Indian music scene has given the world some of the finest and most diverse set of vocalists that it has had to witnesss.
The 100 year old film industry, has long been supported by music – sung in the melodies voices of the likes of Mukesh, Kishore Kumar and Muhammad Rafi – to name a few, who have all paved the way for a generation of singers that have followed them.
Looking back at the journey and changing times in the world of Hindi music, we have attempted to enlist 10 of the best male singers that the world of Indian music has been blessed to work with.
These singers have given their melodious instruments to creating some timeless tunes for generations, and possess qualities – beyond what one can learn technically. The soul and depth of voices like SD Burman and Manna Dey, has not been undermined while creating this list of the best among the better ones.
Here are the top 10 best male singers of all time in Popular Hindi music scene:
10) K.L. Sehgal
K.L. Sehgal served as an inspiration to vocalists like Mukesh, who often tried to sing like the pre-Dilip Kumar era singer, attempting to recreate his trademark sound. Known to sing with a deep and sad-sounding voice, denoting absolute grief and loss, Sehgal was soulful and a pioneer of his time.
9) Mahendra Kapoor
With a Bell-like tone in his voice and an energetic fervour in the way he sang, Mahendra Kapoor came to be known for his renditions of several patriotic tunes. But his heartfelt vocal performances in love ballads were equally praise-worthy. One of his most famous songs include ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’, for which he also won a National Award in the Playback Singing category.
8) AR Rahman
AR Rahman boasts of one of the most unique voices in contemporary Hindi music. Not only is he an incredibly talented and gifted musician and composer, who’s lent his craft to several international movies, also earning two Academy Awards for the same, but he’s also an extremely talented vocalist – with an almost divine-sounding tone. His high range and pristine tonal quality, generates a natural echo – making it sound like a voice sent straight from heaven.
7) Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar was not only one of the most versatile singers of his time or the time that followed after him, but he was also an on-screen legend of almost equal proportions. Younger brother to iconic actor, Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar’s influence from singers across the Indian subcontinent, reflected in his vocals and his usage of yodelling – which he employed in several of his uptempo hits. That, however, did never take away from how soulful his voice remained when he sung his heart out in sweeping slow ballads, like ‘Kuch Toh Log Kahenge.’
6) Manna De
An incredible vocalist and versatile performer – Manna De was blessed with a range and technicality that was absolutely top-notch. But his tone and soulful vocals were of equal importance – when looking back at his vocal legacy. The singer could vocally transform into the characters, he would be asked to do playback for, yet remaining musically true to his roots, while performing them.
5) Talat Mahmood
A deep, resonant yet soft-as-velvet voice of soul. Straight from the old-school of singing, Talat Mahmood was not only incredibly agile with his voice, being able to produce inflections within seconds-long phrases or words, but he also had the natural gift of a smooth and buttery tone, that could melt the toughest of steels.
4) Hemant Kumar
Hemant Kumar was blessed with a gorgeous tonal quality and an ability to inflict vulnerability into his vocal performances, that few could top. The way he would caress each word, up until the last detail – almost like making love to lyrics, was a part of his legacy – which can’t really be taught with any amount of training.
3) Muhammad Rafi
Muhammad Rafi was versatile, powerful and blessed with a broad vocal range. Often referred as one of the best singers of the century, his voice helped curate some of the most memorable classics of the golden age of Hindi cinema. His ability to belt-out phrases at a high range, contributed to his ability to interpret a song. But it was also his restraint and subtlety, as shown in songs like ‘Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega’, which put him in the same category as someone like – Lata Mangeshkar.
2) Mukesh
Although Mukesh was often referred as the ‘Voice Of Raj Kapoor’, but his artistry was certainly more than just that. There was a certain melancholia in this iconic vocalist’s tonal quality, that would help him express the deepest of griefs with the bare minimum of showy vocal theatrics. His performance in the song ‘Kahi Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye’ is one such example of a profound sense of knowingness.
1) SD Burman
SD Burman wasn’t just one of the most talented musicians and composers to grace the Hindi Film industry, he was also a gifted singer. His tonal quality and pronunciation had the flavour of folk singing, classical and contemporary – all amalgamated into one. And the result was some of the most soulful vocal performances in recording history. He rightfully, sits at #1 in our list of the best male singers in contemporary Hindi music, with a voice that has the ability to take you back in time and yet sound so fantastically timeless.
Honourable mentions:
Sonu Nigam
Kailash Kher
Shankar Mahadevan
KK
Udit Narayan
SP Balasubramaniam