Dr. Jaspinder Narula is a well-known playback singer of Bollywood, who was active in the second half of 1990s. Known for her distinct powerful voice and a mix of Punjabi-Sufi style of singing, she owns numerous chartbuster songs to her credit. She won Filmfare award for best playback singer for the title track of Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha (1998), and this song helped her to reach career peak. In 2025 Government of India honoured her with Padma Shri, for her 5-decades of contributions towards Indian music.
Tare Hain Barati – Virasat, Tera Rang Balle Balle (Nayyo Nayyo) – Soldier, Sabki Baaratein Aayi – Jaanam Samjha Karo, Judaai Judaai – Judaai, Tere Pyar Mein – Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet, Bumbro Bumbro – Mission Kashmir and are Hata Sawan Ki Ghata – Hello Brother are a few more evergreen hits of Jaspinder Narula, still loved by music fans. She is the voice behind the popular Punjabi album song of 1990s, Munda Tu Hai Punjabi Sona filmed on Kiran Rathod & Ram. Read: Jaspinder Narula – Top 10 Bollywood Songs
Apart from rendering her voice for playback singing, she has recorded numerous non-filmy songs in bhajans, Lokgeet, Sufiana, Punjabi music etc. She is a master in singing folk music, Sufi and Gurbani.
Jaspinder Narula – Early life & Career
Jaspinder Narula inherited music from her parents
Jaspinder Narula was born on 14 November 1970 in Chandigarh into a Punjabi family with strong music roots. Her father Kesar Singh Narula was a music composer of the 1950s, who mostly composed Punjabi songs. Her mother Mohini Narula was a Haryanvi singer. She grew up in a musical atmosphere.
She completed her schooling from Guru Harkrishan Public School, New Delhi, and graduated from Indra Prasta Women’s College, Delhi. She later completed her post-graduation and PhD as per the wish of her father. It took 14 years to get a doctorate.
It was her father who noticed her singing talents at a very young age and gave her initial training. Later, she continued training under Sitaram Sharma of Jaipur Gharana and later under Mustaq Husain Khan and Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan of Rampur Sahaswan Gharana.
Her father, a composer, started Gurbani recordings in Punjab
Jaspinder Narula’s father Kesar Singh Narula has produced music for many composers in the post 1950s era to late 1990s, and played a magnificent role in popularizing Punjabi folk music by recording and releasing through cassettes. He started Gurbani recordings in Punjab, which created many popular artists.
He produced and composed music for great Punjabi musicians and singers, including Lal Chand Yamla Jatt, Asa Singh Mastana, Kuldeep Manak, A.S. Kang, Surinder Shinda, Surinder Kaur, Prakash Kaur, Malkit Singh, Hans Raj Hans, and many more. He composed the very popular Punjabi songs, Kali Teri Gut for Asa Singh Mastana and Gidhian Di Rani for A.S. Kang.
She was more interested in bhajans and non-filmy music, including Sufiana compositions during her younger days. She first performed on Doordarshan as a child for a children’s program. She earned this singing opportunity through her father and got 45 rupees as her first remuneration. When she became 8 years old, she started performing on stage alongside her parents in India and abroad. Initially, she sang bhajans, sufian,a and Gurbani.
From the film industry, Kalyanji spotted her first
Judai Judai Song from Judai – Her first song which came out
Kalyanji of the Kalyanji-Anandji duo heard her at the private gathering in Delhi and invited her to Mumbai. As he has retired from the profession, he asked his son Viju Shah to give her an opportunity. Thus, she got her first song, “Dhin Tak Dhin” from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan composed by Viju Shah. But the first album with her songs, which came out, was Judaai, and the first recorded song for this album was Mujhe Ek Pal Chain Na Aaye (Judai Judai). Read top songs of Kalyanji-Anandji & Kishore da combo
Before Jaspinder Narula joined the film industry, she had already recorded a few albums, including one with Jagjit Singh. Through him, she came into contact of Anoop Jalota, and it was he who introduced her name to Nadeem-Shravan. Shravan invited her to his home and asked her to sing something. Narula sang ‘Sanu Ek Pal Chain Na Aaye’ song of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and surprised him.
