Best Udit Narayan Songs: Top 10

It would not be wrong to state that Udit Narayan has dominated the male playback singing for the last 2 decades or so. The King of Bollywood playback singing has sung all kinds of songs and has collaborated successfully with each and every prominent music composer or singer. Much like few select legendary singers from the past, the best quality of Udit is that he has learned to impersonate the on-screen actor’s voice so perfectly that it seems like the actor is actually singing (special mention Aamir Khan).

Without much ado, let’s start with the list of 10 best songs of arguably the most successful singer of the 90s and 2000s.

1) Pehla Nasha: Nostalgic! In one of the most romantic songs ever, Udit has rendered soulful and emotive base vocals. This Jatin-Lalit melody grabs attention instantly and sounds even better after these many years. The track, penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, was shot in complete show motion and has now become a cult song. Udit sang as if he was born to sing this song from ‘Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar’.

2) Jaadu Teri Nazar: Udit is in his complete elements in this track from ‘Darr’ composed by Shiv-Hari and written by Anand Bakshi. Their superb combined effort brings in the feel of obsessive love on screen. Narayan’s remarkable varying tones builds a castle of love and seeps well in mellowed softer arrangements. Song has superb recall value even after two decades.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0pX1X4yI1U

3) Aye Mere Humsafar: ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ gave not 1 but 4 star artists to Bollywood – Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. Narayan gave his heart to this Anand-Milind melody as he sounds completely raw in his first hit album. When I first saw the movie, I got an impression that it’s Aamir only who has lent his voice to all the songs. The enthusiasm and freshness in Udit’s voice has remained the same since 1988.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IorF5bX270

4) Main Yahaan Hoon: Magic! Sheer magic! Late Yash Chopra used Late Madan Mohan’s classic melodies for his epic musical lova saga ‘Veer Zaara’. This ever so romantic song becomes even more infectious with Udit’s mesmerizingly somber vocals as they suited SRK’s on screen persona to the T. A special art of quality voice modulation has made this song a pure gem.

5) Ghar Se Nikalte Hi: The beginning of this song when Udit starts humming connects you with it and the impact keeps on growing as the track progresses. This song is only mentionable because of Narayan’s vocals and nothing else as they are out of the world. Interestingly, it is the only Non Khan song in the list.

6) Mitwa: I cannot imagine any voice apart from Udit’s which can dominate the music of A.R. Rahman and makes the song his own rather than Rahman’s. Sukhvinder and Alka supported Udit well in this highly energetic and inspiring track from ‘Lagaan’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP-Vc4mDfG8

7) Tere Naam: The true feelings of love oozed out of the voice of Udit in the title track of ‘Tere Naam’. Narayan single handedly carried one of the most successful music albums of past decade. He was exceptional in ‘Kyon Kisi Ko’ and ‘Tumse Milna’ as well. Udit passionate singing lightens up this slow mellow melody of Himesh Reshammiya.

8) Aye Ajnabi: This is one of the toughest songs to sing where Udit showed his wide range & versatility and hence makes singing look easier and simpler. A.R.Rahman’s composition from ‘Dil Se’ showcases the true colors and levels of Udit’s voice in this song.

9) Chand Chupa Badal Mein: Any great of Indian music must have been proud to see the way Udit sung this Ismail Darbar’s masterpiece from ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’. Alka makes a late entry but they both sound great together in this evergreen duet. A song for all times, video is enriched with the dynamic presence of Salman and Aishwarya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvci0TD44TE

10) Aaye Ho Meri Zindagi Mein: This Nadeem-Shravan’s simple melody required excellent and high-quality vocals to take it to heights and Udit’s effortless singing provided exactly that. This song from evergreen award winning album of All Time Blockbuster ‘Raja Hindustani’ is as good as it gets. Magic begins as soon as Udit starts with ‘Hmm Hmm Hmm….’. He was breathtaking in all the songs of this movie.

These are just 10 out of so many Udit Ji’s songs that we have heard over and over again. The list is endless as he has sung over 15000 songs in 33 languages.

Some gems are Kya Kare Kya Na Kare (Rangeela), Papa Kehte Hain (QSQT), Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna (DDLJ), Dil To Pagal Hai – All Songs, Jaane Kyon (Dil Chahta Hai), Udd Ja Kaale (Gadar), Idhar Chala (Koi Mil Gaya), Ye Taara Wo Taara (Swades), Falak Tak (Tashan), Tu Cheez Badi (Mohra), Tune Zindagi Mei Aake (Humraaz), Agar Tum (Zeher), Pehle Kabhi (Baghban), Pardesi Pardesi (Raja Hidustani), Dil Ne Ye Kaha (Dhadkan), Khoobsoorat Hai (Rog), Raja Ko Rani Se(Akele Hum Akele Tum), Tum Paas Aaye (KKHH), Oo Saathiya (Saaya)… and the list can go on and on and on.

