Alisha Chinai

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Alisha Chinai (b. 18 March 1972) is an Indian singer and filmi actress. She is one of the pioneers of pop music in India. Her real name is Sujata, though she has gone by Alisha, Alisha Chinai, Aleesha Chinoy, Alisha Chinoy, Alishya Chinoy and Alisha Chionoy professionally. She is also known as the "Indian Madonna" (she was first known as Babydoll but an image change later resulted in the "Madonna" moniker). Chinai is most famous for her 1996 single and album, titled "Made in India" which contains her most famous track "Lover Girl." Throughout her successful years, she had a number of big filmi hits like Roundhe (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya), Sona Sona Roop Hai (Bollywood/ Hollywood), and the controversial Sexy turned Baby Mujhe Log Bole (Khuddar).

However her pop music career ended as her follow-up albums were less successful.

After continuing a not so good career in pop music, Alisha decided to go back to filmi music. Her comeback song was known as "Oh My Darling" from flop Mujhse Dosti Karoge), which ended up being the worst song on the soundtrack. Her career resurrected on "Chot Dil Pe Lagi" (Ishq Vishk) where she teamed up with Anu Malik after stating she would never work with him again in 1995. More hits followed such as Dil Ko Hazar Bar (Murder), Pyaar Aaya (Plan, and Tinka Tinka (Karam). Her biggest song to date came through the success of Kajra Re (Bunty Aur Babli). The song was huge and Alisha's success grew as she won the Best Female Singing Award. Other hits after Kajra Re included No Entry (Ishq Galli Mein (No Entry) and Aaj Ki Raat (Don)

A little known fact is that Sujata liked and took on the name of her cousin's daughter Alisha (also Chinai) after she was born. In a comical coincidence of sorts, Alisha Chinai, (her niece) now, a fashion accessory designer (www.beaaccessories.com) is often mistaken for Alisha (Sujata) the much loved Kajra Re singer and vice versa!

[edit] Awards

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Alisha received the prestigious International Billboard Award around the time "Made in India" came out, and also won the Freddie Mercury Award for Artistic Excellence.
Internationally, Alisha received attention when her song "Seulement Vous" won first place at the International Song Festival "Asia 2004". It was the first victory for India in the Song Contest.