Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer

The Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer Award is given by Indian film magazine Filmfare as a part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song.

Although the Filmfare Awards started in 1954, awards for the best playback singer category started in 1959. From inception of the category through 1967, both the female and male singers used to compete for a single award, after which separate categories were created for female and male singers respectively.

Superlatives

Kishore Kumar won the award the maximum number of times 8 in this category, whereas Mohammad Rafi won it 6 times. Its a bit odd that during Kishore Kumar's popularity in the 1970s, he only managed to win 3 Filmfare awards for Best Male Playback Singer. Two singers: Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan, have won the award five wins. Mukesh has won this award four times. Mahendra Kapoor and Arijit Singh have won it thrice. Four Singers have won the award twice; in chronological order, they are Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Sukhwinder Singh and Mohit Chauhan.

Kumar Sanu holds the record for most consecutive wins, winning all of his five awards from 1991 to 1995. Kishore Kumar won the award four times in a row from 1983 to 1986.

Two singers have achieved the feat of receiving all the nominations of this category in a particular year: Mohammed Rafi was the single nominee in 1969, having all the three nominations to his credit, while Kishore Kumar was the single nominee in 1985, having all the four nominations to his credit. Incidentally, Kishore Kumar's all nominated songs were from a single movie, Sharaabi.

Udit Narayan holds a unique record of receiving nominations in this category in 3 different decades and getting award in all 3 different decades. Himesh Reshammiya became the first music director to win this award in 2006.

Most Wins

Multiple Nominees

Himesh Reshammiya || 2 || 1

List of winners

1950s

Note: The category for Best Playback Singer was established in 1959, and until 1966 both male and female singers used to compete for a single award.

• 1959 award won by a female singer

1960s

• 1960 Mukesh – "Sab Kuch Seekha Humne" from Anari
  • Talat Mahmood – "Jalte Hain Jiske Liye" from Sujata
• 1961 Mohammed Rafi – "Chaudhvin Ka Chand" from Chaudhvin Ka Chand
• 1962 Mohammed Rafi – "Chashme Buddoor" from Sasural
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Husn Wale Tera" from Gharana
  • Mukesh – "Hothon Pe Sacchai" from Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai
• 1963 Award won by a female singer
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Ae Gulbadan" from Professor
• 1964 Mahendra Kapoor – "Chalo Ek Bar Phir Se" from Gumrah
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Mere Mehboob Tujhe" from Mere Mehboob
• 1965 Mohammed Rafi – "Chahunga Main Tujhe" from Dosti
  • Mukesh – "Dost Dost Na Raha" from Sangam
• 1966 Award won by a female singer
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Chho Lene Do" from Kaajal
• 1967 Mohammed Rafi – "Baharon Phool Barsao" from Suraj

Note: The category for Best Playback Singer is officially divided into two separate categores to acknowledge both male and female singers individually.

• 1968 Mahendra Kapoor – "Neele Gagan Ke Tale" from Hamraaz
  • Mahendra Kapoor – "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" from Upkar
  • Mukesh – "Sawan Ka Mahina" from Milan
• 1969 Mohammed Rafi – "Dil Ke Jharoke Mein" from Brahmachari
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Babul Ki Duvayen" from Neel Kamal
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Main Gaoon Tum So Jao" from Brahmachari