Next day, she was invited to the studio where the whole team was present, and Jaspinder Narula impressed them too. The following day, she recorded the modified version of same song, aside Hariharan and Alka Yagnik. This song was also extremely popular those days. She also recorded the song, “Meri Zindagi Ek Pyaas” for the film. It was a sad song filmed on Sridevi.
Though Judai Judai became popular, Jaspinder’s first blockbuster hit was Tare Hain Barati from Priyadarshan’s Virasat, composed by Anu Malik. As she’s extremely talented and has a unique voice, this single song was enough to establish her career in Bollywood. Her career took off and she got more opportunities from Bollywood.
First Filmfare award through ‘Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha’
After the success of Tare Hain Barati, she tasted success through Nayyo Nayyo of Soldier, Sabki Baaratein Aayi of Jaanam Samjha Karo, Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha, Menu Lagan Lagi etc. She was only a few songs old when she bagged the prestigious Filmfare award for best playback singer through ‘Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha’, beating singers who fully dominated the era.
Late 1990s witnessed Jaspinder Narula’s peak years of her career. She was seen everywhere – in television, on public stage and award shows. In most albums, she sang just 1 or 2 songs, and the song registered a hit. That was Jaspinder Narula’s popularity those days. Composers used to reserve a special song for her.
Her career faced downfall after 2002
Jaspinder Narula was soaring at heights for 5 years – from 1997 to 2002, recording songs with all the leading music composers of the time, except A. R. Rahman. Her parents were settled in Canada, and she used to visit them frequently. During one of those visits, she met Manmohan, who was working with Canada government. Though he was already married, they dated for a long period and finally got married in 2002.
After her marriage, she mostly spent her time in Canada, which damaged her glorious career to a great extent. Rumours spread that she had stopped singing, and she started losing big opportunities. Many music composers believed that Jaspinder Narula got settled in Canada after marriage, and she started getting fewer opportunities, with just 1 or 2 films a year. There was a time when she used to work in more than a dozen films.
Even after getting fewer songs, her pride and self-respect never allowed her to knock at doors of music composers. Jaspinder Narula shifted to the US with her husband. The couple was blessed with two kids, around 10 years after marriage. She stayed away from reality shows, also. Jaspinder always criticized such talent hunt shows. Though she was away from film music, she recorded classical music, ghazals, lok geet and bhakti geet. She has also worked in Punjabi and Telugu cinema. She is quite regular in music events
Jaspinder Narula – Top chartbuster Bollywood hits
Here is the list of top hits of Jaspinder Narula, where she is the main singer, either as solo voice or the female voice of the duet singer.
Tare Hain Barati – Virasat, a duet with Kumar Sanu
1. Tare Hain Barati – Virasat (1997), Anu Malik, Javed Akhtar
2. Judaai Judaai – Judaai (1997), Nadeem–Shravan, Sameer
3. Nayyo Nayyo – Soldier (1998), Anu Malik, Sameer
4. Title track of Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha (1998), Jatin-Lalit, Sameer
5. Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare – Dulhe Raja (1998), Anand-Milind, Sameer
6. Sabki Baaratein Aayi – Jaanam Samjha Karo (1998), Anu Malik, Majrooh Sultanpuri
7. Menu Lagan Lagi – Dil Kya Kare (1998), Jatin–Lalit, Anand Bakshi
8. Hata Sawan Ki Ghata – Hello Brother (1999), Sajid-Wajid, Faiz Anwar
9. Tere Bin Ik Pal – Aa Ab Laut Chalein (1999), Nadeem–Shravan, Sameer
10. Sangeet – Dillagi (1999), Sukhwinder Singh, Javed Akhtar
11. Tere Pyar Mein Main Marjawan – Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999), Anand-Milind, Sameer
12. Lutiya Gaya – International Khiladi (1999), Aadesh Shrivastava, Dev Kohli
13. Gher Ghaar Ghagro – Arjun Pandit (1999), Dilip Sen–Sameer Sen, Javed Akhtar
