About Sushma Shreshta (Poornima)

Sushma Shrestha was born on 6 September 1960 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She comes from a family with a strong connection to music. Her father, Bholanath Shrestha, was a music composer who worked in the Hindi film industry.

She began singing professionally as a child and became one of the successful child voices in Hindi cinema. Her early career brought her opportunities to work with some of the leading music directors of the period, including Shankar–Jaikishan, Naushad, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, Salil Chowdhury, S. D. Burman and others.

Early Singing Career

Sushma's first major opportunity came through music director Shankar of Shankar–Jaikishan. She recorded “Hai Na Bolo Bolo� for the film Andaz and established herself as a talented child singer.

She subsequently sang several memorable songs as a child artist. Two of her best-known early recordings were:

• “Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Nata Koiâ€� — Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973)
• “Kya Hua Tera Wadaâ€� — Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)

Both songs earned her Filmfare Award nominations for Best Female Playback Singer.

Transition to Adult Playback Singing

During the 1980s, Sushma Shrestha faced difficulties establishing herself as an adult playback singer. Her marriage also temporarily interrupted her singing career. During this period, she worked on advertising jingles, which provided a steady connection with the music industry.

Her career took a major turn in the early 1990s when music company Tips suggested that she adopt a new professional name and image.

She chose the name Poornima, and this became the name under which she achieved major success as an adult playback singer.

Breakthrough as Poornima

Poornima's first major success after adopting her new name came with “Barsaat Mein Jab Aayega Saawan Ka Maheena� from Maa.

She then achieved a major breakthrough with David Dhawan's Bol Radha Bol (1992). The song “Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara� became a huge hit and established Poornima as one of the popular female playback singers of the 1990s.

Popular Songs

Some of Sushma Shrestha/Poornima's notable songs include:

• Hai Na Bolo Bolo — Andaz
• Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Nata Koi — Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973)
• Kya Hua Tera Wada — Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)
• Itni Shakti Humein Dena Data — Ankush (1986)
• Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara — Bol Radha Bol (1992)
• Chane Ke Khet Mein — Anjaam (1994)
• Batti Na Bujha — Gopi Kishan (1994)
• Shaam Hain Dhuan Dhuan — Diljale (1996)
• Choli Ke Bahar — Kaalia
• Mr. Lova Lova — Ishq (1997)
• Masti Masti — Krishna
• Tun Tuna Tun Tuna — Angaara
• Love Love Love — Hindustan Ki Kasam

Association with David Dhawan Films

Poornima became particularly associated with the music of director David Dhawan during the 1990s.

She contributed songs to several popular films, including:

• Coolie No. 1 (1995)
• Judwaa (1997)
• Hero No. 1 (1997)
• Biwi No. 1 (1999)
• Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999)

Her energetic voice became a familiar feature of the lively commercial Hindi film soundtracks of that period.

Marathi and Nepali Music

Alongside Hindi playback singing, Sushma Shrestha has contributed to Marathi and Nepali music.

She has recorded Marathi film and non-film songs, including children's songs and Bhavgeet. She has also performed Nepali songs, reflecting her family's Nepali heritage.

Musical Style

Sushma Shrestha/Poornima is known for her:

• Bright and distinctive voice
• Energetic playback singing
• Bollywood dance songs
• Romantic songs
• Children's songs
• Marathi Bhavgeet
• Nepali music
• Advertising jingles

Her transformation from a successful child singer as Sushma Shrestha to a popular 1990s playback singer as Poornima is one of the distinctive stories of Hindi film music.

Television

Poornima has also appeared as a judge on Indian singing reality programs. She served as a judge on Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star and also participated as a judge on the Bhojpuri-language singing reality show Zilla Top.

Contribution to Indian Music

Sushma Shrestha, later known as Poornima, has had a career spanning several decades. She began as a child playback singer in the early 1970s, successfully transitioned into adult playback singing, and achieved considerable popularity during the 1990s.

Her songs from films such as Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Bol Radha Bol, Anjaam, Coolie No. 1, Judwaa, Hero No. 1 and Ishq remain associated with different eras of Hindi film music.

Birth Details

Full Name: Sushma Shrestha
Professional Name: Poornima
Profession: Playback Singer
Date of Birth: 6 September 1960
Birth Place: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality: Indian
Years Active: 1971–present
Genres: Playback, Film Music, Pop, Bhavgeet