1970s

• 1970 Kishore Kumar – "Roop Tera Mastana" from Aradhana
  • Manna Dey – "Kaal Ka Paiya" from Chanda Aur Bijli
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Badi Mastani Hai" from Jeene Ki Raah
• 1971 Mukesh – "Sabse Bada Nadan" from Pehchan
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Khilona Jankar" from Khilona
  • Mukesh – "Bas Yehi Apradh" from Pehchan
• 1972 Manna Dey – "Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo" from Mera Naam Joker
  • Kishore Kumar – "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai" from Kati Patang
  • Kishore Kumar – "Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana" from Andaz
• 1973 Mukesh – "Jai Bolo Be-Imaan Ki" from Be-Imaan
  • Kishore Kumar – "Chingari Koi Bhadke" from Amar Prem
  • Mukesh – "Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hain" from Shor
• 1974 Narendra Chanchal – "Beshak Mandir Masjid" from Bobby
  • Kishore Kumar – "Mere Dil Mein Aaj" from Daag: A Poem of Love
  • Manna Dey – "Yaari Hai Imaan Mera" from Zanjeer
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Hum Ko Jaan Se Pyaari Hai" from Naina
  • Shailendra Singh – "Main Shayar To Nahin" from Bobby
• 1975 Mahendra Kapoor – "Aur Nahi Bus Aur Nahi" from Roti Kapda Aur Makaan
  • Kishore Kumar – "Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai" from Dost
  • Kishore Kumar – "Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz" from Kora Kagaz
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Accha Hi Hua Dil Toot Gaya" from Maa Bahen Aur Biwi
  • Mukesh – "Main Na Bhooloonga" from Roti Kapda Aur Makaan
• 1976 Kishore Kumar – "Dil Aisa Kisi Ne" from Amanush
  • Kishore Kumar – "Main Pyaasa Tu Sawan" from Faraar
  • Kishore Kumar – "O Manjhi Re" from Khushboo
  • Manna Dey – "Kya Mar Sakegi" from Sanyasi
  • R. D. Burman – "Mehbooba O Mehbooba" from Sholay
• 1977 Mukesh (Posthumous) – "Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein" from Kabhi Kabhie
  • Mahendra Kapoor – "Sunke Teri Pukar" from Fakira
  • Mukesh (Posthumous) – "Ek Din Bik Jaayega" from Dharam Karam
  • Mukesh (Posthumous) – "Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon" from Kabhi Kabhie
  • K. J. Yesudas – "Gori Tera Gaon" from Chitchor
• 1978 Mohammed Rafi – "Kya Hua Tera Wada" from Hum Kisise Kum Naheen
  • Kishore Kumar – "Aap Ke Anurodh Se" from Anurodh
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Parda Hai Parda" from Amar Akbar Anthony
  • Mukesh (Posthumous) – "Suhaani Chandni" from Mukti (1977 film)
  • K. J. Yesudas – Ka Karoon Sajni Aye Na Baalam from Swami
• 1979 Kishore Kumar – "Khaike Paan Banaraswala" from Don
  • Kishore Kumar – "O Saathi Re" from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar
  • Kishore Kumar – "Hum Bewafa Harghiz Na" from Shalimar
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Aadmi Musafir Hai" from Apnapan
  • Mukesh (Posthumous) – "Chanchal Sheetal" from Satyam Shivam Sundaram

