Reena Bhardwaj
Encyclopedia
Reena Bhardwaj is a British Indian singer, songwriter and recording artist best known for her collaborations with AR Rahman and Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

. Versatile to genre and language, her repertoire includes a variety of Indian Traditional, Bollywood, World and Popular styles sung in various Indian languages (Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu) and English.

Early Years and Education

Reena Bhardwaj was born and raised up in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

. From a very young age she displayed an intrinsic flair for the Indian arts, especially music and dance. She trained in the North Indian Classical Dance form Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...

 and started performing on stage from the age of 9. During her teens, focus shifted to singing and she began to impress audiences as she sang complex compositions effortlessly.

An avid academic, Reena Bhardwaj chose to pursue a professional career in Business Management, while continuing to develop her musical interests on the side. She won a sponsorship on the Windsor Fellowship Management program and went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...

. She briefly worked in corporate marketing and communications in the City of London.

Musical career

Reena describes her musical career as a “turn of fate” which came about when she received an unexpected call from her favorite Indian composer, AR Rahman, while studying at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...

.

With Rahman, she recorded her debut song, "Baba Kichhu Tha", a Tamil romantic duet with S. P. Balasubramaniam for Rajinikanth and Manisha Koirala
Manisha Koirala
Manisha B. Koirala is a Nepali-Indian actress who works in Indian films, as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Koirala has primarily worked in Hindi cinema, though she has appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well...

 starrer Baba
Baba (2002 film)
Baba is a 2002 Tamil fantasy-action film starring and written by Rajinikanth and directed by Suresh Krishna. The film's cast included Manisha Koirala, Vijayakumar, M. N. Nambiar, Goundamani, Sujatha, Karunas, Ashish Vidyarthi, Amrish Puri, Sayaji Shinde and Riyaz Khan...

 in 2002. But it was in 2004, she recorded a popular solo song, “Yeh Rishta” for the Bollywood film soundtrack Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities is a 2004 Hindi film directed by M.F. Husain and starring Tabu, Kunal Kapoor and Raghuvir Yadav. The film centers on Hyderabad novelist Nawab, , who is suffering from writers block. After five years and no stories, Nawab comes across an unconventional muse, Meenaxi...

 directed by MF Hussain . She became the first British Asian Artist to be nominated for a Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer and the MTV Immies
MTV Immies
The MTV Immies are held every year with an aim to award the best talents in the Indian music industry. In 2005 The Immies supported relief for the quake victims of India and Pakistan. Also, proceeds from donor passes were given to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund...

 Award for Best New Film Talent of 2004.

Reena has since featured on a number of AR Rahman’s Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 and Tamil/Telegu film soundtracks including Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Mangal Pandey: The Rising or The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey is an Indian movie based on the life of Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier who is known for his role in the Indian Mutiny of 1857. It is directed by Ketan Mehta, produced by Bobby Bedi, and with a screenplay by Farrukh Dhondy...

, Sakkarakatti
Sakkarakatti
Sakkarakatti is a 2008 Tamil romance film directed by Kalaprabhu and produced by his father, Kalaipuli S. Dhanu. The film featured debutant Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj, son of veteran actor K. Bhagyaraj, in the lead role while Ishita Sharma and Vedhika also played significant roles. It also featured a...

 and most recently she has recorded a romantic melody Khilli Re
Raavan (soundtrack)
Raavan is the soundtrack to the 2010 film Raavan, directed by Mani Ratnam. It was released on April 24, 2010 by the label T-Series in India and internationally. The songs were composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned Gulzar...

 from Raavan
Raavan
Raavan is a 2010 Hindi film directed, written and produced by Mani Ratnam. It stars Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Vikram in the lead roles while Govinda, Ravi Kishan, Nikhil Dwivedi, Tejaswini Kolhapure and Priyamani feature in key supporting roles...

 with music by Rahman.

