Anindita Paul

Anindita Paul (Assamese: অনিন্দিতা পাল) is an Indian singer. She has recorded songs in several Indian languages but is particularly popular in Assam. She is a nominated vocalist for National Film Award who has sung songs for all the major music-directors of Assam.

Anindita Paul was born in Guwahati, Assam, the daughter of Amal Kanti Paul and Shyamali Paul. Her father was in the Contract and Vigilance departments of the Food Corporation of India while her mother was a homemaker who was musically inclined and had performed in college fests.

When she was just four years old, she heard a singer crooning the famous Indian classical number 'Laaga Chunri Mein Daag' at a jalsa organized by a family friend. Paul was enthralled, and asked for an encore. The singer remarked on her musical discernment and advised Paul's mother to facilitate a musical education for her.

Paul started learning music at the age of 10, while she was still studying at the South Point School, Guwahati. When violin maestro Dr. V. Balaji from Banaras Hindu University visited Assam to conduct a 10-day workshop in violin and vocals, a function was organised in his honour. Anindita was asked to sing a bhajan and sang a Ram bhajan. When Guruji came onstage, he declared, ‘I don't remember the name of this girl who just sang a Ram bhajan but she made me experience that I am in Lucknow, the hub of classical music! What more can I teach people who are already trained and sound so professional?' After the workshop, the maestro asked Paul's father to permit her to accompany him to Banaras where she could study music along with his own children. But her father opted for a well-rounded education for his daughter.

Thereafter, she acquired a Visharad degree in Indian classical music (Vocal) from an institution affiliated to the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow. She trained with Dwipen Roy in Guwahati and later visited Kolkata to learn from Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty.

Paul began singing at stage shows in Assam. She was soon a graded artist in Bhajan and Modern song at All India Radio Guwahati. Though her father had been initially hesitant about encouraging her to pursue a musical career, he was soon won over by her dedication to her vocal riyaaz.

In 2000, Paul issued her first Assamese album Bilot Tire Birai Podumor Pahi Oye (2000). The lyrics were penned by Assamese poet Shri Kamalananda Bhattacharya (Bawli Kobi) who also crafted the compositions. Paul sang three songs, including the title track, for the album.

In 2010, Paul spanned different musical genres with her first solo album Tumar Prasangshat whose title was given by the late Shri Hiren Bhattacharyya. Tumar Prasangshat was an album of mixed genres - primarily modern Assamese song which had a tinge of ballet, R&B and pop-rock while keeping in mind indigenous sensibilities.

One of the leading female playback singers in Assamese, Anindita has rendered songs for many feature films.

After the attention corralled by her song 'Bilot Tirebirai', Anindita got offers to sing for many Assamese music-directors and this led to her cinematic breakthrough. Renowned Assamese composer Zubeen Garg asked her to sing his composition in the film Prem Aru Prem (2002) and this marked the start of a creatively rewarding association which continues till date.

Anindita is recognized for her felicity with soft romantic numbers as well as classical songs and has sung in many films for several music-directors. She remains popular and her upcoming films include Gaane Ki Aane and Songhat.

Prominent milestones include the songs 'Biphol sokupanire' from Jetuka Pator Dore (2011) and 'Kor ejak shopun jen boroshun' from Munin Barua's acclaimed Dinabandhu (2004). After the latter song, Anindita shifted to Mumbai but continued to be flooded with appreciation from people who adored the song.

Anindita's singing credentials have been established in a vast range of media platforms.

She sang under Zubeen Garg's music direction in the Hindi film Strings and the Hindi-Assamese bilingual Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare. She has crooned for some notable Bengali films, including Kumauner Konya under the music direction of the legendary Ravindra Jain. She has also lent her voice to the TV serial ‘Remix’ (Star One) for music director Pritam.

Anindita can be heard on the remix album 'Play-Gal Mix'(released by Universal Music) and 'Dance Attack'(released by Saregama India Ltd. (HMV)), and has recorded two Telegu Devotional songs for renowned flautist Naveen Kumar in Mumbai. Anindita has performed in the prestigious Spirit of Unity Concert for Universal Integration at Visakhapatnam in the year 2007; and recently, she joined Shankar Mahadevan Productions’ musical show ‘My Country My Music.’

The emotionally expressive singer has worked alongside the legendary Lata Mangeshkar in the Chhattisgarhi film Bhakla. At the film's recordings, she was fortunate to meet and interact with her senior who also sang a song for the movie.

Anindita is a popular name in the world of advertisement jingles and is the voice behind well-known commercials for 'Fair & Lovely', 'Action Flotter', 'Nerolac Paints', 'Herbalife', 'iBall Andi Hd6'. She has also sung for an advertisement for 'Care Honey Lotion' in Pakistan.

Paul has been nominated twice for the National Film Awards - for the song 'Kor Ejak Shopun Jen Boroshun' from the film Dinabandhu and for 'Biphol Sokupanire' from Jetuka Pator Dore.

2004 Jyotirupa Media Award for Best Female Playback Singer for 'Kor Ejak Shopun Jen Boroshun' (Dinabandhu)

2005 Prag Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer for 'Kor Ejak Shopun Jen Boroshun' (Dinabandhu)

2010 Prag Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer for 'Biphol sokupanire' (Jetuka Pator Dore)

2014 Prag Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Raag (film)

2015 Assam State Award Best Female Playback Singer for Raag (film).