Padmashri K S Chitra

Posted Date: 06 Dec 2010 Author: Roshan Salim

(Rs. 35)

This article gives you the details of the life and musical career of Padmashri K S Chitra.

K S Chitra- The Nightingale of South India

K S Chitra is one of the evergreen stars in the history of Indian music as well as Carnatic music. She was one of the popular play back singer in India who won the National Award for six times for the best play back singer of India and is known as the Nightingale of South India. She was also awarded Padmashri in 2005 which is the fourth highest civilian honours in India. This great lady was born as a daughter of late Kuttikrishnan Nair in 27th July 1963 in Trivandrum. Her father was also a great musician as well as her sister Bina. Earlier her sister Bina has been more popular for her melodious voice and it was Kuttikrishnan Nair who found this magical music talent in his younger daughter Chitra. Then during a coarse of time her voice became very famous in India and she had sung many songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Oriya, Bengali etc. The was active in the India film industry from 1982. She was an obedient student of her music teacher named Dr. K Omanakutty who taught her Carnatic music. After her musical education she got married to Vijayashankar and has a child named Nandana.

K S Chitra’s Musical Career

K S Chitra’s musical career starts when she was in 9th class. She got selection for Cultural Talent Scholarship from the Government of India. After that it was golden period for Chitra’s musical career. She was bought in front of the platform of play back singing by the great music director namely M G Radhakrishnan in 1979 and her first recording was from a studio named Chitranjali. Then she was introduced Shri K J Yesudas and that marked her turning point in her career. She had sung many superhit songs with Yesudas and also took her for some concert tours all over India and this was a great popularity for K S Chitra as a singer. Her works with the legendric music director Ilayaraja helped her to fetch her first national award for her songs in Sindhu Bhairavi. After all she got another five national awards from the Government of India and made a record of getting the most number of national awards for any female play back singer in India.

Major Awards Honored by K S Chitra

- 2005- Padmashri Award
- 1986 - National award for Best Female Playback Singer - (Song: Padariyen Padippariyen)Sindhu Bhairavi, Tamil Film
- 1987 – National award for Best Female Playback Singer - (Song: Manjal Prasadavum)Nakhashathangal, Malayalam Film
- 1989 - National award for Best Female Playback Singer - (Song: Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum Raathri) Vaishali, Malayalam Film
- 1996 - National award for Best Female Playback Singer - (Song: Maana Madurai (Ooh La La La)) Minsaara Kanavu, Tamil Film
- 1997 - National award for Best Female Playback Singer - (Song: Payalein Chun Mun) Virasat,Hindi Film
- 2004 - National award for Best Female Playback Singer - (Song: Ovvoru Pookalume)Autograph, Tamil Film

She was aalso a winner of many Kerala State Film Awards, Tamilnadu State Film Awards, Andhra Pradesh State Film awards, Karnataka State Film Awards, Jai Hind Film awards etc