K. S. Chithra
Born
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra

(1963-07-27) 27 July 1963[1]
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Alma materUniversity of Kerala
Occupations
  • Singer
  • music producer
  • Judge
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Vijayashankar
​
(m. 1987)​
HonoursSee list
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsAudiotracs
Websitewww.kschithra.com

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra (born 27 July 1963) is an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career spanning over four decades, she has recorded over 25,000 songs[2][3] in various Indian languages,[4][5] as well as foreign languages such as Malay, Latin, Arabic, Sinhalese, English and French.[6] She is also known for her extensive history of collaboration with music composers like A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraja, Hamsalekha,[7] M. M. Keeravani and with the playback singers K. J. Yesudas and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam over the years. [2] She is cited as the Golden Voice of India by world’s Prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London in 2001[8][9] [10] and Melody Queen of Indian Cinema by Radio Mirchi, The Times Group in 2016.[11][12][13] She is honoured with the title First Ladies by the President of India in 2018 for being the first Indian woman to be honoured by British Parliament at House of Commons, United Kingdom in 2003.[14][15] People of India fondly called her as Little Nightingale of Indian Cinema.

Chithra is a recipient of six National Film Awards, nine Filmfare Awards South and 36 different state film awards from six states of India such as 16 Kerala State Film Awards, 11 Andhra Pradesh State Film Awards, 4 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, 3 Karnataka State Film Awards, 1 Orissa State Film Awards, 1 West Bengal State Film Awards.[16] She was awarded India's third-highest civilian honours Padma Bhushan in 2021 and Padma Shri in 2005 for her valuable contributions towards the Indian musical fraternity.[17][18][19][20] Her performance at the Qinghai international water and music festival in Qinghai, China, in 2009 changed this national talent into a global musical genius.[8][21] Her Performance in the Royal Albert Hall, London was applauded with much appreciation by a roomful of an international audience.[8][10] Her song "Kannalane/Kehna Hi Kya" from the film Bombay (1995) was included in United Kingdom The Guardian's "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear Before You Die" list.[22]

Early life

Chithra was born 27 July 1963 in the city of Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) of the Kerala state. Her father, Krishnan Nair was a school teacher and a music enthusiast who taught basics of music to all his three children.[23] He passed away after a long battle with cancer on 18 July 1986. Her mother Shanthakumari was also a music teacher. She has an elder sister, K. S. Beena who is a former singer and younger brother K. S. Mahesh who is a musician.[24] Chithra completed her schooling at the Cotton Hill Government Girls High School in Thiruvananthapuram. She acknowledges that it was the teachers of the school who spotted her talent in music.[25]

Chithra received her training in Carnatic music from K. Omanakutty for seven years. She graduated in B.A. in music with first class and third rank from the University of Kerala.[26] She was selected for the National Talent Search Scholarship from the Government of India during the period 1978 - 1984.[27]

Playback singing

Malayalam cinema

K. S. Chithra was introduced to Malayalam playback by M. G. Radhakrishnan in 1979 who recorded her voice for films and private albums.[26] Attahasam, Snehapoorvam Meera and Njan Ekananu were the first few films in which she recorded her voice. She also performed live concerts with K. J. Yesudas in India and abroad.[26] The song "Manjal Prasadavum" from the film Nakhakshathangal (1986) composed by Bombay Ravi got her the second National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer. For the same composer, she sang the song "Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum" for the film Vaishali (1989) and won her third National Film Award. Her first Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer was for the song "Aayiram Kannumayi" from the film Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (1986) composed by Jerry Amaldev. Since then, she has earned wide recognition by singing popular songs under the compositions of Raveendran, Shyam, S. P. Venkitesh, Mohan Sithara,Salil Chowdary,Kannur Rajan, Ilaiyaraaja, Johnson, Ouseppachan, M. K. Arjunan, A. T. Ummer, Berny Ignatius, M. B. Sreenivasan, Mohan Sithara, Vidyasagar, Ramesh Narayan, Sharreth, M. Jayachandran and Deepak dev.[26] She is regarded as "Nightingale of Kerala (Vanambadi)" and recorded many successful songs in Malayalam. She recorded a number of songs for the composer S. P. Venkitesh and her maximum duet songs in Malayalam are with K. J. Yesudas and M. G. Sreekumar. As of 2017, she has won the Kerala State Awards for the record 16 times. Her latest song "Theerame" from the movie Malik 2021 became another awesome hit in Malayalam Music Industry.[28][29][30][31]

