Shilpa Rao
She was born on 11 April 1984 in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Her father, S. V. Rao, who held a degree in music, introduced her to music. For her education, she went to Little Flower School, Jamshedpur.
Career
The playback singer Hariharan arranged for Rao to study under his music teacher, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. After performing with Shankar Mahadevan in concert, she moved to Mumbai on his advice.
Although she started her career singing advertising jingles, Rao soon moved on to film music. In 2006 she recorded the song “Tosey Naina Lagey” for the movieAnwar and “Saiyaan Re” for the film Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love. She went on to perform songs in films like One Two Three (“Gupchup”)’, The Train’ ‘(“Woh Ajnabee”), Aamir (“Ek Lau”), Dev D (“Dhol Yaara Dhol”, “Ranjhana”), Gulal (“Aisi Saaza”).[2] She has sung one Tamil song in Naan Mahaan Alla(“Oru Maalai Neram”) for Yuvan Shankar Raja.She recently appeared on Star World’s popular TV series “The Dewarists” in collaboration with “Agnee” and “Parikrama”. She has also sung some Bengali songs mostly with Jeet Ganguly. She also Sung a Song Bekaboo from the Serial Navya.
An article published in the Hindustan Times in 2009 described her as one of the most prominent singers in the “wave” of “young, little-known singers” then sweeping through Bollywood.[3] She is also a part of band, Band Called Nine, with lyricist Neelesh Misra and composer Amartya Rahut, working with traditional Indian craft ofQissa Goi (storytelling).[4] In 2011, the band released its debut album, Rewind, consisting of songs and storytelling, put together with a narrative.[5][6]
In 2012, Rao sang ‘Yaariyaan’ for Cocktail.The song got critical success and went on to became a chart-buster eventually.She ended the year 2012 by working with academy award winner A. R. Rahman for the song ‘Ishq Shava’ in Yash Chopra’s last film Jab Tak Hai Jaan. The song was received well by the critics and public. In 2013, Rao sang ‘Malang’ – Dhoom 3 which gave her critical success. The song went on to become a rage and then a chart-buster.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Song Name | Composer | Notes |
| 2005 | Ek Ajnabee | Stranger On The Prowl | Amar Mohile | |
| 2007 | Anwar | Javeda Zindagi (Tose Naina Laage) | Mithoon | |
| Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love | Saiyaan Re | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | ||
| The Train | Woh Ajnabee Teri Tamanna |
Mithoon | ||
| Gandhi My Father | Pain (Raghupati Raghav) Faith Gandhi’s Favourite |
Piyush Kanojia | ||
| 2008 | Aamir | Ek Lau | Amit Trivedi | |
| Bachna Ae Haseeno | Khuda Jaane | Vishal-Shekhar | Won – Screen Award for Best Female Playback Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer Nominated – IIFA Award for Best Female Playback |
|
| Hijack | Koi Na Jaane | Justin-Uday | ||
| 2009 | Gulaal | Aisi Sazaa | Piyush Mishra | |
| Aagey Se Right | Mahiya | Ram Sampath | ||
| Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam | Egire Egire Abacha |
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | Telegu Film | |
| Sikandar | Manzaraat | Justin-Uday | ||
| Dev.D | Dhol Yaara Dhol Ranjhana |
Amit Trivedi | ||
| Puthiya Mukham | Rahasyamay | Deepak Dev | Malayalam Film | |
| Paa | Mudhi Mudhi Ittefaq Se Udhi Udhi Ittefaq Se |
Ilaiyaraaja | ||
| 2010 | Toh Baat Pakki! | Dil Le Jaa | Pritam | |
| Admissions Open | Aasman Ke Paar | |||
| Lahore | Rang De O Re Bande |
M.M Kreem | ||
| Naan Mahaan Alla | Oru Maalai Neram | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Tamil Film | |
| Lafangey Parindey | Nain Parindey | R. Anandh | ||
| Anjaana Anjaani | Anjaana Anjaani I Feel Good |
Vishal-Shekhar | ||
| Memories in March | Kaisi Azeeb Dawat | |||
| 2011 | No One Killed Jessica | Yeh Pal | Amit Trivedi | |
| That Girl in Yellow Boots | Ladkhadaaya | Naren Chandavarkar & Benedict Taylor | ||
| Yeh Saali Zindagi | Dil Dar-Ba-Dar Yeh Saali Zindagi Yeh Saali Zindagi |
Nishat Khan | ||
| Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge | Uh-Oh Uh-Oh | Raghu Dixit | ||
| Ladies vs Ricky Bahl | Jazba | Salim-Sulaiman | ||
| Pappu Can’t Dance Saala | Lamha Jadoo |
Malhar | ||
| Desi Boyz | Allah Maaf Kare | Pritam | ||
| 2012 | Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu | Aahatein Gubbare Kar Chalna Shuru Tu |
Amit Trivedi | |
| Jodi Breakers | Jab Main Tumhare Saath Hun | Salim-Sulaiman | ||
| Cocktail | Yaariyaan | Pritam | ||
| English Vinglish | English Vinglish Gustakh Dil |
Amit Trivedi | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu | |
| Jab Tak Hai Jaan | Ishq Shava | A.R. Rahman | ||
| Awara | Moner Radio | Jeet Ganguly | Bengali Film | |
| 2013 | Lootera | Manmarziyan | Amit Trivedi | |
| 3G | Khalbali | Mithoon | ||
| Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Subhanallah | Pritam | ||
| Dhoom 3 | Malang | Pritam | ||
| 2014 | Gulaab Gang | Gulaabi | Soumik Sen |
Non-Film
- Teri Aakhein – Saiyaan
- Navya..Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal – “Bekaboo”
- Band Called Nine (Shilpa Rao, Neelesh Misra, Amartya Rahut) – Rewind
- The Dewarists (Season One) – I Believe
- MTV Unplugged (Season One)
- Coke Studio @ MTV Season 2 – Hallelujah, Shedding Skin
Awards
Shilpa won the Best Female Playback Singer at the Star Screen Awards, 2008 for the song “Khuda Jaane” from the movie Bachna Ae Haseeno. The song was also adjudged the Song of the Year. She also has won Best Singer award at Indian Television Academy Awards for Navya..Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal