Uttam Singh
| Uttam Singh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 May 1948 |
| Occupation(s) | Music director, arranger, violinist |
| Associated acts | Uttam-Jagdish |
Uttam Singh (born 25 May 1948) is an Indian musician. He has worked as a violinist, music arranger and music director for many Bollywood films. He worked as a music arranger for Ilaiyaraaja in numerous Tamil films before establishing himself as an independent composer.
Music career
Childhood
Uttam Singh's father was a sitar player.[1] His family moved to Mumbai, when Singh was 12. He learned tabla and Western violin. His family used to sing kirtans at various Gurudwaras and religious functions to supplement their income.[2]
Violinist
Uttam Singh worked as violinist for three years. His big break came in 1963, when he worked as a violinist for a documentary being made by Mohammad Safi (an assistant to Naushad). After this, Uttam Singh played violin for major composers including Naushad, Roshan, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, Sachin Dev Burman. Later, he became the main violinist for S D Burman's son, Rahul Dev Burman.
Music arranger
Singh later partnered with another musician, Jagdish, to arrange music for films. The duo became reputed arrangers, working for over 65 films in several Indian languages. These films included major Rajshri Productions hits, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. He also worked with Ilaiyaraaja as a music arranger in various Tamil films.[3][4]
Music director
Singh and Jagdish worked as music directors ("Uttam-Jagdish") for Manoj Kumar's Painter Babu. Later they worked for Manoj Kumar's other film, Clerk . Together, they also worked on the Smita Patil-Raj Babbar-Raj Kiran-Amrita Singh-Amrish Puri starrer, Waaris (1988). After Jagdish died in 1992, Singh started working independently. His most notable film as a music director was Yash Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai. He also composed music for many other films including Hum Tumpe Marte Hain, Dushman, Farz and Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai. He also composed music for Anil Sharma's Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) and later for The Hero: Love Story of a Spy.
His songs and score for the Chandra Prakash Dwivedi's 2003 partition drama Pinjar, in which he collaborated with the Wadali Brothers, won him much critical acclaim and is considered to be his finest work as composer.
Private albums
Singh recorded his first private album Om Sai Ram in 1996. Later, he also composed music for his daughter Preeti Uttam Singh's album Soor (2002).
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Honour Killing | Music Director | |
| 2013 | Rajjo | Composer & Background Score | |
| 2006 | Kachchi Sadak | Composer | |
| 2005 | Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story | Composer & Background Score | |
| Ho Jatta Hai Pyar | Composer | ||
| Hum Jo Keh Na Paaye | Miscellaneous | (Television) | |
| 2003 | Baghban (film) | Composer | |
| The Hero: Love Story of a Spy | Composer | ||
| Pinjar | Composer & Background Score | Nominated: Screen Weekly Award (Best Background Music) Nominated: Zee Cine Award Best Background Music Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Music Director | |
| 2002 | Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai | Composer | |
| Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam | Background Score | ||
| 2001 | Gadar: Ek Prem Katha | Composer & Background Score | Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Nominated: IIFA Best Music Director Award Nominated: Screen Weekly Award (Best Music Director) |
| Farz | Composer | ||
| 1999 | Prem Poojari | Composer | Malayalam Film |
| Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain | Composer | ||
| 1998 | Dushman | Composer | |
| 1997 | Dil To Pagal Hai | Composer | Won: Filmfare Award for Best Music Director Won: Zee Cine Award Best Music Director |
| 1995 | Guddu | Music Assistant | |
| 1994 | Jazbaat | Composer | |
| Andaz Apna Apna | Music Assistant | ||
| Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! | Music Arranger | ||
| 1993 | Pyaar Ka Tarana | Music Assistant | |
| 1991 | Patthar | Music Assistant | |
| Benaam Badsha | Music Arranger | ||
| Patthar Ke Phool | Music Arranger | ||
| 1990 | Shiva | Song Mixer | |
| 1989 | Maine Pyar Kiya | Music Arranger | |
| Clerk | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") | |
| 1988 | Paanch Fauladi | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") |
| Kabrastan | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") | |
| Waaris | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") | |
| 1986 | Teesra Kinara | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") |
| 1985 | Khamosh | Music Assistant | |
| 1984 | Purana Mandir | Music Assistant | |
| 1983 | Mandi | Music Assistant | |
| Painter Babu | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") | |
| 1982 | Dharam Kanta | Music Assistant | |
| 1981 | 36 Chowringhee Lane | Music Assistant | |
| 1980 | Chann Pardesi | Composer | With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish") |
| 1977 | Aaina | Music Assistant | |
| 1973 | Yauwan | Music Assistant |
Awards and nominations
Awards
- Filmfare Best Music Director Award – 1997 (for Dil To Pagal Hai)
Nominations
- International Indian Film Academy Award (Best Music Director) – 2002 (for Gadar: Ek Prem Katha)
- Filmfare Best Music Director Award – 2002 (for Gadar: Ek Prem Katha)
- Screen Weekly Award (Best Background Music) -2004 (for Pinjar)
- Zee Cine Award Best Background Music – 2003 (for Pinjar)
- Screen Weekly Award (Best Music Director) -2002 (for Gadar: Ek Prem Katha)
References
- ↑ "UttamSingh.com". Retrieved 19 November 2006.
- ↑ "Uttam Singh at HindiLyrix.com". Archived from the original on 31 October 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2006.
- ↑ Kannan, Uma (7 June 2010). "An evening with Ilayaraja". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ↑ "Ilaiyaraaja is great: Uttam Singh". The Times of India. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2013.