Telugu cinema

Chithra's first Telugu song was "Paadalenu Pallavaina" from the dubbed version of Tamil film Sindhu Bhairavi (1985) composed by Ilaiyaraaja, later sang a humming in a song sung by K. J. Yesudas composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the picture Pralayam (1985). Her first song in a Telugu film is "Gelupu Maade" from Vijrumbhana (1986), composed by K. Chakravarthy. Later went on to sing songs to many Telugu composers like Sathyam, Raj-Koti, Ilaiyaraja, K. V. Mahadevan & K. Chakravarthy for the years 1986-88, but she gained initial recognition/break-through for compositions by Ilaiyaraja like "Jallanta Kavvinta" from Geethanjali (1989) & “Ninnukori Varnam“ from Gharshana( 1988) and then went onto sing several songs to many composers in Telugu. It was from then onwards that she became a notable singer in Telugu & went on to record every other song in each album being the solo card female singer for almost all the films in 90‘s. It was the moment where she established herself as a well recognized singer & strengthening her position in Telugu films by almost taking the place of S. Janaki from 1990.[32] Chithra received her first Nandi Award, presented by Government of Andhra Pradesh for "Kalika Chilakala Koliki" from Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu (1991). She won a total of 11 Nandi Awards as Best Female Playback Singer for various Telugu songs.[33] As the years passed by Chithra was recognized as a legendary singer in Telugu who's era or legacy was considered to be the golden era standing next to P. Susheela & S. Janaki. As of today Chithra is considered as one of the finest singers of Telugu film industry who's charisma is remarkable. She sang maximum songs in Telugu to M. M. Keeravani & also worked with almost every notable composer from then to till date.

Hindi cinema

Chithra was introduced to Hindi film music in 1985; she recorded her first Hindi song composed by S. P. Venkitesh, which was not commercially released. For the 1991 Hindi film Love, composers Anand–Milind, called upon her to sing duets song along with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and since then, Chithra has recorded for around 200 Bollywood songs.[34]

Apart from film songs, Chithra recorded for many private albums of which Piya Basanti and Sunset Point became hugely popular and went on to win several laurels including the MTV Music Video Awards. The popularity of the former album made her known among the Northern part of Indians identify her as "Piya Basanti" Chitra.[35]

Other Indian languages

Television

Year Name of Television Show Role Network Language
2006-2007 Star Singer (season 1) Judge Asianet Malayalam
2009-2010 Super Singer Junior (season 2) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2009-2010 Star Singer (season 4) Judge Asianet Malayalam
2010-2011 Star Singer (season 5) Judge Asianet Malayalam
2011-2012 Star Singer (season 6) Judge Asianet Malayalam
2011-2012 Super Singer Junior (season 3) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2012 Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran (season 1) Contestant Asianet Malayalam
2014 Super Singer Junior (season 4) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2016-2017 Super Singer Junior (season 5) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2018-2019 Super Singer Junior (season 6) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2020 Super Singer Junior (season 7) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2020-2022 Star Singer (season 8) Judge Asianet Malayalam
2021-2022 Super Singer Junior (season 8) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2022-2023 Star Singer Junior (season 3) Guest Jury Asianet Malayalam
2023 Super Singer Junior (season 9) Judge Star Vijay Tamil
2023 - present Star Singer (season 9) Judge Asianet Malayalam

Performances

Work and association with music directors

Chithra has sung over 25,000 songs.[2]

Concerts

Apart from playback singing, she also appeared among the panel of judges in the singing reality television shows at Kerala (Idea Star Singer and Josco Indian Voice),[36] at Tamil Nadu (Airtel Super Singer Junior),[37] where she also won the award for Best Female Judge and at Andhra Pradesh (MAA TV) Super Singer. Apart from this judgement panel she has appeared in music-shows like Swarabhishekam, Super Masti, Jhumandi Nadam. She is a regular singer in Ilayaraja's, A.R. Rahman's and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam's concerts. She has performed all over the world in SPB's concerts along with S. P. Sailaja, S. P. Charan. She has been a regular singer participating in all the concerts of SPB50-The World Tour, she has performed almost all around the world with S. P. B. Charan, S. P. Sailaja, Sunitha Upadrashta Karthik & Shweta Mohan.

