KS chithra

Biography

I was born into a family of musicians. My father late Krishnan Nair was a well-known singer of yesteryears. His encouragement, single-minded dedication in giving me all the necessary training in my childhood days helped me a lot to develop into a playback artiste. Earlier lessons in music were given by my father himself.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION: Passed B.A. in music with first class and third rank from the University of Kerala and had completed M.A. in music.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: I received a comprehensive training in Carnatic Classical Music from Dr. K. Omanakutty, Professor of Music at Kerala University under the national talent search scholarship. I have been initiated into the film music field by Mr. M.G. Radhakrishnan through his films like "Attahasam", "Snehapurvam Meera", "Nan Ekananu”, etc., I consider the opportunity to sing with Dr. K.J.Yesudas in live concerts all over India and abroad and also for his Tharangini Cassettes as a turning point in my career. Famous Malayalam Music Directors like Ravindran, Shyam, Jerry Amaldev, Kannoor Rajan and Johnson were also instrumental for my rise as a playback artiste in Malayalam films.

Legendary Music Director SHRI. ILAYARAJA gave me the big break into Tamil films through his film "Nee Tana Antha Kuil". I got my first National Award for the songs in the mega-hit film "Sindhu Bhairavi" tuned by Shri. Ilayaraja himself. I consider Shri. Ilayaraja responsible for my rise as a noted playback singer in all the four South Indian Languages. And also composers like Ravindran, Johnson, S.P. Venkatesh, Mohan Sitara, Kanoor Rajan, S.A. Rajkumar, M.S.Viswanathan, Shankar-Ganesh, K.V. Mahadevan, Sathyam, Chakravarthy, Keeravani, Ouseppachan, Koti, Deva, Manisharma, Hamsalekha to name a few were kind enough to give me chances in various South Indian Languages. I have sung in Hindi Films also for prominent music directors like A.R.Rehman, Anu Malik, Sandip Chowta, Vishal, Rajesh Roshan, Sandesh to name a few.

I got the opportunity to sing in other languages like Oriya & Bengali of late. Since 1984 I have recorded about 11000 film songs in various Indian Languages, and about 4000 non-film songs.

Special Honour:
1997 – Kalaimamani Award – Tamilnadu Government
2011 – Honorary Doctorate – Sathyabama University,Tamilnadu
2011 – Bharath Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Award – Andhra Pradesh Government for Cultural Council
2013 - Special Honour for contribution to Malayalam Film Industry 100 years Indian Cinema Celebration at Chennai.

National Film Awards:
1986 – Best Female Playback Singer – Song: "Padariyen Padippariyen, Naan Oru Sindhu" (Sindhu Bhairavi, Tamil)
1987 – Best Female Playback Singer – Song: "Manjal Prasadavum" (Nakhakshathangal, Malayalam)
1989 – Best Female Playback Singer – Song: "Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum Raathri" (Vaishali, Malayalam)
1996 – Best Female Playback Singer – Song: "Maana Madurai" (Minsaara Kanavu, Tamil)
1997 – Best Female Playback Singer – Song: "Payalein Chun Mun" (Virasat, Hindi)
2004 – Best Female Playback Singer – Song: "Ovvoru Pookalume" (Autograph, Tamil)

Filmfare Awards South:
2004: Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Nuvvostanante" (Varsham)
2006: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Kalabham Tharam" (Vadakkumnathan)
2006: Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada – "Araluva Hoovugale" (Autograph)
2008: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Oduvil Oru" (Thirakkatha)
2009: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Kunnathe Konnakyum" (Pazhassiraja)

Kerala State Film Awards:
2005 – Best Play Back Singer – "Mayangipoyi" (Nottam)
2002 – Best Play Back Singer – "Karmukil Varnante" (Nandanam)
2001 – Best Play Back Singer – "Mooli Mooli" (Theerthadanam)
1999 – Best Play Back Singer – "Pular Veyilum" (Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu)
1995 – Best Play Back Singer – "Sasikala Charthiya" (Devaraagam)
1994 – Best Play Back Singer – "Parvanenthu" (Parinayam)
1993 – Best Play Back Singer – "Ponmeghame" (Sopanam), "Rajahamsame" (Chamayam), "Sangeethame" (Gazal)
1992 – Best Play Back Singer – "Mounasarovaram" (Savidham)
1991 – Best Play Back Singer – "Thaaram" (Keli), "Swarakanyakamar" (Santhwanam)
1990 – Best Play Back Singer – "Kannil Nin Meyyil" (Innale), "Palappoove" (Njan Gandharvan)
1989 – Best Play Back Singer – "Kalarivilakku" (Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha), "Thankathoni" (Mazhavilkavadi)
1988 – Best Play Back Singer – "Indupushpam" (Vaishali)
1987 – Best Play Back Singer – "Eenam marannakatte" (Eenam Maranna Kattu), "Thalolam Paithal" (Ezhuthappurangal)
1986 – Best Play Back Singer – "Manjalprasadavum" (Nakhakshathangal)
1985 – Best Play Back Singer – "Oreswaram Ore Niram" (Ente Kaanakuyil), "Poomaname" (Nirakkootu), "Aayiram Kannumai" (Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu)

