The Nightingale of Kerala K. S. Chitra Family, News & Biography

One famous “Nightingale of South India” is K. S. Chitra. She is a playback vocalist from India. Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on July 27, 1963, Chitra has become well-known in the music industry for her beautiful voice and superb singing abilities. With over 25,000 recorded songs in multiple Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and others, she has established herself as a versatile and prolific vocalist.

From a young age, her father, renowned vocalist Krishnan Nair, supported her decision to pursue music. Chitra’s successful career started when she enrolled in Dr. K. Omanakutty’s official Carnatic music classes. She quickly rose to fame after making her backup singing debut in 1979, becoming a favorite of well-known directors.

Chitra has won multiple prizes during her career, including 35 state film awards, eight Filmfare South prizes, and six National Film Awards. Beyond just playback singing, she has made a significant contribution to music by performing in multiple concerts across the globe and popularizing Indian music. This biography explores K. S. Chitra’s life and accomplishments, showcasing her outstanding contributions to the music business.

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Early Life Of K. S. Chitra

Krishnan Nair, Chithra’s father, was an educator. He gave each of his three children a basic education in music. Shanthakumari, her mother, taught music as well. After a protracted fight with cancer, her father passed away. Her younger brother is a musician, while her older sister was a vocalist in the past. Chithra attended Cotton Hill Government Girls High School to finish her education. Her teacher initially noticed her musical talent. For seven years, Chithra was trained by K. Omanakutty. She received a first-class and third-ranking B.A. in music from the University of Kerala. The Indian government chose her to receive the National Talent Search Scholarship.

Profile Of K. S. Chitra

Full Name: Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra
Nickname(s): K.S.Chithra
Date of Birth: July 27, 1963 (age 60)
Birth Place: Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Father’s Name: Krishnan Nair
Mother’s Name: Santhakumari
Brother’s Name: Mahesh
Sister’s Name: K.S.Beena
Zodiac sign: Leo
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hinduism
Marital status: Married
Spouse: Vijayashankar
Occupation(s): Singer, music producer, Judge
Genres: Indian, classical music, Playback singing, film
Instrument: Vocals
Labels: Audiotracs
Website: www.kschithra.com
Years active: 1979–present

K. S. Chitra’s Personal Life

Chithra and Vijayashankar are married. Her spouse is a businessman and engineer. Their daughter was born. Her child drowned in a Dubai pool in 2011; she had Down syndrome from birth. Chithra was going to play at an A. R. Rahman performance at the time.

K. S. Chitra’s Career

M. G. Radhakrishnan recorded Chitra’s voice in 1979 for motion pictures. The Bombay Ravi-composed song “Manjal Prasadavum”. She has become well known for her renditions of hit songs. In 1985, Chithra first heard music from Hindi films. Her first Hindi song was recorded. She has almost 200 Bollywood song recordings to her credit. In addition to her songwriting for movies, Chithra recorded multiple solo albums. She received various honors, including one from the MTV Music Video Awards. Her previous album’s success helped her become well-known among Indians in the north.

Awards

International honours

2018: Honored by Stephen M. Sweeney, President of New Jersey Senate
2009: Honored by the Government of China
2004: Vocational Excellence Award
2001: The GOLDEN VOICE OF INDIA
2001: MTV Video Music Award

Lifetime achievement awards

2021: “Mirchi Music’s Lifetime Achievement Award”
2019: Women achievers, News7 Tamil’s Thangatharagai Lifetime Achievement award
2019: Most Socially Committed
2019: “Excellence in the Field of Music Award”
2018: Legend of the Year Award
2005, Jeevan TV, P. Jayachandran
2003: Lifetime Achievement Award
2003: Swaralaya Yesudas Award

National honours

2021: Padma Bhushan
2018 Harivarasanam Award
2018: Honorary Doctorate
2013: Sangeeta Samman Puraskar Award
2011: Bharath Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Award
2005: Padma Shri
2001: National Excellence Award