She had performed at the Royal Albert Hall[38] and House of Commons in London. On 6 June 2009, she performed in Qinghai International Musical Journey on Water and Life concert with a rendition of "Tunga Tarange Gange" alongside other singers from nations located around various major rivers such as the Ganges, Volga, Rhine, Danube, Mississippi, and Amazon.[39][40][41][42]

Studio albums

Chithra recorded her first studio album with Voodoo Rapper for the album called Ragga Raaga in 1993. She recorded the albums in Hindi, Piya Basanti (2000) and Sunset Point. She associated with Ustad Sultan Khan for Piya Basanti which was certified Gold.[43] Sunset Point had eight songs written and narrated by Gulzar and sung by Chithra and Bhupinder.[44] In 2006, she released an album in dedication to M. S. Subbulakshmi named My Tribute. It is a collection of Kritis and bhajans dedicated to Subbulakshmi.[45] In 2009 she released Nightingale: A Salute to Lataji, a musical tribute to Lata Mangeshkar on her 80th birthday.[46] She also recorded many Malayalam albums for K. J. Yesudas, M. Jayachandran and Sharreth compositions. She also planned a ghazal album with Ghulam Ali and Asha Bhosle.[45]

International projects

  • Recorded with the Arab singer Jawad Ali for his album Amar Ul Hob[38]
  • Recorded a song for the jazz pianist Herbie Hancock[47]

Public profile

Philanthropy

Chithra, along with a Kerala-based satellite channel, Asianet Cable Vision (ACV), jointly launched a fundraising organisation, Sneha Nandana, to raise funds for the welfare of retired musicians who have lost their careers due to changes in the music industry. She launched this organisation on the occasion of her completion of three decades in the music playback industry. She said that the fund would provide help to the musicians with financial impediments and those suffering from health problems. A cultural event called Chithra Pournami was held on 15 February 2011 at Thiruvananthapuram to celebrate the 30th year of her career and also to launch this organisation.[48]

Awards, honours, and recognition

Chithra is a recipient of six National Film Awards, nine Filmfare Awards South and 36 different state film awards. She has won film awards from all the four south Indian states.[26][16] She was awarded India's third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan in 2021 and Padma Shri in 2005 for her valuable contributions towards the Indian musical fraternity.[17][18][19][20] In 2019, she was honoured by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, for successfully completing 40 years in Indian film industry. She was honoured with the Rashtrapati Award by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 20 January 2018.[14]

She received the MTV Video Music Award – International Viewer's Choice at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 2001.[49] She received honorary doctorates from Sathyabama University in 2011[50][51] and from The International Tamil University, United States in 2018.[52][53] She is the only South Indian female singer who has presented her maiden concert at the world's prestigious concert hall Royal Albert Hall in London in 2001.[10] Her song "Kannalane/Kehna Hi Kya" from the film Bombay (1995) was included in The Guardian's "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear Before You Die" list.[22] She considers the song "a blessing" and a mark of her identity.[54]

Personal life

Chithra is married to Vijayashankar, an engineer and businessman.[55] They had a daughter Nandana, who was born with Down's syndrome. Her daughter drowned in a pool in Dubai in 2011 when Chithra was about to perform at an A. R. Rahman concert.[56][57]

