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Monali Thakur is a popular Indian singer. In 2015, she won the National Award for the Best Female Playback Singer for “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” from the film “Dum Laga Ke Haisha.”
Wiki/Biography
Monali Thakur was born on Sunday, 3 November 1985 (age 34 years; as in 2019), in Kolkata. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She did her schooling from The Future Foundation School (TFFS), Kolkata. Later, she pursued B. A. in English Honours from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 1″
Eye Colour: Brown
Hair Colour: Brown
Family & Caste
She was born in a Hindu Bengali family.
Parents & Siblings
Her father, Shakti Thakur is a well known Bengali singer. Her mother’s name is Mehuli Thakur. Her elder sister, Mehuli Thakur is a playback singer too.
Relationships, Husband & Children
After dating for a year with her Swiss boyfriend, Maik Richter, she secretly got married to him in 2017. In 2020, while talking to a reporter, she revealed that she had got married to Maik three years back, she said,
During 2016, we were supposed to come to Spain for the IIFA. But before that, my girlfriends and I decided to do a backpacking trip somewhere nearby. So for that, we came to Switzerland. That’s when I met Maik who was my Airbnb host. We had a crush thing happening. Six months later, he proposed to me on Christmas eve, and I said yes to him. It was bitter cold weather. I actually didn’t know if I was shivering out of cold, or because he had proposed to me (laughs).”
She further added,
The day Maik was coming to India to do the registration, it was a hilarious episode. We thought we would not get married only. Maik came to India without a visa. Since he had a German passport, some fool told him that he doesn’t need a visa. He was not allowed to enter the country. He was thrown out of India. And I was waiting there in the registration office.”
Career
As a Singer
She started learning music at a very young age. She used to participate in school and college functions. In 2005, she participated in the singing music reality show, ‘Indian Idol 2.’ She stood ninth in this show, and the title was won by Late Sandeep Acharya.
In 2000, she debuted as a singer with the Bengali song, “Sundar Kato Sundar” from the film, ‘Sajoni Aamar Sohag.’ Some of her other popular Bengali songs are “Sonali Rodudure” from Dujone (2009), “O Yaara Ve” from Dui Prithibi (2010), “Give Me Freedom” from Bhorer Alo (2011), “He Naropishach” from Arundhati (2014), and “Bolo Na Radhika” from Shahjahan Regency (2019).
In 2006, she debuted in Bollywood with the song, “Kubool Kar Le” from Jaan-E-Mann. She got immense popularity with the songs “Khwab Dekhe” (Sexy Lady) and “Zara Zara Touch Me” from the Bollywood film, ‘Race’ (2008).
She has lent her voice for many other popular Bollywood songs, including “Tu Mohabbat Hai” from Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (2012), “Moh Moh ke Dhaage” from Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), and “Ho Jaa Awara” from Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019). She has also sung Tamil songs “Yaro Yaro” from the film Madha Yaanai Koottam (2013) and “Naalum Naalum” from 60 Vayadu Maaniram (2018). In 2017, she sang the Kannada song, “Soojiga Nanava” from the film Vardhana.
Some of her non-filmy songs are “Woh Pehli Bar” for Indian Idol Season 2 (2006), “Ye Mera India Anthem” (2015), “Googly Woogly Wooksh” for the Ponds’ cream TV commercial (2015), “Naamkarann Title Track” (2016), “Shy Mora Saiyaan” (2018), “Kare Naina” (2019), “Pani Pani Re” (2019), and “Swachh Bharat Anthem” (2019).
She has appeared as a judge in various singing TV reality shows, like ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla’ (2009-2011), ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs’ (2014), ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla’ (2014), ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Sangeet er Sera Mancha’ (2016), ‘Rising Star India 2’ (2018), and ‘MTV Youth’ (2019). She sang and appeared in the music video, ‘Dil Ka Fitoor,’ along with her husband, Maik Richter in 2020.
As an Actor
She appeared as a child actor in the Bengali TV serial, ‘Aalokito Ek Indu,’ in which she played the lead role Indubala. Later, she acted in the telefilm, ‘Phagune Agun.’ In 2007, she debuted as an actor in the Bengali film, ‘Krishnakanter Will,’ in which she played the role of Bhramar.
She was also seen playing the role of a Kashmiri girl in the famous Bollywood film, ‘PK’ (2014).
In 2014, she made her Bollywood debut in the film ‘Lakshmi,’ in which she played the lead role.
Awards & Honours
National Film Awards
2015: Best Female Playback Singer for “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” (Dum Laga Ke Haisha)
Filmfare Awards
2014: Best Female Playback Singer for “Sawar Loon” (Lootera)
International Indian Film Academy Awards
2016: Best Female Playback Singer for “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” (Dum Laga Ke Haisha)
Star Guild Awards
2016: Best Female Playback Singer for “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” (Dum Laga Ke Haisha)
Facts/Trivia
- She is trained in Hindustani classical music under Pandit Jagdish Prasad and Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty.
- She is a trained dancer and has learnt various dance forms, like Hip-Hop, Bharatanatyam, and Salsa.
- She received the Best Playback Singer award at the Anandalok Awards for the serial, Sri Ramkrishna at the age of 14.
- She is a dog lover and owns a pet dog.
- She is often spotted drinking alcohol on various occasions.
- Her hobbies include travelling and partying.