14. Main Laila Laila – Anari No.1 (1999), Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen, Dev Kohli
15. Peepal Ke Patwa – Sooryavansham (1999), Anu Malik, Sameer
16. Jeevan Mein Jaane Jaana – Bichhoo (2000), Anand Raj Anand, Sameer
17. Kudi Kanwaari Tere – Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000), Anand Raj Anand, Anand Bakshi
18. Bumbro Bumbro – Mission Kashmir (2000), Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Rahat Indori (Traditional song)
19. Jab Ishq Da Gunjal – Deewane (2000), Sanjeev-Darshan, Sameer
20. Ae Dil Itna Bada De – Deewane (2000), Sanjeev-Darshan, Sameer
21. Jugni Jugni– Badal (2000), Anu Malik, Sameer
22. Tujhe Dekh Ke Dil – Badal (2000), Anu Malik, Sameer
23. Mehndi Rang Layee – Chal Mere Bhai (2000), Anand Milind, Sameer
24. I Am The Best – Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), Jatin–Lalit, Javed Akhtar
25. Ek Ladki Chahiye Khas Khas – Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001), Anand Raj Anand, Dev Kohli
26. Morey Piya – Devdas (2002), Ismail Darbar, Sameer
27. Hai Ishq Khata – Deewangee (2002), Ismail Darbar, Nusrat Badr
28. Maar Udari – Pinjar (2003), Uttam Singh, Gulzar
Other Top Hits of Jaspinder Narula
Apart from the songs listed at the beginning of the post, Jaspinder Narula owns the credit of a few more beautiful songs in Bollywood. Here is the list of a few more hit songs, where she is the co-singer (not necessarily the main singer).
1. Sona Sona – Major Saab (1999 – Aadesh Shrivastav, Dev Kohli)
2. Otashi Anata (Main female voice) & Yahi Hai Pyaar – Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999 – Nadeem–Shravan, Sameer)
3. Mera Yaar Dildar Bada Sona – Jaanwar (1999 – Anand–Milind, Sameer)
4. Ek Mulaqat Zaruri Hai Sanam (Reprise) – Sirf Tum (1999 – Nadeem-Shravan, Sameer)
5. Aa Gaye Din Sanam (Title track) – Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet (1999 – Anand–Milind, Sameer)
6. Dillagi Dillagi – Dillagi (1999), Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Javed Akhtar
7. Soni Soni – Mohabbatein (2000 – Jatin–Lalit, Anand Bakshi)
8. Aisa Champion Kahan – Champion (2000, Vishal–Shekhar, Nitin Raikwar)
9. Mela Dilon Ka – Mela (2000, Anu Malik, Dev Kohli)
10. Life Ban Jayegi – Humraaz (2002, Himesh Reshammiya, Sudhakar Sharma)
11. Nikamma Kiya Is Dil Ne – Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002, Himesh Reshammiya, Sanjay Chhel)
12. Dil Main Hai Pyaar – Hero (2002, Uttam Singh, Anand Bakshi)
13. Title Song – Bunty Aur Babli (2005, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Gulzar)
14. Meethi Meethi Batan – Aap Ki Khatir (2006, Himesh Reshammiya, Sameer)
Jaspinder Narula – Some interesting and less known facts
1. She was featured in the songs – Title track of Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha & Mera Yaar Dildar Bada Sona of Jaanwar, singing her part as a singer.
2. At the age of 13, Jaspinder Narula appeared as a child artist in a play – Phir Wohi Shaam, telecasted on Doordarshan.
3. Jaspinder Narula had a brief stint with politics when she joined Aam Aadmi Party in 2014. But very soon she resigned.
4. She won the title of India’s Best Live Performer in the NDTV Imagine singing reality series, Dhoom Macha De (2008).
5. She earned a Philosophy Doctorate in Music from the University of Delhi, and it took 14 long years for completion.
Author’s note:
I have always been her fan. Jaspinder Narula and Richa Sharma belonging to that generation (late 1990s and early 2000s) owned distinct and unique voices. Both were powerful voices. Unfortunately, they both belonged to the generation where soft and melodious voice was chosen for heroine. Except for dancers, music composers rarely explored their unique voices. I should say, the voices of both these singers were way ahead of time. If they belonged to present generation, where sweet melodious voices are not priorities, they both would have rewritten history! Their voices would have been celebrated!
Now I am listening this long-forgotten voice in a loop, songs after songs. Jaspinder Ji, I really miss you. Sigh!
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