Who'd be the best singer of 2010?

This is Javed Ali’s second innings on our Next Big Things list. Last year it was Jashne bahara from Jodhaa Akbar.

Singers: Javed Ali, Bela Shinde, Shilpa Rao

Top of the hit list
This is Javed Ali’s second innings on our Next Big Things list. Last year it was Jashne bahara from Jodhaa Akbar. This time, Guzarish from Ghajini, Tu muskura from Yuvvraaj, Arziyaan from Delhi 6 and Tu hi haqeeqat from Tum Mile are the songs that are getting him noticed all over again. But though Javed was sure he always wanted to make a career in music, he never intended being a playback singer.

HT Image

“I didn’t think I’d make it in the film industry,” he says honestly.

Born and brought up in Delhi, Javed got his initial training from his singer father. He came to Mumbai and sang everything: “From jingles to dubbing till the real singer took over, I sang whatever I got,” he says. Till music composer Shanker Mahadevan called him to dub for the original singer of Kajra re!

Touching the high notes

Born and brought up in Pune in a family of singers, Bela Shinde was first noticed on Zee’s music show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge. She won the finals in the 2007 edition and that turned out to be her ticket to Bollywood. Bela got her film break with Tumse milkar from the film Ehsaas. “But the film didn’t do well, so the song went unnoticed,” says Bela. She followed it up with Minnat kare and Kangna re from Paheli.

But it was the haunting Man mohana from Jodhaa Akbar that catapulted Bela into the big league. “The film was in the making for two years. It did get disappointing, waiting so long. But the result was worth it,” she says.

With Suche suche from What’s Your Rashee? Bela has further proved her versatility. The industry is now looking expectantly at this 26-year-old and Bela is looking forward to a good year.

Like javed Ali, the dusky Shilpa Rao is also on our Next Big Things list for the second year running. With her song Ek Lau from Aamir almost becoming like an anthem in the fight against terrorism (not to mention other hits like Dhol yara dhol from Dev D and Mudi mudi and Hichki hichki from Paa), this diminutive 25-year-old has become one of the most sought after singers in Bollywood.

“It’s amazing to be accepted so well,” says Shilpa, who was born and brought up in Jamshedpur.

A Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy discovery, Shilpa says the high point of her career so far was singing for Ilaiyaraaja in Paa. “I think it’s every singer’s dream to work with him, and I’ve lived mine!”

Our judges

Shaan, Singer

Javed Ali: Does justice to different genres. Is very well-trained
Benny Dayal (singer of Pappu can’t dance sala): Has great potential
Vishal Dadlani (sang Dhan te na): Does a great job as a playback singer
Shilpa Rao: Doing well and has a lot of work
Bela Shinde: Done a few good songs. Has potential

Kunal Ganjawala, Singer
Neeraj Shridhar: Very
original voice, stands out
Javed Ali: Good range, needs to make his voice more screen-friendly
Benny Dayal: Lovely range and voice quality
Shilpa Rao: Her tone is her USP. Refreshing voice
Shruti Pathak: Original voice. Very promising
Dominique (Tumhari meri baatein, Rock On!): One of the best voices I’ve heard

Sunidhi Chauhan, Singer
Javed Ali: His voice is great. Still has a lot of unexplored talent
Mohit Chauhan: Has a typical trance-type voice. Can do much more
Bela Shinde: She is maturing with each song
Anoushka Manchanda: Her voice has a lot of character and passion