Mehnaz Hoosein (born 30 January 1973) is an Indian pop singer and songwriter from Mumbai, India, popularly known for her hit song 'Banoongi Main Miss India'. She is a graduate from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. At the age of 13, Mehnaz started her vocal training in Hindustani classical music under the tutelage of Pandit Bhavdeep Jaipurwale. She began training as a dancer with Shiamak Davar from 1988 and performed with the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts till 1995. Mehnaz achieved success with her song Miss India which won her the 1996 Channel V Music Award for Best Female Pop Vocalist.The Record Music Magazine (January 2007). "Indipop, pop, snap and crackle!". Retrieved 19 March 2013Biswadeep Ghosh, 18 December 1996, 10 questions, Mehnaaz, Channel Vs Best Female Voice award winner, is poised to go international, Outlookindia.com. Retrieved 18 March 2013 At the time, Mehnaz was managed by Diana Hayden who was crowned Miss India the same year. It was in the nineties that Indi-pop began to emerge as an alternative to film music in India when a large number of pop singers emerged on the music scene.

Early life and career

In 1996, Mehnaz won the Screen Videocon Award for Best Pop Singer for her debut album Miss India in the Non-Film Music category. Her song Main Hoon (composed by Merlin D'Souza) from the album Miss India was featured on the soundtrack of Deepa Mehta's movie Fire.Rachel Malik (1996). "Fire". BFI Film Forever. Retrieved 11 March 2013 In 1997 she was featured in a multi-artist video called Wajah Muskurane Ki (A Reason to Smile) to celebrate 50 years of Indian independence and the video aired on Indian television channels. Mehnaz recorded a duet titled Senada Cinta with BMG Malaysia's recording artist Iwan in 1998.P.B. Shukla (2008). "Miss India Mehnaz well on her way to being Miss World". Smashits.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013 In 1998, she sang the number Paisa paisa paisa for the soundtrack of the indie film Bombay Boys.'"Bombay Boys by Ashutosh Phatak". Beardscratchers.com. Retrieved 18 March 2013 In 1999, Mehnaz recorded a duet called You Are The Reason with Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock of the band Air Supply for the soundtrack of Dev Benegal's award-winning film Split Wide Open."Yours Truly" AirSupply, "You Are The Reason" (Featuring Mehnaz) (Album Version). Amazon Music. (2001). Retrieved 15 March 2013 She released her second solo album titled Mausam with BMG Crescendo in 1999. In the year 2000, Mehnaz recorded the song Dreamcatcher for the soundtrack of the indie film Snip!, directed by Sunhil Sippy.iTunes Preview (2000). Snip (OST), Various Artists. Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 18 March 2013Mandeep Bahra, Music review of Snip, Planetbollyood.com. Retrieved 18 March 2013 She was also featured on the duet You Are The Reason on Yours Truly, the fifteenth album by Air Supply released in 2001. Mehnaz was a judge on Channel V's, Coke V Popstars 2 in 2003.TNN (26 March 2003). "Channel V tie up for Popstars 2". The Economic Times, Indiatimes.com. Retrieved 15 March 2013 In 2006, Mehnaz' released her third solo album Sajnaa with Universal Music India."Mehnaz, Most downloaded album, Sajnaa". Universal Music India Ltd., Nokia Music. (January 2006). Retrieved 12 March 2013 Aelina, (November 14, 2006). "Sajnaa, Mehnaz". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 12 March 2013Kimi Dangor (6 November 2006). Pops a new tune, Mehnaz all set for come back with latest offering "Sajnaa", IndiaToday.in. Retrieved 15 March 2013

Mehnaz and Manooghi Hi

In 2007, Mehnaz travelled to the United States and collaborated with local musicians who eventually formed the core of the Seattle-based band, Manooghi Hi.Nicole Dastur (30 April 2009). "From Banoongi Main, to Manooghi Hi!". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 March 2013 As lead singer of Manooghi Hi, Mehnaz brought her background and knowledge of Indian pop and Hindustani classical music to the all-American pure rock sensibilities of the band; Jonathan Zwickel of The Seattle Times said 'their sound has never before been attempted'.Manooghi Hi. Retrieved 19 March 2013 Jonathan Zwickel (29 March 2009). "SXSW notebook: A Seattle writer encounters Seattle bands ... in Austin The Seattle Times." Retrieved Date 18 March 2013 Mehnaz and Manooghi Hi vocalize in several South Asian languages, including English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali. Manooghi Hi released two albums titled Hi in 2009,Manooghi Hi (2009). "Manooghi Hi". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 12 March 2013Eric Davis (13 March 2009). Manooghi Hi East meets West and swaps clothes. Retrieved 19 March 2013 and Silence in 2011.Brian McKinnon (11 July 2011). Muzikreviews.com, Manooghi Hi. Silence. Retrieved 12 March 2013 Mehnaz was featured on the 2012, the Barrett Martin album release Artifact on Sunyata Records.

In 2012, Mehnaz moved to New Orleans to pursue her dream of living in one of the most musical cities in the world. She has performed at Voodoo Fest with Leslie Blackshear Smith. Mehnaz has also performed with Master Sarode player Aashish Khan and (Shringar) Larry Sieberth, Andrew McLean, Michael Skinkus and Tim Green. Mehnaz has been collaborating with pianist, composer and producer Lawrence Sieberth and was featured at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2015.Michele Derrough (2 May 2015). Retrieved 3 May 2015

Discography Studio albums Title DetailsMiss India Released: April 1996 Label: BMG Crescendo Formats: CD, cassette, digital downloadMausam Released: July 1999 Label: Magnasound, BMG Crescendo Formats: CD, cassetteSajnaa Released: 2006 Label: Universal Music Group Formats: CD, cassetteHi (as part of Manooghi Hi) Released: 2009 Label: Manooghi Hi Records Formats: CD, Digital downloadSilence (as part of Manooghi Hi) Released: 2011 Label: Manooghi Hi Records Formats: CD, Digital download

Soundtrack albums Bombay Boys (1998) Split Wide Open (1999) Snip (2000)

Compilation albums 32 Smash Hits (2000) BMG Crescendo Music Hitz Unlimited (2002) Zee Records

Featured on albums

Air Supply (2001), Giant Records / Warner Bros. Clockwork (2011), Slow Bunny Records.Clockwork, Slow Bunny. Rhapsody. (December 2011). Retrieved 14 March 2013. Artifact (2012), Barrett Martin Group, Sunyata Records.Barrett Martin Group, Artifact (May 15, 2012), Featuring Hindustani Vocalist Mehnaz Hoosein, Amazon Music, Retrieved 12 March 2013

Other albums A Reason To Smile (1997) Magnasound

Awards and nominations YearCategorySongResultChannel V Music Awards1996Best Female Pop Singer"Main Hoon" from Miss IndiaScreen Awards1997Best Pop Singer"Main Hoon" from Miss India

References