Rajnigandha Shekhawat

Rajnigandha Shekhawat

Rajnigandha Shekhawat is a popular singer from Rajasthan, India. She is known for singing Rajasthani folk, Bollywood, English and Rajasthani Marwari mashups, and vintage classics.[1][2]

Background and personal life

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Belonging to the erstwhile Aristocratic Noble family of Malsisar thikana (riyasat) of Shekhawati , in the Jaipur state, Rajnigandha broke barriers of her class and caste to follow her passion. She became the first singer from the very traditional and conservative Rajput community of Rajasthan, and today she is one of the most renowned singers of the state.

Career

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Rajnigandha Shekhawat is the only singer who does mashups of Rajasthani folk with English music earning the title of "Maharani of Mashups" from the Rajasthani press. Her mashups of Cheap Thrills with Ghoomar shot her to fame. Many of her videos have become viral hits on Facebook videos, making her the most recognized face of fusion Rajasthani music. Her subsequent mashups of Shape of You and Single Ladies with Rajasthani folk songs have been very popular. Her ability to sing western music as well as authentic Rajasthani folk songs makes her one of a kind artist, leading to her unique identity of being more than just a folk singer.

Rajnigandha has done playbacks in 8 films, her biggest song is Badri ki dulhania . She is also the voice of the immensely popular Red FM anthem “Bajaate Raho (Hook ho gaya hoon tere sound pe)”. Having released 3 albums and various singles and jingles for ad films, she regularly performs live in concerts and has over 500 concerts worldwide under her belt, including in Sun City, South Africa and Global Village Dubai & Muscat. She has also given her voice in various popular jingles.

Bollywood Marketing & Publicity :

Shekhawat has parallelly also been a Bollywood marketing professional , having led the publicity team at Disney India for Hindi and Hollywood films , Brand Head at Times Music (Times of India group) and has been associated with Hindi Film actors like Shahid Kapoor, Chunky Panday, Adah Sharma and more in a Publicity & Marketing Managerial capacity.

Education

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  • Schooling from Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls Public School, Jaipur (MGD School).
  • Visharad in Hindustani Classical Music from Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Sangeet Vidyalaya, Jaipur
  • Masters in Hindustani Classical Music for SNDT University, Mumbai (Batch of 2014)


Rajnigandha was nominated for Mirchi Award for Most Promising New Singer in 2017 for the film Shubh Mangal Savdhan. She was recently invited to participate in the reality singing show Rising Star and also performed at the Bigg Boss finale. Rajnigandha's voice was also heard in a season of So You Think You Can Dance .

Trained in Hindustani Classical singing for over 20 years, she currently divides her time between touring for concerts, Bollywood playback songs, recording and shooting and her independent songs and their music video [3]

Discography - Movies Playback

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Year Song Film / album
2013 "Tattoo"[4] Monsoon Shootout
2014 "Aai's Aalaap"[5] Margarita with a Straw
2017 "Badri Ki Dulhania (Title Track)"[6] Badrinath Ki Dulhania
2017 "Kankad"[7] Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
2021 "Aankh Mare" Simmba
2021 "Laalam Laal" Kaagaz
2021 "Shor Sharaba" 14 Phere
2021 "Aag Ka Dariya" 14 Phere
2022 "Badhaai Do Title Track"[8] Badhaai Do
Satra juga mai - Ramdev ji Laalji Kalandar
Charkho Mharo Laalji Kalandar