1980s

• 1980 K. J. Yesudas – "Dil Ke Tukde Tukde" from Dada
  • Amitabh Bachchan – "Mere Pass Aao" from Mr. Natwarlal
  • K. J. Yesudas – "Sunayana In Nazaron Ko" from Sunayana
  • Kishore Kumar – "Ek Rasta Hai Zindagi" from Kaala Patthar
  • Mohammed Rafi – "Chalo Re Doli Uthao" from Jaani Dushman
  • Nitin Mukesh – "Aaja Re Mere Dilbar" from Noorie
• 1981 Kishore Kumar – "Hazaar Raahen Mud Ke Dekhi" from Thodisi Bewafaii
  • Kishore Kumar – "Om Shanti Om" from Karz
  • Mohammed Rafi (Posthumous) – "Dard-e-Dil" from Karz
  • Mohammed Rafi (Posthumous) – "Maine Puchha Chand Se" from Abdullah
  • Mohammed Rafi (Posthumous) – "Mere Dost Kissa" from Dostana
• 1982 Amit Kumar – "Yaad Aa Rahi Hai" from Love Story
  • Jagjit Singh – "Hothon Se Chhoo Lo Tum" from Prem Geet
  • Kishore Kumar – "Hamen Tum Se Pyaar Kitna" from Kudrat
  • Kishore Kumar – "Chhoo Kar Mere Man Ko" from Yaarana
  • S. P. Balasubrahmanyam – "Tere Mere Beech Mein" from Ek Duuje Ke Liye
• 1983 Kishore Kumar – "Pag Ghungroo Bandh" from Namak Halaal
  • Amit Kumar – "Yeh Zameen Gaa Rahi Hai" from Teri Kasam
  • Suresh Wadkar – "Meri Kismat Tu" from Prem Rog
  • Suresh Wadkar – "Mein Hoon Prem Rogi" from Prem Rog
• 1984 Kishore Kumar – "Agar Tum Na Hote" from Agar Tum Na Hote
  • Kishore Kumar – "Shayad Meri Shaadi" from Souten
  • Shabbir Kumar – "Jab Hum Jawaan Honge" from Betaab
  • Shabbir Kumar – "Parvaton Se Aaj Mein" from Betaab
  • Shabbir Kumar – "Yaad Teri Aayengi" from Ek Jaan Hai Hum
• 1985 Kishore Kumar – "Manzilein Apni Jagah Hain" from Sharaabi
  • Kishore Kumar – "De De Pyaar De" from Sharaabi
  • Kishore Kumar – "Inteha Ho Gayi" from Sharaabi
  • Kishore Kumar – "Log Kehte Hai" from Sharaabi
• 1986 Kishore Kumar – "Saagar Kinare" from Saagar
  • Shabbir Kumar – "Tum Se Milkar Na Jane Kyon" from Pyaar Jhukta Nahin
  • Suresh Wadkar – "Main Hi Main Hoon" from Ram Teri Ganga Maili
• 1987 – No award given
• 1988 – No award given
• 1989 Udit Narayan – "Papa Kehte Hain" from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
  • Amit Kumar – "Ek Do Teen" from Tezaab
  • Mohammed Aziz – "Dil Tera Kisne Toda" from Dayavan

1990s

• 1990 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam – "Dil Deewana" from Maine Pyar Kiya
  • Amit Kumar – "Tirchhi Topiwale" from Tridev
  • Mohammed Aziz – "My Name Is Lakhan" from Ram Lakhan
  • Suresh Wadkar – "Lagi Aaj Sawan Ki" from Chandni
• 1991 Kumar Sanu – "Ab Tere Bin" from Aashiqui
  • Amit Kumar – "Kaisa Lagta Hai" from Baaghi: A Rebel for Love
  • Suresh Wadkar – "O Priya Priya" from Dil
• 1992 Kumar Sanu – "Mera Dil Bhi" from Saajan
  • Pankaj Udhas – "Jeeye To Jeeye" from Saajan
  • S. P. Balasubrahmanyam – "Tum Se Milne Ki Tamanna Hai" from Saajan
  • Sudesh Bhonsle – "Jumma Chumma" from Hum
• 1993 Kumar Sanu – "Sochenge Tumhe Pyaar" from Deewana
  • Udit Narayan – "Pehla Nasha" from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
  • Vinod Rathod – "Aisi Deewangi" from Deewana
• 1994 Kumar Sanu – "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen" from Baazigar
  • Kumar Sanu – "Baazigar O Baazigar" from Baazigar
  • Udit Narayan – "Jaadu Teri Nazar" from Darr
  • Udit Narayan – "Phoolon Sa Chehra Tera" from Anari
  • Vinod Rathod – "Nayak Nahin Kahlnayak Hoon Main" from Khalnayak
• 1995 Kumar Sanu – "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" from 1942: A Love Story
  • Abhijeet – "Ole Ole" from Yeh Dillagi
  • S. P. Balasubrahmanyam – "Hum Aapke Hain Koun" from Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
  • Udit Narayan – "Tu Cheez Badi" from Mohra
• 1996 Udit Narayan – "Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
  • Hariharan – "Dil Ne Dil Se" from Haqeeqat
  • Kumar Sanu – "Tujhe Dekha To" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
  • Udit Narayan – "Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar" from Akele Hum Akele Tum
• 1997 Udit Narayan – "Pardesi Pardesi" from Raja Hindustani
  • Abhijeet – "Yeh Teri Aankhen Jhuki Jhuki" from Fareb
  • Hariharan and Suresh Wadkar – "Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale" from Maachis
  • Udit Narayan – "Ghar Se Nikalte Hi" from Papa Kehte Hain
  • Udit Narayan – "Ho Nahi Sakta" from Diljale
• 1998 Abhijeet – "Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaaon" from Yes Boss
  • Hariharan – "I Love My India" from Pardes
  • Kumar Sanu – "Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain" from Pardes
  • Sonu Nigam and Roop Kumar Rathod – "Sandese Aate Hai" from Border
  • Udit Narayan – "Dil To Pagal Hai" from Dil To Pagal Hai
• 1999 Sukhwinder Singh – "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from Dil Se..
  • Aamir Khan – "Aati Kya Khandala" from Ghulam
  • Kamaal Khan – "O O Jaane Jaana" from Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya
  • Kumar Sanu – "Ladki Badi Anjaani Hai" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
  • Udit Narayan – "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

