Monali Thakur is an Indian singer and actress. She got fame when she participated in the immensely popular singing reality TV show Indian Idol season 2 aired on Sony. Since then, she has sung many songs in Hindi films. With a sensuous voice and pretty face, she stole millions of hearts nationwide. Her melodious voice weaves magic, every time.
She is the recipient of a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award. Thakur won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” from the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Sawaar Loon” from the film Lootera (2013). She is presently an “expert” on Colors TV’s Rising Star.
Early Life
Monali Thakur was born on November 3, 1985, in a Bengali musical family in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. Her father Shakti Thakur is a Bengali singer and her sister Mehuli Thakur is also a playback singer. She was trained in Hindustani classical music under Pandit Jagdish Prasad and Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty. She has learned hip-hop and Bharatanatyam and is also a trained Salsa dancer.
Thakur started singing in school and college competitions and performing at local functions and received the Best Playback Singer award at the Anandalok Awards for the serial Sri Ramkrishna when she was 14. She rose to popularity after placing ninth in Indian Idol 2.
Monali Thakur Career:
Monali started her career as a playback singer making debut with ‘Kubool Kar Le’ for the movie Jaan –E-Mann in 2006. Next year she gave her voice in ‘Goodnight’ for Dil Kabaddi.
She had to struggle even after Indian Idol to get a strong foothold in the music industry. She got an offer from music director Pritam Chakraborty to sing two songs for the Bollywood film Race in 2008 – “Khwab Dekhe (Sexy Lady)” and “Zara Zara Touch Me“. She was originally scheduled to sing only one song, but her first recording impressed the film’s directors Abbas–Mustan enough for them to book her a second.
“Zara Zara Touch Me” was enormously successful, becoming the fourth-most-played song on Indian radio during the first half of 2008. She also got nominated for an IIFA Award for Best Female Playback and an Apsara Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Zara Zara Touch Me”.
She has also sung a song “Khudaya Khair” in the recent film “Billu Barber” starring Shahrukh Khan.
Apart from her singing career, she has been involved in acting as well. She was often seen in different Bengali TV soaps including Aalokito Ek Indu wherein she played the lead character called Indubala. This was followed by other telefilms as well like Phagun Agun from Sudeshna Roy wherein she was again seen in the character of Ruman. While talking about the films, she first appeared in the Bengali movie called Krishnakanter Will wherein she played the character of Bhromor.
AWARDS
2015 – National Film Awards – Best Female Playback Singer(Moh Moh Ke Dhaage)
2014 – Filmfare awards – Best Female Playback Singer(Sawar Loon)
2016 – Screen Awards – Best Female Playback Singer(Moh Moh Ke Dhaage)
2016 – IIFA – Best Female Playback Singer(Moh Moh Ke Dhaage)
2016 – Star Guild Awards – Best Female Playback Singer(Moh Moh Ke Dhaage)