Sudha Malhotra (born 30 November 1936) is an Indian playback singer. She also acted in some Bollywood films and as a playback singer, worked in popular Bollywood movies in the 1950s and 1960s, like Arzoo, Dhool Ka Phool, Ab Dilli Door Nahin, Girl Friend, Barsaat Ki Raat, Didi and Dekh Kabira Roya. She was lastly heard in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (1982) in the song "Yeh Pyar Tha Ya Kuch Aur Tha".^[1] Apart from Hindi songs, Malhotra sang many popular Marathi songs (Bhavgeet) with Arun Date.

She was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 2013.^[2]

Early life and education

Sudha Malhotra was born in New Delhi to a Punjabi Hindu family and grew up in Lahore, Bhopal and Firozpur. She is the eldest of 4 siblings - Arun, Vijay, Kiran and herself. She did her graduation in music from Agra University.

Career

Malhotra was discovered as a child artist by Ghulam Haider (a prominent music director of the 1940s). She debuted in the movie Arzoo.^[1] She retired from film industry in 1960, following her marriage with businessman Giridhar Motwani (whose family owned the Chicago Radio Mike Company). She recorded for a few albums in the following years, including for Jagjit Singh's In a Mood of Love. She also sang for Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog in 1982.

Some of her popular Marathi songs are (Bhavgeet) - "Shukratara Mandwara", "Haat Tuza Haataat" and "Divas Tujhe he Fulayche", all duets with Arun Date. She has sung 264 songs in 155 films.

Personal life

Malhotra married Giridhar Motwani, whose family owned the Chicago Radio.^[3] After her marriage, photographs of her with the lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi were published in the Blitz magazine. She repeatedly denied their relationship, and later, Blitz released an apology. It is believed that Ludhianvi wrote the song Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se when Malhotra's marriage was finalised.

Filmography

• Arzoo
• Ab Dilli Door Nahin
• Girl Friend
• Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)
• Dhool Ka Phool (1959)
• Barsaat Ki Raat (1960)
• Gauhar
• Dil-e-Naadan (1953)
• Babar
• Didi
• Prem Rog (1982)