In short, we can have many top 10 Best songs lists of Udit Narayan.

Do list your 10 favorite songs of Udit Narayan in the comments section below.

With ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ lined up for release next week, stay tuned for the top ten songs of Ranbir Kapoor!

Abhishek Sharma tweets @abhu_sharma

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46 Comments

  • Really,udit narayanji is the sweetest singer of bollywood. .the way he sings,he pronouns,he smiles is amazing. .. . .
    @indicine:papa kehte hain should be in the list. . .moreover you have missed some popular and heart touching songs like chaha hai tujhko(mann),hare hare and hae mera dil(josh),aisa desh hai mera(veer zara),mehndi lagake rakhna(ddlg),gun gun guna(agneepath),ori chori(lagaan),yeh bandhan(karan arjun). . .also i request you to add another article of alkaji,emraan hasmi’s top 10 songs. .again thank you for this article,.

  • All of the above are gr8… one that comes to my mind is Yeh Tara Woh Tara from Swades. It’s also a wonderful song!

  • I love these kinda articles. Keep them coming! There are many more awesome songs sung by him, too many to name. Such a legendary singer.

  • He is dominated that time when kumar sanu was top on high point . . . Really udit is best no one like him

  • The songs selected are rightly slected as top 10. Udit’s voice is mesmerizing till today.

    I do not know, why today’s music directors are not giving him songs. For him you can truly say, his voice was original in 80s and 90s when every body else were inspired either by Kishore or Rafi.

  • There will be no one like UDTT NARAYAN ,he’s the best.he owns the 90’s and 2000s.Bollywood is lucky to have him.defination of great.

  • Thanks indicine for this article. He is one of the best of all time with kishore da, rafi sahab and his close friend kumar sanu. My list of all time singers is: kishore da/ rafi sahab- for versatility, kumar sanu- melody and emotions, udit narayan- best voice of all time and originality.. He is so pleasant to listen.

  • superb listing indicine..taka a bow….Uditji is the greatest Playback singer in bollywood…his voice quality is simplu superb so sweet so melodious….done very good listing….would have added Udja kale kawa song also swades songs…

  • I think “Na kajre ki dhar” from
    “Mohra” deserved a position in Top
    10. Watch it here:

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNaf8DdzNNk

  • It’s a very good list, but i wish this song should be in the list too:
    Song: Ho Gaya Hai Tujhko To Pyaar Sajna
    Movie: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge {DDLJ} (1995)
    Singers: Udit Narayan, Lata MangeshkarSong Lyrics: Anand Bakshi.

    • List is good. There may be more to add.
      Kya karte the saajna
      Bin Tere sanam
      Mujhe neend na aaye
      All QSQT songs
      Tip Tip
      Kya mausaam aaya hai
      Tumhare siwa kuchh na
      Laal dupatta
      Koyal si Teri bolu
      Dheere dheere aap mere
      Many more…
      Really hard to assign a sequence based on what’s better, his every song has his own flavor. His ‘smile’ even in very emotional songs makes is too more expressive examples are
      1. Kyo kisi ko wafa ke badle
      2. Dil Mera churaya kyo
      3. Aisa zakhm Diya hai

  • Pehla nasha is my all time fav..Its describe d first feeling of love,mesmerizingly beautyful song

  • Udit Narayan a Nepali son borned to sing hindi songs…but he has also sang some good nepali songs as well…

  • Really he’z a versatile singer…No one singer is born till now like him,,so swt voice,,ol of his song is heart touching,,evry word in his song is very very well …. I like his ol song.. mostly 1) ae ajnabi 2)tujhko na dekhu to. . . .ahh so swt

  • Amazing voice! The huskiness in his voice and the way he enunciates the lyrics gives me goosebumps. I think his voice suits Akshay Kumar a lot.

  • yes this is very good list and It’s really difficult to select 10 from almost 15-20k songs he sang but surprised no one mentioned devdaas song very popular album or Aao Na from Kyun Ho Gaya Na and two songs which I would like bring to your attention not so many have listened it I guess, one is ‘Yeh Shaamen’ with Kavita Krishnamurty composed by Vanraj Bhatia from film ‘Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda’ and another is ‘Bheegi Hui Koi shaam Woh’ along with Sunidhi from film ‘Chameli’ composed by Sandesh Shandilya.

  • Excellent selection!
    I can tell how deeply you know your music.
    Congrats!
    Please keep on coming.

  • I think the best ever song sung by Udit ji is from Movie Prithvi, Jiss gadi tujko teray Rab nay banaya hoga

  • Udit Narayan is a very melodious and evergreen singer but now indian film music directors ignored him..I thinks it is injustice…

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