Caralisa Monteiro is an Indian singer known for advertising jingles and Bollywood songs.

Caralisa Monteiro
BornMumbai, India
Occupation(s)Singer, composer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Years active1999–present

Early life edit

Caralisa Monteiro was born to Emeline Monteiro, a school teacher at Don Bosco High School, Matunga and Neville Monteiro an opera singer and an accountant in Mahindra and Mahindra, she was exposed to music at a very young age.[1] She attended Sophia College where she studied Economics and English.[2]

At the age of 11 her mother died from cancer. Her sister Giselle was a social worker and music director who died after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the last stages.[2]

Career edit

Advertising edit

Caralisa began working with music directors Loy Mendonsa and Ehsaan Noorani of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy. During her career she has worked in over 7000 jingles which she has sung on, rendered her voice to, written lyrics for, co - composed and composed.[3] She has been referred to as the "Jingle Queen".[4][5][2] She was also the voice behind the jingle for the Limca brand that featured Sushama Reddy.[6] Caralisa started writing her own songs in college but due to the demands of being the only bread winner in her family at an early age, had to concentrate on work.[7]

Bollywood and other edit

Her first break with Bollywood came when the acclaimed trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy invited her to sing the chorus of the song "Jaane Kyon" from the cult film Dil Chahta Hai in 2001.[8] She was known for the rendition of English parts in Hindi songs and continues to work in the Hindi film music industry on background scores. Monteiro has sung on mainstream Bollywood films like Rock On!! (Phir Dekhiye), Don theme, Don 2 (Don Waltz), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna where she sang the song "Mitwa" with Shafqat Amanat Ali, Karthik Calling Karthik with Shankar Mahadevan.On Anjaana Anjaani she sang the song "Tumse hi Tumse" for which she received a co-writing credit.[9] In the movie Hum Tum Aur Ghost, she performed the song 'Kal Tum The Yahan' which was a duet with Shankar Mahadevan. She also sang on "Sam's Theme" from the movie New York (film) and on Kabul Express she also performed the theme for Kaal while on Salaam Namaste she performed a duet with Shaan.[citation needed]

She also sang in Tamil Cinema, including "Maaricham" a song written by music director A. R. Rahman from the movie Sillunu Oru Kaadhal in 2006 and "Porkkalam" from the movie Yaaro Iran Yaaro.[10] Monteiro starred in the musical On Broadway which was a mash up of several musicals.[11][12] She has worked with the Welsh musician and composer Karl Jenkins performing the track "Hymn" on his project Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary for his India tour as the only soloist. She was featured on Dance Masti,[13] a dance album by Farhad Wadia.[14] Caralisa has sung the Hindi version of "When You Believe" from the Dreamworks Animation for the film The Prince of Egypt.

Independent Music edit

Monteiro entered and was one of the finalist on Sutasi, an Asian talent hunt in 2008.[15] Her debut album Illusions was released in 2015 which is a multi-genre album with songs featuring Jazz, Soul, Rock and Blues.[2][16] She made an appearance with the band Overhung at the finale of Harley Rock Riders: Season IV and guested on the band's song "Waste".[17] Monteiro wrote and recorded the ballad "All Alone"[18] that was featured on the Indie movie Rize of the Zombie starring Luke Kenny.[19][20][21]

Social Activism edit

She performed at the 'Rhythm and Blues Festival'[22][23][24] organized by the Genesis Foundation and supported by Rolling Stone Magazine (India) to raise funds for underprivileged children to provide critical life-saving interventions in 2013. She has committed to raise awareness for breast cancer through her to be released debut album's lead single "Angel in Disguise"[25] and to raise funds to assist cancer survivors and people currently battling the disease.

Filmography edit

Year Film Song Notes
2023 Pathaan Besharam Rang
2016 Befikre Nashe Si Chadh Gayi Written the French lyrics
Fitoor Ranga Re Also wrote lyrics[26]
2015 Shamitabh Sha Sha Sha Mi Mi Mi
2012 Rise of the Zombie All Alone Singer/Composer
Cocktail
2011 Ladies vs Ricky Bahl
Don 2: The Chase Continues
2010 Break Ke Baad
Porkkalam Yaaro Ivan Yaaro Italian phrases[27]
Anjaana Anjaani Tumse Hi Tumse
Karthik Calling Karthik
2009 New York
2008 Rock On!! Phir Dekhiye
2007 The Great Indian Butterfly You have To Love Me
Om Shanti Om Dard-E-Disco
Hattrick I'm Coming Home Again
2006 Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Maaricham
Kabul Express
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna Mitwa
2005 The Blue Umbrella
Dil Jo Bhi Kahey
Salaam Namaste Salaam Namaste
Dus
Kaal
2001 Dil Chahta Hai Jaane Kyun

References edit

  1. ^ "Caralisa Monteiro to trip you up at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Fest 2014". www.actfaqs.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Meet India's Jingle Queen, Caralisa Monteiro, Who Has Over 7,000 Ad Films To Her Credit". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  3. ^ "I have never done things that don't keep me happy: Caralisa Monteiro". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  4. ^ Singh, Nirmika (8 October 2014). "A peek into the world of Mumbai's ad jingle singers". Mid-Day. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  5. ^ D'costa, Suezelle. "Calangute Girl Rocks On". The Goan. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  6. ^ The Big M. "The Big Jingle of the Month". thebigm.co.in. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  7. ^ Moses, Allan (13 April 2011). "Soul -tiring Artistry". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  8. ^ Punathambekar, Aswin (2008). Kavoori, Anandam P. (ed.). Global Bollywood. New York: New York University Press. ISBN 9780814747995.
  9. ^ Hammond, Wallie Walker, ed. (2006). Peterson's master TOEFL vocabulary. Lawrenceville, NJ: Peterson's. ISBN 076892328X.
  10. ^ Ali, Asad (10 May 2014). "Are Indians Ready To Pay For Non-Populist Music?". tehelka.com. Tehelka. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  11. ^ Dastur, Nicole (29 July 2010). "Broadway Comes to Mumbai". Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  12. ^ Sharma, Aditi (31 July 2010). "Broadway Comes To Town". Mid-Day. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  13. ^ Carroll, Brandon James (2009). CCNA wireless official exam certification guide. Indianapolis, IN: Cisco Press. ISBN 978-1-58720-211-7.
  14. ^ Mahalakshmi iyer. [S.l.]: Book on Demand. 2012. ISBN 978-5510840155.
  15. ^ "Bluefrog's take on Caralisa Monteiro". bluefrog.co.in. Bluefrog. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  16. ^ "A peek into the world of Mumbai's ad jingle singers". Mid-Day. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Caralisa Monteiro To Join in on the Overhung party for Harley Rock Riders IV". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  18. ^ Singh, Nirmika (3 April 2013). "Music review: Rise of the Zombie". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Be Scared,Be Very Scared". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Rise of the Zombie team launch music in Mumbai". The Times of India. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  21. ^ Mishra, Abhimanyu (2 February 2013). "It's better to be an independent musician: Caralisa Monteiro". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  22. ^ "Blues festival hits Kasauli third time round". indiatoday. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  23. ^ "Kasauli swings to R&B beats on Day 2". indiatimes.com. The Times of India. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  24. ^ "Kasauli music festival to begin on 18 April". Hindustan Times. 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
  25. ^ Singh, Amar (21 April 2014). "Notes from underground The Kasauli Rhythm and Blues festival provided an ample serving of all genres of music". The Tribune. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  26. ^ "Caralisa Monteiro pens a lovemaking song for Katrina Kaif". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Porkkalam is worth a listen". Rediff. Retrieved 26 September 2017.

External links edit