Hema Sardesai is an Indian playback singer and lyricist. She hails from the state of Goa, India, and was born in Bombay. She shot to fame in 1997 with songs from movies like Sapnay, Biwi No.1 and Jaanam Samjha Karo.

Early life

Hema Sardesai was born to Kumudini Sardesai (hailing from Parra) and Dr Kashinath Sardesai (hailing from Savoi-Verem, this doctor had previously been the cricket captain of Goa) and is the younger of their two daughters. Her talent was first discovered at the age of six by her school teacher, Late Mrs. Sequiera. She is an alumnus of Sharada Mandir School, and was born and brought up in Boca de Vaca, a locality of Panaji. She made her stage debut at the age of 8 years, at a Navratri Festival, where the local Gujarati Samaj encouraged her. She has accomplished the Sangeet Visharad in Indian classical music (with Pandit Sudhakar Karandikar as her first guru) and has always been passionate about Western Pop music.

Career

Sardesai has sung several songs for Bollywood films, and has released several Indipop albums. She is particularly known for singing "Aawara Bhawren Jo Hole Hole Gaaye" in the Hindi dubbed version of 1997 film Sapnay, which featured Kajol in the lead role. Some of her other famous songs include "Ishq Sona Hai" (Biwi No.1), "Chali Chali Phir Chali" (Baghban) and "Badal Pe Paon Hai" (Chak De! India). She is the only Indian singer to win the Grand Prix at the International Pop Song Festival in Germany, has sung at the International UNICEF Concert in Europe and became the only female singer other than Lata Mangeshkar to perform at the celebrations for the 50th year of India's Independence day. In 2011, Sardesai digitised her music on artistaloud.com. In 2013, Sardesai wrote and sang three Konkani songs for the English film The Coffin Maker, starring Naseeruddin Shah. The film was based in a Goan village and was selected for the Indian Panorama section of IFFI 2013. It is about a coffin maker who learns about life in an unusual manner. The film went on to win the Best Feature Film Award at the Florence Indian Film Festival in 2013. In 2017, Sardesai announced her debut in USA, with her song "Power of Love", working with Mishal Raheja and Grammy Award winner Jared Lee Gosselin on the project. In May 2024, Sardesai made her debut on the Konkani tiatr stage in the play I am Sorry by Irineu Gonsalves.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Soundtracks

Personal life

Family

Sardesai was married to Xavier D'Souza, who was an investment banker hailing from Cunchelim. He had previously been a hockey player for the Nehru Cup. He died in 2020 of cardiac arrest.

Community work

Sardesai is active in many social causes, such as: save the girl child, women empowerment, anti-SEZ, Goa Special Status, eco-friendly Ganesh idols, priority for locals for jobs in Goa.

Awards and accolades