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:
1988 – Best Female Playback Singer – multiple films
1990 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Chinna Ponnu Dhaan" (Vaigaasi Porandhaachu)
1995 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Kannalane" (Bombay)
2004 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Ovvoru Pookalume" (Autograph)

Nandi Awards (Andhra Pradesh State Film Awards):
1990 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Kaliki Chilaka" (Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu)
1991 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Endharo"(Rajeswari Kalyanam)
1992 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Akasana" (Sundarakanda)
1993 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Venuvai Vachhanu" (Matrudevobhava)
1996 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Priya" (Srikrishnarjuna Vijayam)
1998 – Best Female Playback Singer (Television) – "Anweshitha" (Anweshita Etv Serial)
1999 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Marala Telupuna" (Swayamvaram)
2004 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Nuvvostanante Neddontana" (Varsham)
2009 – Best Female Playback Singer- "Pallavinchanee" (Kalavaramaye Madilo)

Karnataka State Film Awards:
1997 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Hele Kogile Impagalaa" (Nammoora Mandara Hoove)
2001 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Busu Busu Nagappa" (Arunodaya)
2005 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Kandamma Kandamma" (Maharaja)

Orissa State Film Awards:
1993 - Best Female Playback Singer - (Mo Kanhu Re)

Asianet Film Awards:
1999 – Best Female Playback – "Thumbayum Thulasiyum" (Megham)
2000 – Best Female Playback – "Varmukile" (Mazha)
2003 – Best Female Playback – "Enthinai Nin Idam Kannin" (Mizhi Randilum)
2005 – Best Female Playback – "Enthu Paranjalum" (Achuvinte Amma)
2007 – Best Female Playback – "Chellathamare" (Hallo)
2009 – Best Female Playback – "Kunnathe Konnakkyum" (Pazhassiraja)
2012 – Best Female Playback – "Ponnodu Poovayi"(Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty)

Mathrubhumi Film Awards:
1999 – Best Female Playback – "Thumbayum Thulasiyum" (Megham)
2000 – Best Female Playback – "Varmukile" (Mazha)
2001 – Best Female Playback – "Katte Nee Veesharuthippol" (Kattu Vannu Vilichappol)
2002 – Best Female Playback – "Kaarmukil Varnante" (Nandanam)
2003 – Best Female Playback – "Enthinai Nin Idam Kannin" (Mizhi Randilum)
2008 – Best Female Playback – "Enguninnuvanna " (Calcutta News)
2011 – Best Female Playback – "Chengathir Kaiyum" (Snehaveedu)

Mirchi Music Awards South:
2009 – Radio Mirchi Listeners Choice Award – "Kunnathe Konnakyum" (Pazhassiraja)
2010 - Best Female Playback (Malayalam)- "Chithra Shalabhame" (Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram)
2010 – Radio Mirchi Listeners Choice Award – "Kunnathe Konnakyum" (Pazhassiraja)
2012 - Best Female Playback (Malayalam)- "Vishukili" (Ivan Megharoopan)
2012 - Best Female Playback (Telugu) - "Paluku thelpu" (Devasthanam)
Bollywood Movie Awards:
2004 – Best Playback Singer Female – "Koi Mil Gaya" (Koi Mil Gaya)

Star Screen Awards:
1998 – Best Female Playback – "Payale Chummun" (Virasat)

Other awards:
2007 - "Sathyan National Film Award-2007" By Sathyan Foundaion, Thiruvananthapuram.
2007 – Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards for Best Female Playback Singer Award – "Yaaro Yarukkul" (Chennai 600028)
2010 – Jai Hind Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Award – "Kunnathe Konnakyum" (Pazhassiraja)
2010 – Swaralaya – Eenam Award for Decade's Best Talent in Malayalam Music
2010 – South Scope Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Award – "Kunnathe Konnakyum" (Pazhassi Raja)
2011 – Lata Mangeshkar Award (2011)
2012 – Thikkurissy Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Naattuvazhiyorathe" (Khaddama)[20]
2013 – Maa Music Award for Best Duet Song – "Nee Choopule" with Haricharan (Endukante... Premanta!, Telugu Film )
2013 – K P Brhamanandan Memorial Awards for Best Female Singer (2013)
2013 – ETV Kannada Sangeet Samman (P. B. Sreenivas) Award
2013 - Asiavision Movie Awards-2013 for Best Female Playback - "Ilaveyil Viralukalayi" (Artist)
2013 - CERA BIG Malayalam Music Awards for Best Female Playback - "Ilaveyil Viralukalayi" (Artist) and "Ponnodu Poovay" (Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty) [21]
2013 - CERA Big Malayalam Music Awards for Face of the Award - Honoured for completing three decades in in the industry [21]
2014-Global Indian Music Awards(GIMA): Best Carnatic Album for Vande Vasudevam an album based on Annamacharya Krithis.
2014 - Minimol Memorial Charitable Trust - "Sathkeerthi Puraskaram"[22]
2014 - Mappila Kala Academy in memory of K Raghavan Master - "Sangeetha Ratnam Puraskaram" for her contribution to film industry