Roop Kumar Rathod

Roopkumar Rathod
Roopkumar Rathod Roopkumar Rathod
Background information
Genres	Playback singer, Ghazal
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocalist
Website	www.roopsunali.com

Roop Kumar Rathod is an Indian playback singer and music director.

Personal life

Roopkumar is the son of the late Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod, the classical luminary – an exponent of the rare and arguably the oldest style of singing i.e. Dhrupad. He belonged to the “Aditya Gharana of Jamnagar”. Pandit Rathod has trained and groomed many well known names like Kalyanji – Anandji, Manhar Udhas and many more. He is famous throughout Bollywood as an excellent playback singer, music director having also performed extensively with Anup Jalota as a percussionist. Roopkumar has two brothers, music composer Shravan Rathod and singer Vinod Rathod.

The voice with a soul

The perfect combination of ‘sur’ and ‘soul’ is what comes to mind when you listen to Roop Kumar’s voice. Bearing a mellifluous testimony to this, are his songs like ‘Maula Mere Maula’ and the more recent song ‘O Saiyyan’, from the movie Agneepath.

Musical beginnings

The fourth son to the Dhrupad Maestro, Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod, Roop Kumar, was initiated into the world of music in his early years itself. His journey began as a tabla player and he went on to become one of the most sought after tablists by almost all the ghazal singers in the 80’s. His tryst with playback singing began in the year 1989 with the song, ‘Main Tera Aashiq Hoon’, composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal for the movie ‘Gumraah.’

Discography

The song ‘Sandese Aate Hain’, from the movie ‘Border’, became one of the major breakthroughs of Roop Kumar’s career. It soared to an unprecedented level of popularity, becoming an anthem of sorts for the nation. Riding on this wave of popularity and tirelessly pursuing his passion for music, Roop Kumar lent his voice to a number of songs in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telegu, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese and Bhojpuri films. Apart from playback singing for films, Roop Kumar’s other thrust of interest is live concerts. With his equally gifted wife Sunali Rathod, he travels all over the world and performs at a number of concerts. Together, they have enchanted audiences across countries like USA, UK, Dubai, East Africa, Singapore, etc. with their soulful renditions of various genres of music spanning ghazal, sufi, light classical and film songs. Roop Kumar also performs live-on-stage, with artists like Trilok Gurtu, Ranjit Barot and Abhijeet Pohankar in fusion concerts. He has collaborated with Trilok Gurtu for a fusion based album, ‘Beat Of Love’, released in December 2001 and a jazz based album, ‘Broken Rhythms’, released in October 2004. In August 2005, the popular comedy serial Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai featured Roop Kumar and Sunali Rathod in one of their episodes that showcased a friendly musical contest. Roop Kumar, along with wife Sunali, added another feather to his cap by together winning the coveted title of ‘Ustaad Jodi’ on ‘Mission Ustaad’, a much acclaimed musical television reality show aired in February 2008, that aimed to create awareness about social causes. He recently released a sufi album along with Sunali Rathod called Kalmaa.

Life beyond music

Roop Kumar and his wife Sunali Rathod have been companions to each other throughout their journey into music. And today, their happiness knows no bounds as their daughter Reewa, an upcoming musical talent, is all set to set foot into the world of rhythm and melodies. Apart from music, Roop Kumar also believes in doing his bit towards society. He is a philanthropist at heart and regularly performs for NGOs and charities. When not charming audiences with his voice or contributing towards social causes, Roop Kumar, a keen animal lover can be seen having a great time with Max, his favourite pet dog.

Filmography

Playback singer

• Maharana Pratap: The First Freedom Fighter (2012) [Veer Pratap, Neela ghoda, Tha Hawaon Se Bhi Tej]
• Agneepath (2012) [O Saaiyan]
• Khokababu (Bengali) (2012) [Mon Kande Pran Kande]
• Tanu Weds Manu (2011) [Piya]
• Thamassu (Kannada) (2010) [Karagadiru]
• Madrasapattinam (Tamil) (2010) (Pookal Pookum)
• Veer (2010) [Salam Aaya]
• London Dreams (2009) [Barson Yaaron]
• Vaamanan (Tamil)(2009) (Oru Dhevathai)
• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) [Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hain]
• Coffee House (2008)
• Drona {2008}
• Anwar (2007) (playback singer - Maula Mere)
• Pyar Kare Dis: Feel the Power of Love [Sindhi] (2007)
• Shiva {2006}
• Bhagmati (2005) (playback singer)
• Veer-Zaara (2004) (playback singer)
• Madhoshi (2004) (playback singer)
• Tumsa Nahin Dekha (2004) (playback singer)
• Veer-Zaara (2004) (performer: "Tere Liye")
• Lakshya (2004) (playback singer)
• Tum – A Dangerous Obsession (2004) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Armaan (2003) (playback singer)
• Baaz: A Bird in Danger (2003) (playback singer)
• Jism (2003) (playback singer)
• Gunaah (2002) (playback singer)
• Lal Salam (2002) (playback singer)
• Filhaal... (2002) (playback singer)
• Kitne Door Kitne Paas (2002) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai (2001) (playback singer)
• Rahul (2001) (playback singer)
• Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) (playback singer)
• Censor (2001) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Minnale (2001) (Tamil playback singer : "Venmathi venamathi")
• Gaja Gamini (2000) (playback singer)
• Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!! (2000) (playback singer)
• Mela (2000) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Mother (1999) (performer: "Pardesi to hain pardesi" (male))
• Thakshak (1999) (playback singer: "Khamosh Raat")
• Dillagi (1999) (playback singer)
• Sarfarosh (1999) (playback singer: "Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaye")
• International Khiladi (1999) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Laawaris (1999) (playback singer)
• Hu Tu Tu (1999) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Godmother (1999) (playback singer)
• Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999) (playback singer)
• Mother (1999) (playback singer)
• Vinashak - Destroyer (1998) (playback singer)
• Kareeb (1998) (playback singer)
• Border (1997) (playback singer) (as Roop Kumar Rathore)
• Prem Granth (1996) (playback singer) (as Roop Rathod)
• Bhairavi (1996) (playback singer) (as Roopkumar Rathod)
• Gaddaar (1995) (playback singer)
• Naajayaz (1995) (playback singer)
• Raja (1995) (playback singer) (as Roop Singh Rathod)
• Baazigar (1993) (Playback Singer)as Vinod Rathod
• Gumrah (1993) (playback singer)
• Angaar (1992) (playback singer)
• Deewana (1992) (playback singer)

Composer

• Zeher (2005)
• Madhoshi (2004)
• Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004)

External links

• Roop Kumar Rathod at the Internet Movie Database
• Roopkumar Rathod on Facebook
• Roopkumar Rathod on Twitter
• Roopkumar Rathod on YouTube