Rishikesh Kamerkar

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Rishikesh Kamerkar (born 13 October 1977) is an Indian music composer and arranger and a popular singer in the Hindi and Marathi film industry in the last 15 years. He is also active in the world of advertising in India, have sung for all top Indian and International brands.

He is singing the songs and working as a vocal producer as well in the Hindi film industry with all leading music composers and production houses. He has developed his own unique style of singing by blending his Indian classical roots with textured western vocal singing which has earned him a lot of popularity, especially amongst his young fans.

Early life

Kamerkar was born into a family steeped into performing arts. His paternal grandfather late Shri Vasantrao Kamerkar was the chief of the light music section at HMV, having worked closely with all the legends of Marathi Music Industry i.e. Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Sudhir Phadke, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Shrinivas Khale & Snehal Bhatkar etc. His maternal grandfather late. Shri. Sharad Devare was one of the best still photographers of his time and worked with top directors like Guru Dutt, Subhash Ghai, Feroz Khan, Mehmood and many more on most of their films.

Kamerkar was initiated into Hindustani Classical vocal music under the tutelage of Shri. Shrikant Lagu, whose musical lineage can be traced to Shri. D. V. Paluskar, one of the finest exponents of the Gwalior Gharana, afterwards he started taking lessons in Light classical music and voice culture from Shri. Bhavdeep Jaipurwale. He has also learnt in western classical piano from Robert Correa.

Personal life

Kamerkar is married to Gayatri Kamerkar and has two children. He had done his college education from St. Xavier’s College Of Mumbai.

Professional career

Television

Kamerkar appears as a jury member in the most popular TV show - ZEE SaReGaMaPa along side judges Sajid Wajid, Mika Singh & Pritam. He started his career as a singer on the Path-breaking Marathi TV show ‘Tak Dhina Dhin’ on DD Sahyadri. The show was on air for over six-and-a-half years and is still considered to be one of the highest grossing shows on DD both in terms of TRPs and revenue. His popularity during this show reached such dizzying heights that he used to receive around 6000-8000 letters every month as fan mail. After a brief appearance as a guest judge on ‘SaReGaMa Little champs’ and winning the immensely popular show ‘Sangeet Khurchi’ on Etv Marathi as a celebrity contestant. He has also worked as music director and music co-ordinator for the last three seasons on the popular singing reality show ‘Gaurav Maharashtracha’ on Etv Marathi.

Films – Hindi

Rishikesh has sung for numerous Hindi films like Wanted, Sikander, Yeh Hausla, Mod, When Harry Tries to Marry (Hollywood Indie Film), Krantiveer 2, Bum Bum Bole, Chain Kulii Ki Maind Kulii.. His chartbuster song ‘Le Le Mazaa Le’ from the Salman Khan blockbuster ‘Wanted’ is still one of the most demanded song across all nightclubs and discotheques across the country. Rishikesh also worked as a vocal arranger for numerous Bollywood hit films. He has worked for
songs and background scores of
Music directors like A.R. Rahman, Salim Sulaiman, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Pritam, Vishal Shekhar, Sajid Wajid and many others. He has worked with top production houses like Yashraj Films, Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment, Mukta Arts, Madras Talkies, Filmkraft and others. Some of his films include Dhoom, Dhoom - 2, Asoka, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Fashion, Dostana, Yuvvraaj, Billu, Race, Jab We Met, Singh Is King, Wanted, ABCD 2 and Fitoor.