2000s

• 2000 Udit Narayan – "Chaand Chhupa" from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
  • KK – "Tadap Tadap Ke" from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
  • Kumar Sanu – "Aankhon Ki Gusthakiyaan" from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
  • Sonu Nigam – "Ishq Bina" from Taal
  • Sukhwinder Singh – "Ramta Jogi" from Taal
• 2001 Lucky Ali – "Naa Tum Jaano Naa Hum" from Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai
  • Lucky Ali – "Ek Pal Ka Jeena" from Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai
  • Sonu Nigam – "Tu Hawa Hai" from Fiza
  • Sonu Nigam – "Panchhi Nadiya Pawan Ke Jhonke" from Refugee
  • Udit Narayan – "Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hain" from Dhadkan
• 2002 Udit Narayan – "Mitwa" from Lagaan
  • Adnan Sami – "Mehbooba Mehbooba" from Ajnabee
  • Shaan – "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe" from Dil Chahta Hai
  • Sonu Nigam – "Suraj Hua Maddham" from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
  • Udit Narayan – "Ud jaa Kale Kawan" from Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
• 2003 Sonu Nigam – "Saathiya" from Saathiya
  • KK – "Bardaasht Nahin" from Humraaz
  • Kumar Sanu – "Sanam Mere Humraaz" from Humraaz
  • Lucky Ali – "Aa Bhi Jaa" from Sur – The Melody of Life
  • Shaan – "Nikamma Kiya Is Dil Ne" from Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa
• 2004 Sonu Nigam – "Kal Ho Naa Ho" from Kal Ho Naa Ho
  • Kumar Sanu – "Kissi Se Tum Pyar Karo" from Andaaz
  • Abhijeet – "Suno Na" from Chalte Chalte
  • Udit Narayan – "Idhar Chala" from Koi... Mil Gaya
  • Udit Narayan – "Tere Naam" from Tere Naam
• 2005 Kunal Ganjawala – "Bheegey Honth Tere" from Murder
  • Sonu Nigam – "Do Pal" from Veer-Zaara
  • Sonu Nigam – "Main Hoon Na" from Main Hoon Na
  • Sonu Nigam – "Tumse Milkey Dil Ka" from Main Hoon Na
  • Udit Narayan – "Main Yahan Hoon" from Veer-Zaara
  • Udit Narayan and Master Vignesh – "Yeh Taara Woh Taara" from Swades
• 2006 Himesh Reshammiya – "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" from Aashiq Banaya Aapne
  • Atif Aslam – "Woh Lamhe" from Zeher
  • Sonu Nigam – "Dheere Jalna" from Paheli
  • Sonu Nigam – "Piyu Bole" from Parineeta
  • KK and Shaan – "Dus Bahane" from Dus
• 2007 Shaan and Kailash Kher – "Chand Sifarish" from Fanaa
  • Atif Aslam – "Tere Bin" from Bas Ek Pal
  • Himesh Reshammiya – "Jhalak Dikhlaja" from Aksar
  • Sonu Nigam – " Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
  • Zubeen Garg – "Ya Ali" from Gangster
  • KK - "Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai" from Gangster
• 2008 Shaan – "Jab Se Tere Naina" from Saawariya
  • A. R. Rahman – "Tere Bina" from Guru
  • KK – "Aankhon Mein Teri" from Om Shanti Om
  • Sonu Nigam – "Main Agar Kahoon" from Om Shanti Om
  • Sukhwinder Singh – "Chak De India" from Chak De! India
• 2009 Sukhwinder Singh – "Haule Haule" from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
  • Farhan Akhtar – "Socha Hai" from Rock On!!
  • KK – "Khuda Jaane" from Bachna Ae Haseeno
  • KK – "Zara Si Dil Mein" from Jannat
  • Rashid Ali – "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi" from Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
  • Sonu Nigam – "Inn Lamhon Ke Daaman Me" from Jodhaa Akbar

