Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha from Bihar is in critical condition and currently on ventilator support at AIIMS. The Padma Bhushan awardee is best known for her iconic Chhath songs and has also contributed her voice to several popular Bollywood songs.
Sharda Sinha Health
Veteran folk and classical singer Sharda Sinha, aged 72, has been admitted to AIIMS in Delhi and is currently on ventilator support. Her condition is critical, and her son, Anshuman Sinha, has asked for prayers. Sharda was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the bone marrow, in 2017. Her husband, politician Braj Kishore Sinha, passed away in September this year due to a brain hemorrhage. The singer also has a daughter named Vandana.
Sharda Sinha, born on October 1, 1952, in Bihar, became known as the “Bihar Kokila” for her Maithili and Bhojpuri songs. Her music, particularly her Chhath festival songs, is deeply cherished in Bihar, and her wedding songs are a regular part of wedding celebrations. Her 2016 song, “Pahele Pahil Hum Kayeni Chhath,” moved many listeners to tears, as it captured the deep emotions of longing to be with loved ones.
Her Famous Songs
Some of Sharda Sinha’s other well-known Chhath songs include “Kelwa Ke Paat Par Ugalan Suraj Mal Jhake Jhuke,” “Hey Chhathi Maiya,” “Ho Dinanath,” “Bahangi Lachakat Jaaye,” “Roje Roje Ugelaa,” “Suna Chhathi Maai,” “Jode Jode Supawa,” and “Patna Ke Ghat Par.” She has also sung songs that celebrate the spring season.
Sharda Sinha has also made significant contributions to Bollywood music. She lent her voice to the song “Kahe Toh Se Sajna” in the 1989 film Maine Pyar Kiya, starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree. She brought a folk flavor to Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur with the song “Taar Bijli.” Her rendition of “Babul Jo Tum Ne Sikhaya” in Hum Aapke Hain Koun moved many to tears. Additionally, she sang “Kaun Si Nagaria” for the Bollywood film Chaarfutiya Chhokare. Sharda Sinha’s final Chhath album, Arag, included eight songs. Over her career, she recorded 62 Chhath songs across nine albums with labels like T-Series, HMV, and Tips. In recognition of her contributions to music, she received the Padma Shri award in 1991 and was later honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2018.
