ASJ et al: this a.m. in TO, I was looking at a program and saw a singer something..K. CHITRA..a voice like a nightingale and she coul d sing classical and modern. THey featured some playback material where she was the artiste...do you have anything of her music that can be posted? I was impressed by her classical repertoire. Thanks.

K.S Chitra's Melodious Voice


K.S Chitra, heralded as the nightingale of South India has built a formidable reputation as playback singer with her deep and sweet voice. Her mellifluous voice has transcended all language barriers as she has sung over 11,000 songs in different languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Bengali and Oriya.

K.S Chitra was born at Trivandrum in Kerala on 27th July 1963. Born in a family of musicians, music was bound to happen to Chitra. The earliest influence on Chitra's career was her father as well as well known singer -Krishnan Nair. From her younger age, she learnt the basics of music from her father. At school, Chitra was awarded cultural talent scholarship which enabled her to learn Carnatic music under Dr. Omanakutty. It was a turning point in Chitra's music career.

The gifted singer completed her B. A in music with a third rank from Kerala University. However she couldn't complete her post graduation in music since the vast realms of music were awaiting this real talent. Chitra's teacher Prof. K. Omanakutty introduced her dear disciple to her brother Mr. M.G. Radhakrishnan, a famous music director in Malayalam film industry. Chitra started her music career with offer given by M. G. Radhakrishnan in the movie Attahaasam.

Chitra's mellifluous voice blended very well with the voice of evergreen singer K.J.Yesudas and it gave her the record hits in Malayalam music. Her expressive voice got her plenty of offers and she very soon started to make her own mark in Malayalam music industry.

Famous Tamil composer Illayaraja introduced Chitra into Tamil film industry through his film Nee Thaana Anthan Kuyil. This entry into Tamil films established her popularity in South Indian musical industry. At the same time she got an offer to sing for one Hindi film directed by S.P. Venkatesh. Even though the movie was never released her S.P Venkatesh, remained as her constant inspirator.

Chitra's first album in Indipop was with Voodoo Rapper. Though her music was appreciated, the album did not do well. Her voice got huge popularity in the album Piya Basanthi with Ustad Sultan Khan. Her music album Sunset Point with Gulzar made her the favourite singer of Bollywood music directors like Anu Malik.

Chitra has the finest distinction of singing for the veteran music directors as well as contemporary stalwarts. Her favourite musicians include Illayaraja and A. R. Rahman. In Hindi, she fondly remembers R.D.Burman. Her good friends in Bollywood industry are Kavita Krishnamurthy and Sadhana Sargam.

K.S Chitra After Lata Mangeshkar, Chitra is the first Indian woman to perform at the famous Royal Albert hall in London. She has won the National Award for the best playback singer five times. She has the unique distinction of being the first female playback singer to be honored by all the four South Indian State Governments as the best playback singer. Her mother state Kerala has heaped up the best playback singer award more than 12 times on her.

Chitra is married to Vijayashankar and the couple has a daughter named Nandana. There is nothing more to say about Chitra's rare music as it has been praised as many times as poets have praised the depth of vast ocean and the sweetness of honey.

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Will later presents a cople of songs from K.S.
Chitra Collections, although not a famous singer as Lata Mangeshkar or Asha Bhosle, or Alka Yagnik or even a Sunidhi Chouhan who are all household names in Bollwood's Hindi singing, Chitra is never the less reverred in the South in her compositions in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Oriya.

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Awards

To this day, Chithra has recorded thousands of film and non-film songs. During her career, numerous recognitions have come her way including six National Awards for best female playback singer. This is the largest number of national awards awarded to any female playback singer. She has won the awards for the following films:

* 1986 - Sindhu Bhairavi, Tamil film
* 1987 - Nakhaksthangal, Malayalam film
* 1989 - Vaisali, Malayalam film
* 1996 - Minsaara Kanavu, Tamil film
* 1997 - Virasat, Hindi film
* 2004 - Autograph, Tamil Film

She has also received 15 awards for the best female playback singer from Kerala State Government, 7 awards from Andhra Pradesh State Government, 4 awards from Tamil Nadu State Government and 2 awards from Karnataka State Government. She holds the unique honour of the first male or female playback singer to be recognised by all the four state governments in South India as the best playback singer.

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In Hindi film music she has won the hearts of music lovers in the films 'Love''Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya', 'Virasat','Aks', 'Ashoka', 'Rangeela' etc. Her album 'Piya Basanti' in collaboration with sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan was very popular. In her next album 'Sunset Point', she sang with renowned ghazal singers Gulzar and Bhupinder. She had the honor of working with famous music directors like Salil Choudhary, Anu Malik, Nadeem-Shravan and A R Rahman.

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The old buddies again in a most recent picture but now there is another personality in their midst-K.S Chitra.The nightingale of Kerala known for her sweet voice in South India as well as in North India.Let the crown of glory be devoured upon the three.
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Asj, can you please find some of her songs and post them. Thanks.

Movie Name: Armaan
Singer: Chithra K S Kay Kay
Music Director: Ehsaan, Loy, Shankar
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Year: 2003

Mere Dil Ka Tumse Hai Kehna

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Movie Name: Rangeela
Singer: Chithra K S, Udit Narayan
Music Director: Rahman AR
Lyrics: Mehboob
Year: 1995

Yaaro Sun Lo Zara
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Movie Name: Virasat
SinMovie Name: Virasat (1997)
Singer: Chithra K S
Music Director: Anu Malik
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Year: 1997

Payalay Chunmun
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Movie Name: Roja
Singer: Chithra K S, Hariharan
Music Director: Rahman AR
Lyrics: Mishra P K
Year: 1993

Roja Jaane Man
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Song : Dil Mere Tu Diwana Hai
Movie Name : Sooryavamsam (1999)
Singer : Chithra K S
Music Director : Anu Malik
Lyrics : Sameer

Dil Mere Tu Diwana Hai

Love this one:
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K.S.Chitra/Thankathoni
This sounds like one of her Tamil Rendition:
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Asj, these are wonderful and I enjoyed them.

yes Joan , I totally agree with you.. they are indeed wonderful...

tHANKS ALL..THESE ARE WONDERFUL...