2010s

• 2010 Mohit Chauhan – "Masakali" from Delhi-6
  • Atif Aslam – "Tu Jaane Na" from Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
  • Javed Ali and Kailash Kher – "Arziyan" from Delhi-6
  • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – "Aaj Din Chadheya" from Love Aaj Kal
  • Sonu Nigam and Salim Merchant – "Shukran Allah" from Kurbaan
  • Sukhwinder Singh and Vishal Dadlani – "Dhan Te Nan" from Kaminey
• 2011 Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – "Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji" from Ishqiya
  • Adnan Sami and Shankar Mahadevan – "Noor-e-Khuda" from My Name Is Khan
  • Mohit Chauhan – "Pee Loon" from Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai
  • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – "Sajda" from My Name Is Khan
  • Shafqat Amanat Ali – "Bin Tere" from I Hate Luv Storys
• 2012 Mohit Chauhan – "Jo Bhi Main" from Rockstar
  • Akon and Vishal Dadlani – "Chammak Challo" from Ra.One
  • Mohit Chauhan – "Saadda Haq" from Rockstar
  • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – "Teri Meri" from Bodyguard
  • Shafqat Amanat Ali – "Dildaara" from Ra.One
• 2013 Ayushmann Khurrana - "Pani Da Rang" from Vicky Donor
  • Mohit Chauhan – "Barfi" from Barfi!
  • Nikhil Paul George – "Main Kya Karoon" from Barfi!
  • Rabbi Shergill – "Challa" from Jab Tak Hai Jaan
  • Sonu Nigam – "Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin" from Agneepath
• 2014 Arijit Singh – "Tum Hi Ho" from Aashiqui 2
  • Amit Trivedi – "Manja" from Kai Po Che!
  • Ankit Tiwari – "Sunn Raha Hai" from Aashiqui 2
  • Benny Dayal – "Badtameez Dil" from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
  • Siddharth Mahadevan – "Zinda" from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
• 2015 Ankit Tiwari - "Galliyan" from Ek Villain
  • Benny Dayal - "Locha-e-Ulfat" from 2 States
  • Arijit Singh - "Mast Magan" from 2 States
  • Arijit Singh - "Suno Na Sangemarmar" from Youngistaan
  • Shekhar Ravjiani - "Zehnaseeb" from Hasee Toh Phasee
• 2016 Arijit Singh - "Sooraj Dooba Hain" from Roy
  • Ankit Tiwari - "Tu Hai Ke Nahi" from Roy
  • Arijit Singh - "Gerua" from Dilwale
  • Atif Aslam - "Jeena Jeena" from Badlapur
  • Vishal Dadlani – "Gulaabo" from Shaandaar
  • Papon from "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" from Dum Laga Ke Haisha
• 2017 Arijit Singh - "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
  • Amit Mishra - "Bulleya" from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
  • Arijit Singh - "Channa Mereya" from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
  • Atif Aslam - "Tere Sang Yaara" from Rustom
  • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - "Jag Ghoomeya" from Sultan

See also

• Filmfare Awards
• Bollywood
• Cinema of India

External links

• Filmfare Nominees and Winners
• Official site