Filmfare Awards

1998: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer
2004: Nominated— Best Female Playback Singer

National Film Awards

2004: Best Female Playback Singer
1997: Best Female Playback Singer
1996: Best Female Playback Singer
1989: Best Female Playback Singer
1987: Best Female Playback Singer
1986: Best Female Playback Singer

Kerala State Film Awards

1988: Best Playback Singer
1987: Best Playback Singer
1986: Best Playback Singer
1985: Best Playback Singer
2016: Best Playback Singer
2005: Best Playback Singer
2002: Best Playback Singer
2001: Best Playback Singer
1990: Best Playback Singer
1989: Best Playback Singer

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

2020: Best Female Playback Singer
1984: Best Female Playback Singer
1985: Best Female Playback Singer
1986: Best Female Playback Singer
1987: Best Female Playback Singer
1994: Best Female Playback Singer
2016: Best Female Playback Singer

MTV Immies Awards

2003: Best Playback Singer: “Koi Mil Gaya”

Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA)

2013: Best Carnatic Classical Album, Vocal Album “Vande Vasudevam”

MTV Video Music Award

2001: International Viewer’s Choice Awards, MTV India

Star Screen Awards

1996: Best Female Playback: “For various South Indian languages”
1997: Best Female Playback: “For various South Indian languages”
1998: Best Female Playback: “Payale Chummun”

Karnataka State Film Awards

2005: Best Female Playback Singer: “Kandamma Kandamma”
2001: Best Female Playback Singer: “Navileno Kunibeku”
1997: Best Female Playback Singer: “Hele Kogile Impagalaa”

Upshot

In the world of Indian music, K. S. Chitra is revered for her immense vocal prowess and significant contributions to the field. Throughout her four-decade career, Chitra has won over thirty state film awards, six National Film Awards, eight Filmfare Awards South, and other prestigious honors. She has also become a cherished icon. She has a wide range of passionate fans because of her versatility in genres and her ability to sing in several Indian languages. Chitra’s path from her early years in Kerala to her current status as a worldwide music sensation is evidence of her commitment, perseverance, and love of music.

Her charitable endeavors, which include funding aspiring artists via the KS Chitra Foundation, prove her dedication to developing talent and giving back to the community. K. S. Chitra’s timeless legacy and unparalleled influence on Indian music inspire upcoming generations of musicians to pursue greatness, even as she continues to dazzle listeners with her lovely voice.

FAQs

Q1: Who is K. S. Chitra?

A1: K. S. Chitra, a well-known Indian playback singer who is regarded as the “Nightingale of South India,” has made a substantial impact on Indian cinema and is appreciated for her beautiful voice. Throughout her four-decade career, she has recorded thousands of songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and other Indian languages.

Q2: K. S. Chitra was born when and where?

A2: On July 27, 1963, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, K. S. Chitra was born. From an early age, she showed a strong interest in music, likely due to the influence of her musician father, Krishnan Nair.

Q3: What noteworthy accomplishments has K. S. Chitra made?

A3: Over her career, K. S. Chitra has won various honors and recognitions. The most wins of any Indian female vocalist are her six National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Vocalist. She has also won numerous state honors and Filmfare Awards. The Indian government additionally bestowed upon her the esteemed Padma Shri award in 2005.

Q4: Which musical genres does K. S. Chitra sing?

A4: K. S. Chitra is a talented singer who can sing a variety of musical styles, including film music, devotional music, and classical music. Her classical background has made it easy for her to execute difficult compositions, and millions of people have fallen in love with her movie songs.

Q5: What impact has K. S. Chitra had on Indian music?

A5: K. S. Chitra has significantly influenced Indian music by contributing her voice to several songs that have endured as timeless masterpieces. She is well-liked in the Indian music industry because of her ability to sing with great emotion. Many budding singers have found inspiration and guidance from her.