Independent Songs

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Year Song Album / Single
2007 Kevdo (Traditional) Soul of the desert
2007 Kevdo (Hindi) Soul of the desert
2007 Gudd Baanto Soul of the desert
2007 Ghumar Soul of the desert
2007 Moriya Soul of the desert
2007 Ek Baar Soul of the desert
2007 Mumal Soul of the desert
2007 Kevdo (Hindi Remix) Soul of the desert
2011 Banna Re Banna Re
2011 Moriya Banna Re
2011 Mangetar Banna Re
2011 Levta Jajo ji Hivdo Banna Re
2011 Chirmi Banna Re
2011 Digipuri Ka Raja Banna Re
2011 Kesaria Baalam Banna Re
2014 Rangi Saari Gulabi Gulabi
2014 Chhaap Tilak Gulabi
2014 Piya Ghar Aya Gulabi
2014 Zihaal E Miskin Gulabi
2014 Whirling Ghoomar Gulabi /Soul of the Desert
2014 Colour Kesaria Gulabi /Soul of the Desert
2016 Gone Gone Song TVS Tripling
2018 Bajaate Raho Red FM song
2018 Garba superhits Single
2018 Mehendi Single
2018 Jawai Pavna Single
2018 Bajudar Bangadi Single
2021 Rajasthani Folk Medley Single
2021 Gangaur Single
2021 Mehala
2023 Shri Krishna Govind

Mashups - Rajasthani with English or Hindi

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Year Mashup song name
2017 Cheap Thrils & Ghumar
2017 Jag Ghumiya & Ghudlo
2017 Single Ladies & Laal Peeli Ankhiyan
2017 Game of thrones Indian Classical version
2017 Despacito & Mai toh bhuli o alija
2018 Shape of you & Hichki
2019 Girls Like You & Leheriyo
2019 Paradise & Kurjaa
2022 Kesariya tera & Baisa re beera
2022 Rataa Lambiyan & Mor Bole Re

Advertisements, TV, Jingles

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Year Ad song Composer
2011 Fanta - Naughty Bubble Amit Trivedi
2011 Chyavanprash - Dhoni Amar Mangrulkar
2013 Ek Nayi Pehchan Promo Micu Patel
2015 Rajasthan Tourism Logo Reveal Rajat Dholakia,SamirUddin
2016 Jabong - Silent Diwali Shubhojit
2016 Gone Gone Song - TVS Tripling Amar Mangrulkar
2017 Vidai Promo - Ye rishta kya kehlata hai Rajeev Bhalla
2017 Anmol Biscuits - Utterly Butterlyfull Rajeev Bhalla
2017 Bajaj Platina Abhishek Arora
2018 Red FM Bajaate Raho / Hook ho gaya Tanishk Vayu
2018 Lenovo - Rewari to Mars Shubhojit
2018 Mausam Music Ka - Indian Idol Abhishek Arora

Awards

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  • Nominated for Upcoming Female Vocalist at Mirchi Awards year 2017 for her song Kankad in the film Shubh Mangal Savdhan
  • Best Female – Artist Aloud Award 2011[9]
  • Rajasthan Sangeet Ratna[10][11]
  • DNA Woman of Substance, Rajasthan[12][13]
  • Best Fusion Song award in the Non Film Music category at the Jaipur Music Festival awards 2017[14]

References

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  1. ^ "News & Events". Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Rajnigandha Shekhawat". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Rajnigandha Shekhawat: Shouldn't a self-respecting musician not claim credit for obvious lifts?". Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Rajnigandha Shekhawat sings for Monsoon Shootout". The Indian Express. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. ^ "New Punjabi song offers quirky take on Tinder". Radioandmusic.com. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Wynk Music: MP3 & Hindi songs – Android Apps on Google Play". Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Kankad - Full Audio | Shubh Mangal Saavdhan | Ayushmann & Bhumi Pednekar | Tanishk - Vayu". YouTube. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  8. ^ Badhaai Do - Title Track, 1 February 2022, retrieved 19 March 2022
  9. ^ "ArtistAloud Awards 2011 winners announced". Radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Folk singer Rajnigandha turns filmmaker". The Times of India. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Swati Ubroi". Swati Ubroi. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  12. ^ WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE CELEBRATING WOMANHOOD. Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ HighBeam
  14. ^ "Rajnigandha Shekhawat on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.[user-generated source]