Mumbai, Dec. 1 -- Udit Narayan, one of India's most cherished playback singers, discovered his first love and lifelong passion early in life: singing.
Born on December 1, 1955, in Baisi, Supaul, Bihar, he grew up surrounded by music. His father, Hare Krishna Jha, was a farmer, while his mother, Bhuneshwari Devi, was a renowned Maithili and Bhojpuri folk singer.
From her, Udit inherited not just talent but an enduring devotion to music, a devotion that carried him through years of struggle and eventually propelled him to stardom.
His breakthrough came with the 1988 film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and the unforgettable song "Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega," though he modestly insists, "I worked very hard to earn this position."Udit's musical...