Films – Marathi

Singer

Rishikesh has sung numerous songs for all leading composers in Marathi cinema. Some of his songs include:

• "Andharachi Raat" - Saade Maade Teen
• "777" - Saade Maade Teen
• "Hungama" – Maajha Navra Tujhi Baiko
• "Phulnara Mausam" – Mukkam Post London
• "Varshav Ha Sukhacha" – Maatichya Chuli
• "Mala Bhutane Pachadla" – Pachadlela
• "Kshanbhar Vishranti" – All Songs
• "Mi,Mann Ani Dhruv" – All Songs
• "Maharashtra Geet" – Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy
• "Nabha Pankhavari" – Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho
• "Nishabda Bhavanana" – Ti Ratra
• "Aata Kashala Udyachi Baat" – 2 Songs
• "Butterfly Man" – Time Please
• "Nava Gadi Ana Rajya Nava" – Time Please
• "Tujhi Majhi Love Story" – All Songs
• "Praju" – Timepass 2
• "Yaar Bas Tu" – Urfi
• "Durandhar Bhatawdekar" – All Songs

Music composer

Kamerkar has also worked as a composer on the following Marathi Films:

• Saade Maade Teen
• Maatichya Chuli
• Majha Navra Tujhi Baiko
• Mukkam Post Londaon
• Yanda Kartavya Aahe
• Kshanbhar Vishranti
• Mi, Mann Ani Dhruv
• Time Please - Love Story Lagnanantarchi
• Dhurandar Bhatawdekar
• Dil Bole Cukurukuru (Upcoming Release)
• Photocopy (Upcoming Release)

Advertising

Kamerkar has been the voice behind many advertising campaigns for all leading International and Indian brands. He has worked with all the leading music directors in the advertising industry i.e. Lesle Lewis, Ranjit Barot, Salim Sulaiman, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Tapas Relia, Clinton Cerejo, Amit Trivedi, Justin Uday, Rajat Dholakia and many more. Some of his popular campaigns include:

• LIC - Na Chinta Na Fikar
• Hero Honda - Dhak Dhak Go
• Pepsi - Ye Dil Maange More,Ye Pyaas Hai Badi
• Vicco Vajradanti
• Mumbai Indians - Duniya Hila Denge Hum
• Polycrol Antacid
• Vadilal Ice Cream

Theater

Kamerkar has worked as a Music producer for Theatrix, US on a couple of their Marathi Musicals Western Ghats and Ailteer Pailteer. Western Ghats made its debut at the BMM Convention 2005 in Atlanta in an extremely well received show. It contained 10 evergreen Marathi songs expertly rearranged and reproduced in a very modern sound by Rishikesh. The songs are still a rage amongst the Indian diaspora there. ‘Ailteer Pailteer’ made a debut at the BMM Convention 2007 in Chicago. All the songs in this musical were original compositions produced by Rishikesh Kamerkar. Rishikesh later on worked as a music director with Ekadanta Creations on their super hit award winning Marathi play ‘Nava Gadi Nava Rajya’ in 2010. The music of this play was nominated for the prestigious Zee Awards, Ma Ta Sanman Awards, Sanskrutik Kaladarpan Award. Rishikesh won the prestigious Maharashtra State Award for year 2010 for his work as a composer for this play. His work on plays like ‘Mr & Mrs’, ‘Amhi Travelkar’ & ‘Susaat’ has been well appreciated by the Marathi Industry.

Awards and achievements

• ‘National Creative Excellence Award For Social Change 2010-2011’ for his song ‘Bekhabar’. The song was made for 'Laadli', a nationwide initiative of an NGO, Population First and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund, India) aiming to create a pool of promotional material that could be used for campaigns against sex selection.
• ‘Maharashtra State Award For Best Music For A Play 2010-2011’ for his work in ‘Nava Gadi Nava Rajya’.
• Nomination for Best Music (Film) for 'Mi, Mann Ani Dhruv' at Zee Gaurav Awards 2010-2011.
• Nomination for Best Playback Male (Film) for the song 'Jeevana Ata savaru' from the film 'Mi, Mann Ani Dhruv' at Zee Gaurav Awards 2010-2011.
• Nomination for Best Music (Commercial Play) for 'Nava Gadi Nava Rajya' at MA TA Sanman Awards 2010-2011.
• Nomination for Best Music (Commercial Play) for 'Nava Gadi Nava Rajya' at Sanskrutik Kaladarpan Awards 2010-2011.
• Nomination for Best Music (TV Serial) for‘Home Minister’ at Zee Television Awards.

References

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