Alka Yagnik is a famous and one of the leading playback singers the in bollywood who was born on 20th March, 1966 at Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal. She was born in a Gujrati family. Her parents were well versed in classical music. Alka’s mother Shubha Yagnik was a singer of Indian classical music and determined her daughter succeed as a singer. She started singing for Calcutta Radio when she was just six years old. Her mother brought her to Bombay (Mumbai) to try her luck in films as a child singer. Alka got a letter of introduction to Raj Kapoor from his Calcutta distributor where Raj Kapoor heard her voice and send her to producer Laxmikant. Laxmikant gave her two alternatives of dubbing artist and a later break as a full-fledged singer. Alka settled for the latter. Some of her hit songs are :
1. Bakhuda Tumhi Ho - kismat konnection »”>Kismat Konnection
2. Meelon Ka Jaise Tha Faasla - Love Story 2050
3. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
4. Chori Chori - Lucky
5. Saanwariya Saanwariya - Swades
6. Hum Tum - Hum Tum
7. Odhni Odh Ke Naachu - Tere Naam
8. Tauba Tumhare Ye Ishaare - Chalte Chalte
9. Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai - Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai
10. Aati Kya Khandala - Ghulam

Alka Yagnik is classically trained singer in bollywood since late 1980s. Alka started singing at the age of six when she sang bhajans for Calcutta Radio and moved to Bombay at the age of ten. In Mumbai, she started singing in the movies Payal Ki Jhankaar (1979), Laawaris (1981) and Hamari Bahu Alka (1982). She sang a song “Mere Angene Mein” which became very popular among the people. But her career took a sharp turn when she sang the song “Ek Do Teen” from the film Tezaab (1988). The song became a pop hit and turned her into a star overnight. She also received her first filmfare award for best female playback award for this song. She has also sung in other languages like Punjabi, Marathi and Bengali. Her song “Chamma Chamma” from the movie China Gate (1998) was featured in the soundtrack of the acclaimed film “Moulin Rouge“,in the song “Hindi Sad Diamonds”.

Alka Yagnik has also been judge of television shows ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge’ and ‘Star Voice of India’. Both the programmes are singing competition shows in which participants of various age groups compete with one another to win the award for best vocals. She has got numerous awards and nominations in her singing career. She has received the filmfare award for Best Female Playback for three consecutive years (from 1999 to 2001). She has won national award in the same category for the song “Ghoongat Ki Aad Se” (Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke) in 1994 and “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) in 1999. Won Star Screen Awards for “Paanchi Nadiyaan” (Refugee) in 2000. Won one of the most important International Indian Film Academy Award for “Taal Se Taal Mila” and “Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai” in 2000 and 2001 respectively.