References

  1. ↑ Kameshwari, A (27 July 2020). "KS Chithra turns 57: Mohanlal, Priyadarshan, Aju Varghese and others wish ace singer". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Pradeep, K. (22 August 2019). "Celebrating 40 years of singer KS Chithra, the queen of melody". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "From KS Chithra To Chinmayi Sripada: Top Five Female Playback Singers In South". Outlook. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "K.S Chithra Odia Songs". Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "K.S Chitra Odia Song-Mani Nageswari(1995)". Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ↑ Article (5 March 2016). "Chithra in concert and workshop". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Bhumika K. (29 March 2016). "Music has helped me live". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "The Delightful Synonym of Symphony". Passion Vista. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Golden Voice Chitra Hits". Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Royal Albert Hall to echo with 'golden voices' of South". Press coverage and reviews. 7 April 2001.
  11. ↑ "From KS Chithra To Chinmayi Sripada: Top Five Female Playback Singers In South". Outlook. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Melody Queen K.S. Chitra Hits - EP". Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Melody Queen K.S. Chitra Hits". Spotify. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  14. 1 2 "India's 'first ladies': Rousing stories of 20 women who were pioneers in their fields". The News Minute. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE! KS Chithra: I believe in the magic of music". Time of India. 7 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  16. 1 2 Filmfare (16 June 2018). "Winners of the 65th Jio Filmfare Awards (South) 2018". Filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  17. 1 2 "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  18. 1 2 "Padma Awards 2021 announced". Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Shinzo Abe, Tarun Gogoi, Ram Vilas Paswan among Padma Award winners: Complete list". The Times of India. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  20. 1 2 Sharma, Priyanka (25 January 2021). "SPB honoured with Padma Vibhushan posthumously; KS Chithra gets Padma Bhushan". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "From KS Chithra To Chinmayi Sripada: Top Five Female Playback Singers In South". Outlook. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  22. 1 2 "Love: part one of 1000 songs everyone must hear". The Guardian. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  23. ↑ Soman, Deepa (23 January 2001). "Nightingale of the south". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  24. ↑ "'Chithralayam', Malayalees pride K S Chithra turns 60". Keralakaumudi Daily. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "K S Chithra gets a unique birthday surprise". The Indian Express. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 S.R. Ashok Kumar (21 July 2005). "One more feather in her cap". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 July 2005.
  27. ↑ Nair, Sulekha (23 January 2001). "Nightingale of the south". Express India. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  28. ↑ "Of love and longing: 15 Malayalam songs that you must listen to now". The News Minute. 31 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "K S Chithra celebrates 40 years of her musical journey". The Times of India. 29 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "Celebrities wish KS Chithra on her big day". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  31. ↑ "Why singer Chithra feels a void?". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  32. ↑ Prakash, P. V. D. S. "సరిగమ స్వరాల కోయిల...చిత్ర". Sitara (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964 - 2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964 - 2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2020.(in Telugu)
  34. ↑ "KS Chithra's best Hindi numbers". Cinestaan.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  35. ↑ "Revisiting Piya Basanti". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  36. ↑ Archived 23 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ↑ "Airtel Super Singer Junior 2". Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  38. 1 2 "K S Chithra". Facebook. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013.
  39. ↑ "2009青海国际水与生命音乐之旅--世界防治荒漠化和干旱日主题音乐会_艺术中国". art.china.cn. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  40. ↑ "青海国际水与生命音乐之旅 2008,2009合集 2 DVD_孔夫子旧书网". book.kongfz.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  41. ↑ "印度歌唱家K.S.奇西拉夫人演唱《奔流到恒河》_现场图片_艺术中国". art.china.cn. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  42. ↑ "青海国际水与生命音乐之旅——2009世界防治荒漠化与干旱日主题音乐会举行_新闻中心_新浪网". news.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  43. ↑ Subha J Rao (28 October 2004). "Musically yours". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 February 2005.
  44. ↑ "Gulzar's Sunset Point". Gulzaronline.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  45. 1 2 K. Jeshi (8 December 2006). "Song all the way". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 December 2006.
  46. ↑ "CHORDS AND NOTES". The Hindu. 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
  47. ↑ John Kelman (21 June 2010). "Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  48. ↑ "Chitra launches fund for unemployed musicians". 24dunia.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  49. ↑ "Hindustan at MTV Awards". The Times of India. 9 September 2001. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  50. ↑ "Sathyabhama doctorates for scientist, stars". The New Indian Express. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  51. ↑ "Honoris Causa 2011 - Satyabhama University". Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  52. ↑ "Honorary Doctorate from International Tamil University, USA". Facebook. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  53. ↑ "Honorary Doctorate from International Tamil University - USA". Facebook. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  54. ↑ K.S. Chithra, Episode 57. O2 India. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023 – via YouTube.
  55. ↑ K. Pradeep (23 August 2019). "Celebrating 40 years of singer KS Chithra, the queen of melody". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  56. ↑ "KS Chithra's daughter reportedly drowned and died in Emirates Hills pool" Archived 6 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Emirates247.com. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  57. ↑ "Singer Chithra's daughter drowns in dubai". Khaleej Times. 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.

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