Uttam Singh

Uttam Singh
Born (1948-05-25) 25 May 1948 (age 75)
OriginPunjab, India
GenresBollywood music, semi classical, classical, Indian music, Punjabi regional folk
Occupation(s)Violinist, composer, musician
Instrument(s)Violin

Uttam Singh (born 25 May 1948) is an Indian music director and a well-known violinist. He has also worked as a music arranger, programmer and recordist for many Bollywood films. He worked as a music assistant for Ilaiyaraaja in numerous Tamil films before establishing himself as an independent composer.

Music career[edit]

Childhood[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Singh recorded his first private album Om Sai Ram in 1996. Later, he also composed music for his daughter Preeti Singh's album Soor (2002).

Filmography[edit]

Year Film Role Notes Album sales[5][6]
2015 Nanak Shah Fakir Music Director
2014 Honour Killing Music Director
2013 Rajjo Composer & Background Score
2006 Kachchi Sadak Composer
2005 Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story Background Score
Ho Jatta Hai Pyar Composer
Hum Jo Keh Na Paaye Composer Television
2003 Baghban Composer 14,00,000
The Hero: Love Story of a Spy Composer
Pinjar Composer & Background Score Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Music Director

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Background Music
Nominated: Zee Cine Award for Best Background Music

2002 Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai Composer
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam Background Score 20,00,000
2001 Gadar: Ek Prem Katha Composer & Background Score Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Music Director
Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Music Director
Nominated: Screen Award for Best Music Director 		2,500,000
Farz Composer
1999 Prem Poojari Malayalam Film
Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain
1998 Dushman
1997 Dil To Pagal Hai Won: Filmfare Award for Best Music Director
Won: Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director

Nominated: Zee Cine Awards for Best Background Score

Nominated: Screen Awards for Best Music Director

12,500,000
1995 Guddu Music Assistant
1994 Karan
Prem Shakti Music Arranger
Jazbaat Composer
Andaz Apna Apna Music Assistant
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Music Arranger
1993 Pyaar Ka Tarana Music Assistant
Anmol Music Arranger
1992 Mehndi Shagna Di Composer (Punjabi Movie) with Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish")
1992 Farishtay Background Score
1991 Patthar Music Assistant
Benaam Badsha Music Arranger
Patthar Ke Phool
1990 Shiva Song Mixer
1989 Maine Pyar Kiya Music Arranger
Gawaahi Composer With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish")
Clerk
1988 Paanch Fauladi
Kabrastan
Waaris
1986 Teesra Kinara
1985 Khamosh Music Assistant
1984 Purana Mandir
1983 Mandi
Painter Babu Composer With Jagdish ("Uttam-Jagdish")
1983 Dard-E-Dil Music Assistant
1982  Nek Parveen 
Dharam Kanta
1981 36 Chowringhee Lane
Jiyo To Aise Jiyo music assistant with Ram Laxhman
Josh Jawani Da Music Assistant with Om Verma (Punjabi Movie)
1980 Chann Pardesi Composer (Punjabi Movie)
1979 Habari Music Assistant with Sapan Jagmohan
1978 Udeekan Music Assistant, Background Music with Om Verma (Punjabi Movie)
1977 Lachhi Music Assistant
Pandit Aur Pathan with Sonik,Omi
Aaina
1973 Teen Chor with Sonik,Omi
1973 Yauwan
Total sales 15,000,000

Awards and nominations[edit]

Awards

Nominations

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UttamSingh.com". Retrieved 19 November 2006.
  2. ^ "Uttam Singh at HindiLyrix.com". Archived from the original on 31 October 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2006.
  3. ^ Kannan, Uma (7 June 2010). "An evening with Ilayaraja". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Ilaiyaraaja is great: Uttam Singh". The Times of India. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Music Hits 2000-2009 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Music Hits 1990-1999 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uttam_Singh&oldid=1219109970"