Ronkini Gupta (born 1984) is a Hindustani classical vocalist and playback singer who participated in the Saregamapa Popular Choice Award reality show aired on Zee TV in 2004. She sang the critically acclaimed song "Rafu" in Tumhari Sulu (2017) for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She sang two songs in the 2018 released film Sui Dhaaga for Anu Malik, "Chaav Laaga" with Papon and "Tu Hi Aham" which is her solo song in the film. She is a Sangeet Visharad and her singing repertoire covers Khyaal, Fusion, and Bollywood. Doverlane National Merit and Artist Aloud Award. She has performed with Elan on many stages and has also travelled the world with the Indian Broadway show "Bharati" as the lead vocalist. She composed in Mr Ya Miss (2005) and lent voice to Jai Maharashtra Dhaba Bhatinda (2013), Aankhon Dekhi (2014), Pyaar Vali Love Story (2014), Hrudyantar (2017), Taleem (2016), "Rafu" in Tumhari Sulu (2017), "Chaav Laaga" with Papon and "Tu Hi Aham" as a solo song in Sui Dhaaga. Both the songs in Sui Dhaaga received widespread acclaim and firmly established her as a noteworthy singer of her generation. She is widely known for her ability to superbly blend her classical training with contemporary musicality.
Early life and musical training Ronkini hails from Jamshedpur, the steel city of India. A distinction holder - Sangeet Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Hindustani Classical, she has trained under, Shri Chandrakant Apte, an exponent of the Gwalior Gharana in her formative years (1990-2000). She has further honed her skills under Ustad Dilshad Khan (2000–01) Pt. Samaresh Chowdhary (2003–04) and Late Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan Sahab (2005-2007).
Winning her way through several inter-school and inter-state level competitions, she went on to win a National Level Merit (Hindustani Classical Vocal category) at the prestigious Dover Lane Music Conference. in Kolkata, in the year 2000 when she was only 16.
Career She participated in the 2004 edition of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa world series (earlier Sa Re Ga Ma Pa). She became the winner of the contest jointly with Hrishikesh Ranade. Later, she composed two songs for the film Mr Ya Miss titled "Kanha" for Sonu Nigam. Her debut Bollywood playback was for the highly acclaimed film Aankhon Dekhi (2014), directed by Rajat Kapoor. She sang " Rafu" for Vidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu (2017) for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She was nominated yet again in 2019 for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the chartbuster song Chaav Laga from Sui Dhaaga.
SBroadwayls across the country with her solo recitals and has performed at various prestigious stages namely Sawai Gandharv Mahotsav (2022), Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Samaroh, Udaipur (2022), Pancham Nishad- Pratahswar(2021), Utsaah by Durga Jasraj (2021)Banyan Tree Festival- Barkha Ritu (2020), Kalaghoda Festival (2019), Melbourne Classical Arts Society Festival (2019), to name a few. She released an independently produced Indian classical album titled Mere Kheyaal Se in 2020, where she recorded four tracks in four different ragas, which are her own original bandishes, shot and recorded live. She is often quoted by the musical maestro AR Rahman in his list of favourite artists.
Ronkini Gupta has a band called The Kheyaal-e-Jazz Projekt (Ronkini Gupta Collective), which is a classical fusion band. The band has won the Artist Aloud Music Awards for 2016 and 2018 and has also been featured on Kappa TV with their OSTs- Aye Ri Chandni, Khaare Se Naina and Jhoothi Batiyaan. She has also contributed additional vocals towards Coke Studio Season 4 with Sachin Jigar for the song "Laadki". She sang the highly acclaimed Hamse Toh Woh Behtar Hai for Mukhbir, a Zee OTT presentation, released in 2022.
Discography Composer Year Film Song Singer 2005 Mr Ya Miss "Kanha" Sonu Nigam
Playback singer Year Film Song Co-singer(s) Composer 2013 Jai Maharashtra Dhaba Bhatinda "Awkhalase Sparsh Te" Rahul Vaidya, Vaishali Samant, Krishna Beura Nilesh Moharir2014 Aankhon Dekhi "Kaise Shukh Soyein" Solo Saagar DesaiPyaar Vali Love Story "Jahan Jaun Tujhe Paun" Divya Kumar Pankaj Padghan, Amitraj and Samir Saptiskar 2016 Taleem "Ishakacha Baan" Swapnil Godbole Praful Karlekar 2017 Tumhari Sulu "Rafu" Solo Santanu Ghatak Hrudayantar "Kabhi Mili" Solo Praful KarlekarDry Day "Gori Gori Paan" Trupti K, Atharv S Ashwin Srinivasan2018Sui Dhaaga"Chaav Laaga"PaponAnu Malik"Tu Hi Aham"Solo2019Khari BiscuitTula Japnaar AaheAdarsh ShindeAmit Raj2020CheesecakeTu Chala KahanNihar ShembekarSantanu Ghatak2021Geeli Puchhi- Ajeeb DaastaansSang RehnaSoloAlokananda Dasgupta2021Operation MBBS 2Jee ke dekhengeSoloKartik Rao2022Loop LapetaBeqaraarSoloSantanu Ghatak2025ManglaAll Female SongsSoloSantanu GhatakParinatiAagSoloPraful Swapnil
Awards Year Award Song Film Result 2016 Artist Aloud Award for Best Composition "Ritu Basant Ki"The Kheyaal-E-Jazz Projekt 2018 Artist Aloud Award for Best Hindi Song "Aye Ri Chandni" The Kheyaal-E-Jazz Projekt 2018 Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer "Rafu" Tumhari Sulu 2019 Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer "Chaav laga" Sui Dhaaga 2019Star Screen Award for Best Female Playback SingerChaav LaagaSui Dhaaga2020Maharashtra Cha Favourite Kon, Zee Talkies AwardTula Japnaar AaheKhari Biscuit2020Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Female Playback SingerTula Japnaar AaheKhari Biscuit2020Zee Chitra Gaurav PuraskarTula Japnaar AaheKhari Biscuit
Other Awards
2000: Doverlane Music Conference : All India Rank 4 in Indian Classical Vocal 2018: NITIE Award for Recognition of Significant Contribution in the field of Singing
References