| Kunal Ganjawala | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mumbai, India |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Kunal Ganjawala (Hindi : कुणाल गांजावाला) is popularly known as Bollywood playback singer. But he also did a very well contribution to Kanada film industry as well. Kunal began his career by singing jingles. He came to limelight with the song 'Bheege Honth Tere' form film Murder in 2004. It was his first biggest hit. The song earned him Zee Cine Award as Best Playback Singer in 2005.
Kunal entered the film industry in 2002 with film 'Ab Ke Baras'. Within a very short period of four years, he has established himself as one of the top singers in Bollywood (Indian Hindi film industry). Along with Bollywood's Hindi songs, Kunal entered Kannada film industry in 2005. His song 'Neene Neene' from film Akash made sensation in South. Since then he also became a most popular singer in Kannada film industry as well.
As a child, Kunal never thought of becoming singer. Even he didn't know till his college that he can sing. It was a ragging incident in his college which led him to become a singer. As a junior in Elphinstone College, Kunal was ragged by his seniors. Kunal was passing his seniors by whistling a tune, when his seniors caught him and commanded him to sing. Kunal first said them that he can't sing. But his seniors didn't listen to him, because he was whistling very well. At that time Kunal sung songs 'Nazar Ke Samne' from Aashiqui and 'Ek Din Bik Jayega' from Dharam Karam. Since then he started singing at every college festivals. He had won many intra-college and inter-college competitions.
Kunal Ganjawala graduated from St. Peter's School, Mazagaon. Kunal wanted to be either a CA (Chartered Accountant) or an actor. But God had some different plan for him. Kunal admits that it was his parent's support which made him possible to become a singer. His parents advised him instead of being a chartered accountant, why don't you try in what you are good i.e. singing. Kunal's sister is Bharat Natyam exponent, while his father plays the harmonica. After his parents words he took singing seriously and started believing that he can become a singer.
Later Kunal learned music from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan under the guidance of Sudhindra Bhaumick. Kunal's first singing assignment was a Ranjit Barot's jingle. Ranjit impressed by Kunal's voice and called him to back one of his jingles. The jingle was Doodh Doodh for the Operation Flood ad. Kunal feels lucky that he is one of the singers to whom Ranjit Barot is a mentor. Kunal admitted that he was taken seriously by other music directors because he was working with Barot.
His first break in Bollywood was 'Ab Ke Baras' in 2002. Although the song didn't mark him as a prominent singer, he got many offers in queue. Then after he sung in many movies like Saathiya (2002), Indian Babu (2003), Paisa Vasool (2004), Khakee (2004), Rudraksh (2004), Dhoom (2004) and Meenaxi (2004). But his breakthrough hit Bheege Hont from the film Murder, won the 2005 Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer - Male and IIFA Best Male Playback Award. He has also participated in Sa Re Ga Ma, an Indian singing talent competition on Zee TV (Now Sa Re Ga Ma Pa) when it was hosted by Sonu Nigam. He was a judge on Amul Star Voice of India, another singing competition on Star TV, together with Shreya Ghoshal and Pritam.
Since then Kunal worked for many music directors like Anu Malik, Pritam, Himesh Reshammiya, Ismail Darbar, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Anand Raaj Anand, Roop Kumar Rathod, Daboo Malik, and Sanjeev-Darshan. Kunal recently sung for Sanjay Lila Bhansali's 'Saawariya'. His numbers from the film 'Maashah Alaah' and 'Pari' are running top on the chart.
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He has done his schooling from St. Peter's School, Mazagaon.
He says his singing career began in school:
| “ | I was not even a bathroom singer. I began singing only when I was caught by my seniors as an 8th standard students in St Peters School. I was passing by them whistling a tune when a few of them caught hold of me and commanded, 'Sing a song'. I was shocked. I said I never sang in my life. They said, "Dont lie!". When he can whistle tunes so well, why can't he sing?' They caught hold of my neck saying, they would throttle me if I didn't. With great difficulty I sang Nazar ke samne (Aashiqui) and Ek din bik jayega (Dharam Karam). They spared me then but made me sing in college festivals later. | ” |
In 2005, he married fellow singer Gayatri Iyer. They performed the title track for STAR One's Antakshari together.[1]
Kunal Ganjawala is lovingly called Kunal Cocainewala by his fans and fellow singers.
He is a staunch devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba (http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=hub070511WHY.asp).
Other than Hindi, he also sings songs in the Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Telugu,and sindhi languages.
His song "Oh my love" from a Bengali Movie Amanush by Jeet Ganguli" and Channa Ve Ghar aa jaa" from a Punjabi album Channa Ve by DJ Anit was also a success.
In 2007, he participated in a concert tour in North America, called "The Incredibles", also featuring Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam and Kailash Kher.
On 3 April 2010 he performed at RECSTACY, the annual cultural event of NIT-DURGAPUR.
On 26 November 2010 he performed at "SDM UTSAV", the mega fest event of SDMCET
The IMDb includes almost all language songs which Ganjawala sang.
'Maa ganga'-Naan Kadavul-Ilayaraja
'Spider Man'-New -A.R.Rahman
'Please Sir'-Boys-A.R.Rahman
'Maaro Maaro'-Boys-A.R.Rahman
'Kattikko Rappa Rappa' - Thimiru - Yuvan Shankar Raja
