Hema Sardesai

Hema Sardesai, also known as Hemaa Sardesai, is an Indian playback singer and lyricist. Hema hails from the coastal state of Goa, in India, and was born in Mumbai. She shot to fame in the 1990s with songs from movies like Sapnay, Biwi No. 1 and Jaanam Samjha Karo.[1]

Hema Sardesai
Hema Sardesai in 2010
Background information
GenresIndian classical music, Folk, Indipop
Occupation(s)Singer, Playback singer, Composer, Lyricist
InstrumentsVocalist
Years active1989–present

Early life
A young Hema Sardesai performing, c.1979

Hema Sardesai was born to Kumudini Sardesai (hailing from Parra) and Dr Kashinath Sardesai (hailing from Savoi-Verem, this doctor had previously been the cricket captain of Goa) and is the younger of their two daughters.[2] Her talent was first discovered at the age of six by her school teacher, Late Mrs. Sequiera. She is an alumnus of Sharada Mandir School, and was born and brought up in Boca de Vaca, a locality of Panaji. She made her stage debut at the age of 8 years, at a Navratri Festival, where the local Gujarati Samaj encouraged her.[3] She has accomplished the Sangeet Visharad in Indian classical music (with Pandit Sudhakar Karandikar as her first guru) and has always been passionate about Western Pop music.[4]

Career

Sardesai has sung several songs for Bollywood films, and has released several Indipop albums.[5] Sardesai is particularly known for singing "Aawara Bhawren Jo Hole Hole Gaaye" in the Hindi dubbed version of 1997 film Sapnay, which featured Kajol in the lead role. Some of her other famous songs include "Ishq Sona Hai" (Biwi No. 1), "Chali Chali Phir Chali" (Baghban) and "Badal Pe Paon Hai" (Chak De! India). She is the only Indian singer to win the Grand Prix at the International Pop Song Festival in Germany, has sung at the International UNICEF Concert in Europe and became the only female singer other than Lata Mangeshkar to perform at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence day.[6][7]

In 2011, she digitised her music on artistaloud.com.[8]

In 2013, she wrote and sang three Konkani songs for the English film The Coffin Maker, starring Naseeruddin Shah. The film was based in a Goan village and was selected for the Indian Panorama section of IFFI 2013. It is about a coffin maker who learns about life in an unusual manner.[9] The film went on to win the Best Feature Film Award at the River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival in 2013.[10]

In 2017, she announced her debut in America, with her song "Power of Love", working with Mishal Raheja and Grammy Award winner Jared Lee Gosselin on the project.[11]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Hindustani Gudiya (1998)[12]
  • Love & Dance (1991)
  • Call Me Eternity
  • Piya Se Milke Aaye Nayan
  • Sajnaa (2001)[4]

Singles
  • "Power of Love" (feat. Mishaal) (2017)[11]

Soundtracks
Year Film Songs
1996Tere Mere Sapne"Tere Mere Sapne"
1997Sapnay (Dubbed version)"Awaara Bhawren"
1997Pardes"Nahin Hona Tha"
"My First Day in USA"
1997Aar Ya Paar"Hulle Hulle"
1998Zor"Tere Pyaar Mein"
"Mein Kudi Anjaani Ho"
1998Soldier"Sona Sona Ye Na Hona"
1999Biwi No.1"Ishq Chandi Hai"
"Jungle Hai Aadhi Raat Hai"
1999Mann"Kehna Hai Tumse Kehna"
1999Jaanam Samjha Karo"Jaanam Samjha Karo"
2000Astitva"Kitne Kisse Hain Tere Mere"
2000Josh"Apun Bola"
"O Maria"
2000Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai"I Love You"
2000Kunwara"Na Heera Na Moti"
2000Tere Pyar Mein"Kal Thi Mohabbat"
2001Aśoka"San Sanana"
2001Yaadein"Eli Re Eli"
2001Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao"Naach Meri Jaan"
2001Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe"Aawara Main Badal"
2001Ittefaq"Tanana Dhir Tanana"
2003Baghban"Chali Chali Phir Chali Chali"[6]
2003Market"Khalli Valli"
2003Qayamat: City Under Threat"Qayamat Qayamat"
2003Khushi"Hai Re Hai Re"
2003Zameen"Tere Sang Ek Simple Si Coffee"
2003Asambhav"Asambhav"
2004Musafir"Sun Suniyo"
2005Garam Masala"Chori Chori"[13]
2007Chak De! India"Badal Pe Paon Hai"[12]
2012The Victim"Kallzam Amchim"
2013The Coffin Maker"Mogachi Donuch Uttraan"
"Geli Birant"
"Maya Ya"[10]

