Kavita Krishnamurthy

Kavita Krishnamurthy sang her first film song in 1971: a duet with Lata Mangeshkar in the Bengali film Shriman Prithviraj. But it wasn't until 1985's chart-busting "Tumse Milkar Na Jaane Kyon" (from Pyar Jhukta Nahin) that she found the fame she deserved and broke out from her near-exclusive work for Laxmikant Pyarlal. Songs like "Saudagar Sauda Kar" and "Ilu Ilu" (Saudagar), "Mera Piya Ghar Aaya" (Yaraana) and "Mr Lova Lova" (Ishq) propelled her career forward, giving her near-equal footing with the dominant Bhosle/Mangeshkar singing cartel. The greatest leap of faith came with R.D. Burman's 1994 soundtrack for 1942 - A Love Story. Burman chose her as the sole female vocalist for the soundtrack, and his gamble paid off when "Kyon Naye Lag Rahe" won just about every award available.