Veer Tejaji, Bahaar, Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi and Gandhi to Hitler.

Preeti Sagar

She was the undisputed queen of jingles and folk songs. Her moment of bigtime fame came with the song My Heart is Beating. Her songs can be heard in Laila Majnu, Nishant, Manthan, Mandi, Bhumika, Dooriyan, Anand Ashram, Locket, Shaayad, Dulha Bikhta Hai, Jhutha Sach

Sushma Shrestha

Poornima Shrestha popularly known as Sushma Shrestha began her career as a child singer with the song Hai Na Bolo Bolo.

Some of her best numbers were for R.D. Burman, like Aa Gale Lag Jaa, The Burning Train, Dharam Karam and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. She made a comeback in 1992 as an adult singer as Poornima with Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara from Bol Radha Bol. She was heard in Anjaam, Raja Babu with the controver

sial Sarkai Lo Khatiya Jada Lage, Gopi Kishan, Laadla, Vijaypath, Judwaa, Hero No. 1, Biwi No. 1 and Coolie No. 1, etc.