Personal life

Family

Hema is married to Xavier D'Souza, who is an investment banker hailing from Cunchelim.[3] He has previously been a hockey player for the Nehru Cup.[2]

Community work

Sardesai is active in many social causes, such as:

Reception

In 2017, Sardesai led a group of singers and artistes in a campaign against Sadhvi Saraswati, who had publicly requested the government to "hang those who consumed beef".[20] In response to this, Sardesai launched a protest march on July 2016.[21]

Also in 2017, Sardesai resigned from the position of the special icon for the 2017 Goa Legislative Assembly election, upon allegations of previously supporting ex-Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar by advocate and social activist Aires Rodrigues.[22]

In 2019, she defended singer Anu Malik, who was facing allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, which led to her criticism by singer Shweta Pandit.[23]

Awards and accolades
  • 1989 – 16th International Pop Song Festival, Grand Prix in Germany[6]
  • 2006 – All India Woman's Conference, Gomant Tejaswini Award for her outstanding achievements in the music field.[24]
  • 2015 – On 9 Oct 2015, Hemaa was honoured with the Icon of the Year award at the 35th Brands Academy Awards evening.[24]
  • 2015-In March 2015, Hemaa was also honoured with the Woman of the Year award, by Very. The event honours a leading lady of substance every year, for her unparalleled contribution to society across various fields.[24]
  • 2015-In March 2015, Hemaa was selected for the Karmaveer Puraskaar award held in New Delhi for her able activity to many a social cause, above all for her silent contribution to the causes.[24]
  • 2014-In August 2014, Hemaa was honoured with the PHD Excellence award in New Delhi.[24]
  • Hemaa was awarded the Hiramanek award titled International Women Achievers award, for her achievements.[24]
  • Hemaa is also the recipient of the International Achievers Award at the International Women's Conference of Art of Living.[24]
  • MTV Immies nominated Hemaa as 'Best Female Singer', for her song 'Qayamat' from the film Qayamat.[25]

References
  1. "People in the industry expected sexual favours from singer Hema Sardesai". Zee News. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  2. "No room for vulgar and obscene movies: Hema Sardesai". DNA. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  3. Britto, Misha (28 December 2014). "Striking the right note, on and off the stage". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  4. Paul, John L. (25 August 2002). "An unassuming singer". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  5. "Hema Sardesai". Veethi.com. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  6. Sayed, Nida (11 December 2017). "Singer Hema Sardesai to make American debut". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  7. "Hema Sardesai Joins Forces with Hollywood Producer for Her New Single". India West.com. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  8. Bhatti, Sharin (21 February 2011). "I will never do an item song". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  9. "'The Coffin Maker' will take Konkani to global stage: Hema Sardesai". Indian Express. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  10. "The Coffin Maker nails it at Florence". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  11. "Hema Sardesai goes international again". The Hindu. 22 December 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  12. Mazumdar, Ranjib (10 June 2010). "Singer Hema Sardesai talks about her passion for the social cause and her music". DNA. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  13. "Hema Sardesai". Hungama.com. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  14. D'Costa, Maria. "Hema Sardesai | innGOA.com". inngoa.com. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  15. "Book highlighting gender bias launched at Campal". Viva Goa. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  16. "Hema Sardesai joins protest against SEZs in Goa". Rediff.com. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  17. "Hema threatens Goa govt to go on fast until death". The Economic Times. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  18. Singh, Vijay (13 September 2012). "Singer Hema Sardesai supports eco-friendly Ganesh idols". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  19. "Hema Sardesai pitches for job priority for locals". The Times of India. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  20. "Who is Sadhvi Saraswati?". The Indian Express. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  21. "Singer Hema Sardesai condemns Sadhavi Saraswati's beef remarks". The Hindu. 20 June 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  22. "Goan playback singer Hema Sardesai quits as Assembly poll icon". India Today. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  23. "Shweta Pandit slams Hema Sardesai's defence of Anu Malik: 'Are child abuse, rape victims also involved in getting abused'". Hindustan Times. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  24. "Awards". Archived from the original on 2 June 2010.
  25. "Hema Sardesai – Marathisanmaan". Marathisanmaan.com. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
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