Reena’s has a long-standing collaborations with the Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, which began with a soulful rendition of the epic Indian poem “Heer” by Waris Shah
Waris Shah
Waris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He is best-known for his seminal work Heer Ranjha, based on the traditional folk tale of Heer and her lover Ranjha. Heer is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature...

 for Sawhney's 2003 album Human (V2). Along with Sawhney, she co-wrote the popular song “Mausam” on Philtre (V2) and featured on the haunting tracks “Koyal” and “The Search”. Her most recent collaboration with Sawhney is the song “Ek Jaan” for the London Undersound
London Undersound
Nitin Sawhney's eighth studio album London Undersound released on , by Cooking Vinyl.It includes collaborations with Paul McCartney, Natty, Imogen Heap, Reena Bhardwaj, Ojos de Brujo, Anoushka Shankar, Tina Grace, Faheem Mazhar, Aruba Red, and Roxanne Tataei.-Reception:Reviewed by the BBC's Chris...

 (2008) on which she also sings alongside Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...

 in “My Soul”.

Reena has been a guest artist on many of Sawhney’s World tours and has performed at some of the world’s most culturally elite venues including Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...

, WOMAD in Taormina (Sicily), Jazz Café
Jazz Café
The Jazz Café is a music venue in Parkway in Camden Town, London, England. It opened in 1990, in the former premises of Barclays Bank, and has been run by Mean Fiddler Music Group since 1992, now a subsidiary of the MAMA Group.-History:...

, The Barbican Centre, The Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...

, The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...

 for the BBC Electric Proms
BBC Electric Proms
The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms was an October music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006-2010...

 in 2008. One of her most notable performances was The BBC Proms 2007 at The Royal Albert Hall where she appeared alongside Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas is a Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western electronic music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "cha'abi moderne" . Her music has been influenced by many styles including Arabic, hip hop, drum 'n' bass and reggae.Atlas began her career as part of...

, & Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar is a British Indian sitar player and composer who lives between the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. She is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and Sukanya Shankar...

.

She has also lent her voice to Sawhney’s film scores, namely Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...

’s Second Generation, Bharat Bala
Bharat Bala
Ganapathy Bharat, known commonly as Bharat Bala is an acclaimed Tamil film director, screenwriter and film producer based in Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.-Career:...

Production’s Hari Om, and the 1929 Silent Indian Classic, A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice is a 1929 silent film by German-born director, Franz Osten, based on an episode from the Indian epic The Mahabharata....

 by Franz Osten, which premiered with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

 and subsequently performed with national orchestras in Holland, Italy, New Zealand, US and Canada.

She has collaborated with the UK’s renowned dance duo Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...

, and percussion king Trilok Gurtu and band (Festival Músicas do Mundo in Sines, Portugal). Her songs also feature on various compilation CDs (Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...

’s, Angel Beach; Pathaan’s Indian Sunset) and Sony Legacy’s 2009 Compilation CD The Best Of AR Rahman.

Discography

“Baba Kichchu”, Music: A R Rahman, Film: Baba
Baba (2002 film)
Baba is a 2002 Tamil fantasy-action film starring and written by Rajinikanth and directed by Suresh Krishna. The film's cast included Manisha Koirala, Vijayakumar, M. N. Nambiar, Goundamani, Sujatha, Karunas, Ashish Vidyarthi, Amrish Puri, Sayaji Shinde and Riyaz Khan...

 (2002)

“Tak Dheen” Music: A R Rahman, Bombay Dreams
Bombay Dreams
Bombay Dreams is a Bollywood-themed musical, with music by A. R. Rahman, lyrics by Don Black and the book by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan,and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The London production opened in 2002 and ran for two years...

 (2003)

“Heer”, Nitin Sawhney, Human (2003)

“Falling” Aqualung
Aqualung (musician)
Matthew "Matt" Hales , better known as Aqualung, is an English singer and songwriter best known in the UK for his song "Strange and Beautiful", which was featured on a television advertisement for the new Volkswagen New Beetle during the summer of 2002 and went on to become a Top 10 hit in the UK...

 & Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Human (2003)

Yeh Rishta
Meenaxi (soundtrack)
Meenaxi is the soundtrack to the 2004 bollywood film Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, directed by famous artist M. F. Husain and starring starring Tabu, Kunal Kapoor and Raghuvir Yadav. A.R. Rahman is the music director of this film. Rahat Indori, M. F. Husain, and Sukhwinder Singh were the lyricists...

