Suresh Wadekar

Suresh Wadkar is a one of Bollywood's leading playback singers.

Suresh Wadkar was born in Kolhapur, India. At the age of 10, he began acquiring basic music education from Pandit Jialal Vasant. He soon impressed his guru with the quality of his voice. He began performing on the stage at a very early age. Wadkar is currently a judge on the Indian TV singing show: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs International. Suresh Wadkar is also an ardent devotee of the Indian Guru, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Though groomed for Indian classical music, he entered the Sur-Singar competition in 1976. Young Suresh won the competition which was judged by illustrious composers from the Indian film industry including Jaidev. Jaidev later gave him a break with the song "Seene Mein Jalan" in the film Gaman (released in 1978). This was followed by the film Paheli (released 1977).

At the time, Lata Mangeshkar was so impressed with his voice that she strongly recommended him to many illustrious film personalities including Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Khayyam and Kalyanji-Anandji. Laxmikant-Pyarelal, impressed with his voice, soon recorded a duet with Lata "Chal Chameli Bagh Mein" for Krodhi (released in 1981). Soon after, he was given the opportunity to perform for songs in Hum Paanch, Pyaasa Sawan ("Megha re Megha Re") and above all, his turning point in films - Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (released in 1982).

In Prem Rog, he sang all the four songs for hero Rishi Kapoor. Among Kalyanji-Anandji's songs, the song "Hathon Ki Chand Lakeeron Ka" from Vidhaata (released in 1982) was a big hit.  Suresh Wadkar also sings non-film hindi and marathi songs. He is also a very popular Marathi playback singer.