Hema Sardesai

Hema Sardesai
Hema Sardesai
	Sardesai in 2015
Background information
Genres	Indian classical music, Folk, Indipop
Occupation(s)	Singer, Playback singer, Composer, Lyricist
Instrument	Vocalist
Years active	1987–present

Hema Sardesai is an Indian playback singer and lyricist. She hails from the state of Goa, India, and was born in Bombay. She shot to fame in 1997 with songs from movies like Sapnay, Biwi No.1 and Jaanam Samjha Karo.^[1]

Early life

Hema Sardesai was born to Kumudini Sardesai (hailing from Parra) and Dr Kashinath Sardesai (hailing from Savoi-Verem, this doctor had previously been the cricket captain of Goa) and is the younger of their two daughters.^[2] Her talent was first discovered at the age of six by her school teacher, Late Mrs. Sequiera. She is an alumnus of Sharada Mandir School, and was born and brought up in Boca de Vaca, a locality of Panaji. She made her stage debut at the age of 8 years, at a Navratri Festival, where the local Gujarati Samaj encouraged her.^[3] She has accomplished the Sangeet Visharad in Indian classical music (with Pandit Sudhakar Karandikar as her first guru) and has always been passionate about Western Pop music.^[4]

Career

Sardesai has sung several songs for Bollywood films, and has released several Indipop albums.^[5] She is particularly known for singing "Aawara Bhawren Jo Hole Hole Gaaye" in the Hindi dubbed version of 1997 film Sapnay, which featured Kajol in the lead role. Some of her other famous songs include "Ishq Sona Hai" (Biwi No.1), "Chali Chali Phir Chali" (Baghban) and "Badal Pe Paon Hai" (Chak De! India). She is the only Indian singer to win the Grand Prix at the International Pop Song Festival in Germany, has sung at the International UNICEF Concert in Europe and became the only female singer other than Lata Mangeshkar to perform at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence day.^[6]^[7]

In 2011, Sardesai digitised her music on artistaloud.com.^[8]

In 2013, Sardesai wrote and sang three Konkani songs for the English film The Coffin Maker, starring Naseeruddin Shah. The film was based in a Goan village and was selected for the Indian Panorama section of IFFI 2013. It is about a coffin maker who learns about life in an unusual manner.^[9] The film went on to win the Best Feature Film Award at the Florence Indian Film Festival in 2013.^[10]

In 2017, Sardesai announced her debut in USA, with her song "Power of Love", working with Mishal Raheja and Grammy Award winner Jared Lee Gosselin on the project.^[11]

In May 2024, Sardesai made her debut on the Konkani tiatr stage in the play I am Sorry by Irineu Gonsalves.^[12]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	Record Label
1991	Love & Dance	Music India
1993	Sargam	Regional Music Centre
1996	Zubeenor Gaan	NK Production
1997	Love-Ology	Magnasound
1998	Call Me Eternity	Padmini Music
1998	Hindustani Gudiya^[13]	Ishtar Music
1999	Piya Se Milke Aaye Nayan	Tips
2003	Saajna^[4]	Universal Music Group

Singles

"Power of Love" (feat. Mishaal) (2017)^[11]

Soundtracks

Year	Film	Songs
1989	Goonj	"Sama Ye Suhana" "Jawani Ke Din Hai"
1994	Prem Yog	"Chhodo Nasha" "Nazro Me Aisi Basi"
1996	Tere Mere Sapne	"Tere Mere Sapne"
1997	Sapnay (Dubbed version)	"Awaara Bhawren"
1997	Pardes	"Nahin Hona Tha" "My First Day in USA" "Yeh Dil Deewana"
1997	Gupt	"Gupt Gupt (title track)"
1997	Aar Ya Paar	"Hulle Hulle"
1998	Zor	"Tere Pyaar Mein" "Mein Kudi Anjaani Ho"
1998	Soldier	"Hum Toh Dil Chahe Tumhara"
1999	Biwi No.1	"Ishq Sona Hai" "Jungle Hai Aadhi Raat Hai"
1999	Mann	"Kehna Hai Tumse Kehna"
1999	Jaanam Samjha Karo	"Jaanam Samjha Karo" "Mai Ladki Akeli"
2000	Astitva	"Kitne Kisse Hain Tere Mere"
2000	Josh	"Apun Bola Tu" "O Maria"
2000	Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai	"I Love You"
2000	Kunwara	"Na Heera Na Moti"
2000	Tere Pyar Mein	"Kal Thi Mohabbat"
2001	Aśoka	"San Sanana"
2001	Yaadein	"Eli Re Eli"
2001	Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao	"Naach Meri Jaan"
2001	Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe	"Aawara Main Badal"
2001	Ittefaq	"Tanana Dhir Tanana"
2003	Baghban	"Chali Chali Phir Chali Chali"^[6]
2003	Market	"Khalli Valli"
2003	Qayamat: City Under Threat	"Qayamat Qayamat"
2003	Khushi	"Hai Re Hai Re"
2003	Zameen	"Tere Sang Ek Simple Si Coffee"
2003	Asambhav	"Asambhav"
2004	Musafir	"Sun Suniyo"
2005	Garam Masala	"Chori Chori"^[14]
2007	Chak De! India	"Badal Pe Paon Hai"^[13]
2012	The Victim	"Kallzam Amchim"
2013	The Coffin Maker	"Mogachi Donuch Uttraan" "Geli Birant" "Maya Ya"^[10]

Personal life

Family

Sardesai was married to Xavier D'Souza, who was an investment banker hailing from Cunchelim.^[3] He had previously been a hockey player for the Nehru Cup.^[2] He died in 2020 of cardiac arrest.^[15]

Community work

Sardesai is active in many social causes, such as: save the girl child,^[13] women empowerment,^[16]^[17] anti-SEZ,^[18] Goa Special Status,^[19] eco-friendly Ganesh idols,^[20] priority for locals for jobs in Goa.^[21]

Awards and accolades

1989 – 16th International Pop Song Festival, Grand Prix in Germany^[6]
2006 – All India Woman's Conference, Gomant Tejaswini Award for her outstanding achievements in the music field.^[22]
October 9, 2015, Hemaa was honoured with the Icon of the Year award at the 35th Brands Academy Awards evening.^[22]
March 2015, Hemaa was also honoured with the Woman of the Year award, by Very. The event honours a leading lady of substance every year, for her unparalleled contribution to society across various fields.^[22]
March 2015, Hemaa was selected for the Karmaveer Puraskaar award held in New Delhi for her able activity to many a social cause, above all for her silent contribution to the causes.^[22]
August 2014, Hemaa was honoured with the PHD Excellence award in New Delhi.^[22]
Hemaa was awarded the Hiramanek award titled International Women Achievers award, for her achievements.^[22]
Hemaa is also the recipient of the International Achievers Award at the International Women's Conference of Art of Living.^[22]
MTV Immies nominated Hemaa as 'Best Female Singer', for her song 'Qayamat' from the film Qayamat.^[23]