”, Music: A R Rahman, Film: Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities is a 2004 Hindi film directed by M.F. Husain and starring Tabu, Kunal Kapoor and Raghuvir Yadav. The film centers on Hyderabad novelist Nawab, , who is suffering from writers block. After five years and no stories, Nawab comes across an unconventional muse, Meenaxi...

 (2004)

“Mausam”, co-written with Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Philtre (2005)

“Koyal (Songbird)”, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Philtre (2005)

“The Search”, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Philtre (2005)

“Dead Man”, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Philtre (2005)

“Sandesa”, itin Sawhney & The London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

, Film: Franz_Osten’s A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice is a 1929 silent film by German-born director, Franz Osten, based on an episode from the Indian epic The Mahabharata....

 (2005)

“Everybody”, Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...

, Crazy Itch Radio (2005)

“Main Vari Vari”, Music: A R Rahman, Film: Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Mangal Pandey: The Rising or The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey is an Indian movie based on the life of Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier who is known for his role in the Indian Mutiny of 1857. It is directed by Ketan Mehta, produced by Bobby Bedi, and with a screenplay by Farrukh Dhondy...

 (2006)

“Naan Epodhu”, Music: A R Rahman, Film: Sakkarakatti
Sakkarakatti
Sakkarakatti is a 2008 Tamil romance film directed by Kalaprabhu and produced by his father, Kalaipuli S. Dhanu. The film featured debutant Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj, son of veteran actor K. Bhagyaraj, in the lead role while Ishita Sharma and Vedhika also played significant roles. It also featured a...

 (2008)

“My Soul”, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...

 & Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, London Undersound
London Undersound
Nitin Sawhney's eighth studio album London Undersound released on , by Cooking Vinyl.It includes collaborations with Paul McCartney, Natty, Imogen Heap, Reena Bhardwaj, Ojos de Brujo, Anoushka Shankar, Tina Grace, Faheem Mazhar, Aruba Red, and Roxanne Tataei.-Reception:Reviewed by the BBC's Chris...

 (2008)

“Ek Jaan”, co-written with Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, London Undersound
London Undersound
Nitin Sawhney's eighth studio album London Undersound released on , by Cooking Vinyl.It includes collaborations with Paul McCartney, Natty, Imogen Heap, Reena Bhardwaj, Ojos de Brujo, Anoushka Shankar, Tina Grace, Faheem Mazhar, Aruba Red, and Roxanne Tataei.-Reception:Reviewed by the BBC's Chris...

(2008)

Khilli Re
Raavan (soundtrack)
Raavan is the soundtrack to the 2010 film Raavan, directed by Mani Ratnam. It was released on April 24, 2010 by the label T-Series in India and internationally. The songs were composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned Gulzar...

”, Music: A R Rahman, Film: Raavan
Raavan
Raavan is a 2010 Hindi film directed, written and produced by Mani Ratnam. It stars Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Vikram in the lead roles while Govinda, Ravi Kishan, Nikhil Dwivedi, Tejaswini Kolhapure and Priyamani feature in key supporting roles...

 (2010)

“Puli Gharshana”, Music: A R Rahman, Film: Komaram Puli (2010)

Other film soundtracks and compilations in which Reena features:

The Best of A R Rahman, Sony Legacy (2009)

Aaoji: Classic Sufi Hits',' Sony Music (2009)

Life Goes On Music: Soumik Dutta, Storm Glass Productions (2009)

In the Mind Of Nitin Sawhney, District 6 (2007)

Angel Beach, Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...

 (2005)

American Daylight, Amaan Ali Khan
Amaan Ali Khan
Amaan Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Khan is the son of Amjad Ali Khan and often performs with his younger brother Ayaan Ali Khan, with whom he hosted the music talent show Sa Re Ga Ma.-External links:...

 (2005)

Frank Osten’s A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice is a 1929 silent film by German-born director, Franz Osten, based on an episode from the Indian epic The Mahabharata....

, Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

 & The London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

 (2005)

Hari Om Film Score: Nitin Sawhney, Bharat Bala
Bharat Bala
Ganapathy Bharat, known commonly as Bharat Bala is an acclaimed Tamil film director, screenwriter and film producer based in Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.-Career:...

 Productions (2004)

Second Generation, Film Score: Nitin Sawhney, Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...

(2003)

Indian Sunset DJ Pathaan (2003)
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK