| K. S. Chithra കെ.എസ്.ചിത്ര |
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K.S.Chitra |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chithra Krishnan Nair |
| Born | July 27, 1963 Thiruvananthapuram, India |
| Genres | Playback singing, Carnatic music |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Audiotracs |
K. S. Chithra (Malayalam: കെ. എസ്. ചിത്ര) often credited as Chithra (or Chitra), is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian (film) music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil (Little Nightingale) of South India,[1] she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films. She has recorded more than 18,000 film songs[2] and is a recipient of six National Film Awards, five Filmfare Awards and more than thirty different state film awards.[3]
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Born on July 27, 1963, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, into a family of musicians, Chithra’s talent was recognized and nurtured from an early age by her father, the late Krishnan Nair. He was also her first guru (teacher). Chithra received her extensive training in Carnatic music from Dr. K. Omanakutty, and got a Masters in Music from the University of Kerala.[3] She was selected for the National Talent Search Scholarship from the Central Government from 1978–1984.[1] She is married to Vijayashankar, an engineer and businessman. Their only daughter Nandana died aged 8, in an accident in April 2011.[4][5]
Chitra was introduced to Malayalam playback by M. G. Radhakrishnan in 1979 and went on to become a regular singer for many Malayalam musicians, including Raveendran.[3] Attahasam, Snehapurvam Meera and Njaan Ekananu were the first few films which she recorded her songs.[3] She also performed live concerts with K. J. Yesudas in India and abroad and that was a turning point in her career.[3] Veteran music directors such as Raveendran, Shyam, Jerry Amaldev, Mohan Sithara, Kannoor Rajan and Johnson also helped her move up in her career ladder.[3] She made her debut in the Tamil film industry through the song "Poojaikketha Poovithu" from the film Neethana Antha Kuyil, which was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. She was given the title Chinnakuyil after singing the song "Chinna Kuyil Paadum" from the 1985 released film Poove Poochudava.[3][6] Director Fazil cast her for this song after Ilaiyaraaja got impressed with her song sung in original version in Malayalam for the film Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu in 1984 directed by himself.
By the mid-eighties, she became the most sought after female singer in Malayalam and Tamil. She recorded many hit songs for the most famous composers in Malayalam and numerous songs for Ilaiyaraaja in Tamil. She has been acredited as the only female singer to have sung the maximum number of songs for the Academy Award winning composer A. R. Rahman for his Tamil film songs. She also sang for veteran composers such as G. Devarajan, M. S. Viswanathan, K. V. Mahadevan, Ouseppachan, Deva, Vidyasagar, Bharadhwaj, Chakravarthy, M. Jayachandran, M.G.Sreekumar, M. M. Keeravani, Hamsalekha, Sharreth, Raj-Koti, Rajan-Nagendra, S. A. Rajkumar, Mani Sharma, Harris Jayaraj, Devisri Prasad and many other south Indian music directors.[7]
She has recorded many memorable Hindi songs for various music directors in Bollywood, namely A. R. Rahman, Anand-Milind, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan, Viju Shah, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Naushad, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Jatin-Lalit and many others. She also recorded the Hindi versions of her own Tamil songs sung for A. R. Rahman.
Apart from playback singing, she also appeared among the panel of judges in the singing reality Television shows at Kerala (Idea Star Singer) and Tamil Nadu (Airtel Super Singer Junior).[8]
Chithra has won six National Awards for best female playback singer.[9][10] This is the highest number of national awards awarded to any female playback singer. She has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer 15 times.[10] She has won the following awards:
Andhra Pradesh State Film Awards:
Andhra Pradesh State TV Nandi Awards:
Lata Mangeshkar Award:
Jai Hind Film Awards
Radio Mirchi Awards (South)
Swaralaya -Eenam Awards
South Scope Film Awards
Chithra, along with a Kerala based satellite channel, Asianet Cable Vision (ACV), has jointly launched a fund raising organization Sneha to raise funds for the betterment and welfare of long forgotten and aged musicians who have lost their careers to the emerging technological elements in the music industry. She has launched this organization on the occasion of her completion of three decades in the music playback industry. Chithra has remarked that the fund would provide help to the musicians with financial impediments and those suffering from health problems.
A cultural event named Chitra Pournami was held on 15 February 2011 at Thiruvananthapuram to celebrate the 30 glorious career years of Chithra and also to officially launch this organization. The who's who of South Indian music industry attended the event and felicitated Chithra with a Tamboora instrument. The prominent personalities being K. J. Yesudas, V. Dakshinamurthy, Sreekumaran Thampi, P. Susheela, Hariharan, M. G. Sreekumar, Sharath, Sujatha Mohan, Unni Menon, Minmini among others felicitated Chithra and praised her noble cause and intentions to help for the ailing musicians. [17]
Chithra has performed all over India, Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, UK, France, US, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark.
Chithra, who is a Grade A artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan, has established her own recording label, Audiotracs, to promote new talents in the music world by giving them opportunities to collaborate with her as singers, lyricists and music directors.
She has in her credit, private albums in Hindi, namely Piya Basanti and Sunset Point. The former was penned by Ustad Sultan Khan and was certified Gold while the latter was penned by Gulzar.[15] Her first ghazal album with Ghulam Ali and Asha Bhosle is ready for release.[2] In 2006, she released an album in dedication to Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi named My Tribute. It is a collection of krithis and bhajans dedicated to Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi.[2] Sony Music is planning to release a solo album soon owing to success of Piya Basanti.
| Song Title | Film | Language | Music Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kuch Kuch" | Aarakshaka | Kannada | Gurukiran |
| "Paluku Thelupu Thallive" | Devasthanam | Telugu | Swara Veenapani |
| "Sambayya" | |||
| "Devasthanam" | |||
| "Krishna Neeyen Krishnamani" | Naadhabrahmam | Malayalam | Mohan Sithara |
| "Thottadattu" | Dam 999 | Malayalam | Ouseppachan |
| "Omana Thinkalkkidaavo" | |||
| "Vellaram Kullaneri" | Swapna Sanchari | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Hey Kala" | Kshetram | Telugu | Koti |
| "Dheera Dheera" | |||
| "Chellame En Chellame" | Kottai | Tamil | D. Vijay |
| "Gopi Murali" | Female Unnikrishnan | Malayalam | Shaji Sukumaran |
| "Gopa Balannistam" | Arabiyum Ottakavum P. Madhavan Nairum | Malayalam | M. G. Sreekumar |
| "Thudiyolam Thulli" | Priyapetta Nattukkare | Malayalam | Aji Saras |
| "Chengathir Kaiyum" | Snehaveedu | Malayalam | Illayaraja |
| "Nilaavu Pole Oramma" | Naayika | Malayalam | M. K. Arjunan |
| "Onnum Mindathe" | Arabipponnu | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Uyire Uyire" | Soozhnilai | Tamil | Dhina |
| "Devulle Mechinadi" | Sri Rama Rajyam | Telugu | Illayaraja |
| "Ramayanamu Sri Rama" | |||
| "Omkaram Harimuraliyil" | Ninnishtam Ennishtam 2 | Malayalam | Dr. C. V. Ranjith |
| "Ondinchu Kannali" | Vinayaka Geleyara Balaga | Kannada | V. Harikrishna |
| "Enikkoru Nilaavinte" | Bhakthajanangalude Sradhakku | Malayalam | Natesh Sankar |
| "Thoomanjin Chillada" | Vaadamalli | Malayalam | Shyam Balakrishnan |
| "Itti Mudduladi" | Chandamama Kadha | Telugu | Rajasekhar Sharma |
| "Ninna Leni" | 180 | Telugu | Sharreth |
| "Sellathe Jeevame" | Sooriya Nagaram | Tamil | Fen Viallee |
| "Santhikkatha Kangalil" | 180 | Tamil | Sharreth |
| "Haalinanta Manasavane" | Rowdy Hrudaya | Kannada | M. Shivakumar |
| "Kannanchali" | |||
| "Arike Ninnalum" | China Town | Malayalam | Jassie Gift |
| "Idhu Varayil" | Saghakkal | Tamil | Daya Rathnam |
| "Murattu Maaman" | Bodinayakanur Ganesan | Tamil | John Peter |
| "Vanamaali" | Natakame Ulakam | Malayalam | Johnson |
| "Thevara Poomazhayil" | |||
| "Oru Naal Mattum" | Seedan | Tamil | Dhina |
| "Atchu Vellam" | Vetrivel | Tamil | K. Haran |
| "Nuvve Naachavu" | Aha Naa Pellanta | Telugu | Raghu Kunche |
| "Nattuvazhiyorathe Poomarachillayil" | Gadhama | Malayalam | Bennet Veetraag |
| "Nuvve Nuvve" | Prema Kaavali | Telugu | Anoop Rubens |
| Song Title | Film | Language | Music Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Naan Poghiren" | Naanayam | Tamil | James Vasanthan |
| "Vaaliba Vaa Vaa" | Goa | Tamil | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| "Oru Varam Tharughirai" | Kola Kolaya Mundhirika | Tamil | V. Selvaganesh |
| "Prananathan Enikku Nalkhiya" | Kadaksham | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Kathirunnu Njaan" | Sadgamaya | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Aaro Padunnu" | Kadha Thudarunnu | Malayalam | Ilayaraja |
| "Sol Pechu Kekkadha" | Thillalangadi | Tamil | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| "Paadan Ninakkoru" | Oru Naal Varum | Malayalam | M. G. Sreekumar |
| "Enthedi Enthedi" | Shikkar | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Sree Raghunadhki" | Lava Kusa – The Warrior Twins | Hindi | L. Vaidyanathan |
| "Ramayan Divya Katha" | |||
| "Nammakame Iyyara" | Komaram Puli | Telugu | A. R. Rahman |
| "Manavaatti Penne" | Sakudumbam Shyamala | Malayalam | M. G. Sreekumar |
| "Chinnumari Pappumari" | School Master | Kannada | V. Sreedhar |
| "Sathathanthriyakum" | Paattinte Palazhy | Malayalam | Dr. Suresh Manimala |
| "Ponnum Noolil" | |||
| "Asar Usko" | |||
| "Udayasooryane" | |||
| "Ammakkuruvi" | |||
| "Poovanangal" | Inganeyum Oral | Malayalam | Mohan Sithara |
| "The Song Goes On" | The Song Goes On | English | Herbie Hancock |
| "Poonchillayil" | Chekavar | Malayalam | Rahul Raj |
| "Raavil Neela Mazha" | Nilaavu | Malayalam | Reji Wayanad |
| "Ishtangal Okayum" | Punyam Aham | Malayalam | Isaac Thomas Kottukapalli |
| "Manikanda Swamy" | Thathwamasi | Malayalam | Ramesh Narayanan |
| "Thaake Merupulaku" | Mouna Ragam | Telugu | S. A. Rajkumar |
| "Raave Raave" | Eedu Jodu | Telugu | Satyam Ratnala |
| "Dhoom Dhoom" | Hoo | Kannada | V. Harikrishna |
| "Sarigama Sari" | |||
| "Anuragayamune" | Yakshiyum Njanum | Malayalam | Sajan Madhav |
| "Maalakhapole" | Mummy & Me | Malayalam | Seso Joseph |
| "Venmukhilin" | |||
| "Aimbathu Kilo Thangam" | Kutti Pisasu | Tamil | Deva |
| "Panchakshariki Kalyanam"' | Panchakshari | Telugu | Chinna |
| "Aaha Veenaiyil" | Pen Singam | Tamil | Deva |
| "Eno Onthara" | Ee Sanje | Kannada | Jai Shiva |
| "Hey Janmabhoomi" | Matte mungaru | Kannada | X. Paul Raj |
| "Selai Kattiya" | Magizhchi | Tamil | Vidhyasagar |
| "Manasaare" | Taare | Kannada | C. R. Bobby |
| "Chendulla Cheluve" | Neneyuve Ninna | Kannada | C. R. Bobby |
| "Chitrasalabhame" | Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Hridhayathin" | |||
| "Anamika" | Fiddle | Malayalam | Ramesh Balakrishna |
| "Meera Than" | Bombay Mittai | Malayalam | Paris V. Chandran |
| "Omkaram" | Nagavalli | Telugu | Gurukiran |
| "Sughavasi Sughavasi" | Easan | Tamil | James Vasanthan |
| "Etho Raavil" | Sahasram | Malayalam | M. Jayachandran |
| "Ragada Ragada" | Ragada | Telugu | Thaman |
| "Silakka" | Mirapakaya | Telugu | Thaman |
| "Andaralaaga" | Kudirithe Cup Coffee | Telugu | Yogeshwara Sharma |
| "Kogilegoo" | Hori | Kannada | Renu Kumar |
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