Ila Arun is an Indian actress and singer known for her distinctive voice and her work in popularising Rajasthani folk music for a wider Indian audience. She has worked extensively in Hindi cinema, television, and theatre, and has lent her vocals to several film soundtracks featuring folk-inflected compositions.
Key Facts
| Name | Ila Arun |
|---|---|
| Profession | Singer, actress, theatre artiste |
| Genre | Rajasthani folk, Hindi film playback |
| Languages | Hindi, Rajasthani, English |
| Spouse | Arun Bali (associated with theatre and film) |
| Daughter | Ishita Arun (actress and singer) |
| Notable song | "Choli Ke Peechhe" (with Alka Yagnik) from Khalnayak |
Background
Ila Arun comes from a Rajasthani family and drew early on from the folk traditions of Rajasthan, including the bhajans, ghoomar songs, and women-centred folk repertoire of the region. She trained and performed in theatre before moving into film and television work, and has remained associated with stage productions through much of her career.
Career
Music
Arun is best recognised in Hindi cinema for her contribution to Khalnayak (1993), directed by Subhash Ghai, where she sang "Choli Ke Peechhe" along with Alka Yagnik, with music composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal. The song became one of the most discussed tracks of the 1990s and brought her wide national recognition. She has also recorded a series of non-film albums based on Rajasthani folk material, which helped bring traditional songs such as those associated with Holi, weddings, and seasonal festivals to mainstream audio markets.
She has performed playback for several Hindi films requiring a folk or earthy vocal texture, and has collaborated with composers including A. R. Rahman. Her vocals appear on songs in films such as Lagaan (2001), where she sang in the chorus segments associated with the village setting.
Acting
On screen, Ila Arun has appeared in Hindi films and serials, often in strong supporting parts. Her notable film roles include performances in Jodhaa Akbar (2008), directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, and Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008), directed by Shyam Benegal. She has worked with directors associated with parallel and middle cinema as well as with mainstream productions.
Theatre
Theatre has remained a parallel strand of her work. She has been associated with productions exploring Rajasthani themes, women's narratives, and adaptations rooted in the Indian classical and folk traditions, performing both in India and abroad.
Significance
Arun is among the few mainstream artistes who have consistently used Rajasthani folk forms as a primary musical idiom rather than as occasional decoration. Her commercial recordings during the 1990s brought folk songs of Rajasthan to a national audience at a time when regional traditions were being absorbed into the cassette and television markets. Her acting work, particularly in films set in rural or historical settings, has often complemented this cultural identity.
Personal life
Her daughter, Ishita Arun, is also an actress and singer who has worked in Hindi films and theatre.