Overview
Monali Thakur is an Indian playback singer and actress associated primarily with Hindi film music and Bengali music. She rose to national prominence after participating in the reality singing competition Indian Idol in 2007 and went on to record songs for several major Bollywood productions through the 2010s. She received the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" from the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015).
Key facts
| Full name | Monali Thakur |
|---|---|
| Profession | Playback singer, actress |
| Birthplace | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Languages of work | Hindi, Bengali, and other Indian languages |
| Notable reality show | Indian Idol (Season 3, 2007) |
| Major award | National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (for "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage") |
| Father | Shakti Thakur, Bengali singer and actor |
| Sister | Mehuli Goswami, singer |
Background and early life
Monali Thakur was born in Kolkata into a family with a long association with Bengali music and theatre. Her father, Shakti Thakur, was a recognised playback singer and stage performer in the Bengali entertainment industry, and her elder sister Mehuli Goswami is also a singer. She trained in classical and light music from a young age within this musically inclined household.
Career
Reality television and entry into the industry
Monali first reached a national audience as a finalist on Indian Idol 3, broadcast on Sony Entertainment Television in 2007. The exposure from the show led to opportunities in the Hindi film industry, and she began recording playback songs for Bollywood soundtracks soon afterwards.
Playback singing in Hindi films
Among her early notable Hindi recordings was "Zara Zara Touch Me" from the film Race (2008), composed by Pritam. She subsequently lent her voice to a range of soundtracks across the late 2000s and 2010s. Significant songs in her career include:
- "Sawaar Loon" from Lootera (2013), composed by Amit Trivedi.
- "Badri Ki Dulhania (Title Track)" from Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017).
- "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" (female version) from Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), composed by Anu Malik with lyrics by Varun Grover, for which she won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Acting
Monali made her acting debut in the Hindi film Lakshmi (2014), directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, in which she played the title role of a young girl rescued from human trafficking. The film addressed the issue of sex trafficking in India and was screened at international film festivals.
Television and live performance
She has appeared as a judge and mentor on Indian television music competitions, including reality shows on Hindi and Bengali channels, and performs in concerts both within India and internationally.
Significance
Monali Thakur is regarded as one of the prominent female playback voices to emerge from the post-2000s wave of reality-show-trained singers in Indian cinema. Her win of the National Film Award for "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" placed her among a small group of contemporary playback singers to receive the country's highest cinematic honour for a single recording. Her career reflects the increasing crossover between Bengali musical heritage, television talent shows, and mainstream Bollywood music production.