Biography

KS Chithra is a professional singer based out of Chennai. Born to a family of musicians, Chithra’s talents were nurtured from an early age by her late father, Krishnan Nair. Chithra received extensive training in Carnatic music from Dr K Omanakutty after she was picked for the National Talent Search Scholarship from the Central Government from 1978–1984. She is a playback singer who can sing in genres like Indian classical, popular music, and devotional. Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra has lent her voice in many Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Oriya, Telugu, Bengali, Hindi, Assamese, Tulu, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Badaga, and Urdu songs. With a career spanning more than three decades, she has recorded more than 20,000 songs. KS Chithra is a recipient of six National Film Awards, 31 State film awards, and five Filmfare Awards, out of which, she has won all the four South Indian State Film awards. She is popularly referred to as Chinna Kuyil, or Little Nightingale of South India and Keralathinte Vanambadi, or Nightingale of Kerala. Chithra has won six National Awards for the Best Female Playback Singer. This is the highest number of national awards granted to any female playback singer. She is the winner of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer 15 times. She is the only person to win Kerala State Film Awards the most number of occasions in a row (11 times). Achievements: Padma Shri – Fourth highest civilian honour in India, 2005 Kalaimamani Award – Tamil Nadu Government, 1997 Honorary Doctorate – Sathyabama University, Tamil Nadu, 2011 Bharath Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Award – Andhra Pradesh Government for Cultural Council, 2011 Special Honour for contribution to Malayalam Film Industry 100 years Indian Cinema Celebration at Chennai, 2013 National Film Awards: Best Female Playback Singer – Padariyen Padippariyen, Naan Oru Sindhu (Sindhu Bhairavi, Tamil), 1986 Best Female Playback Singer – Manjal Prasadavum (Nakhakshathangal, Malayalam), 1987 Best Female Playback Singer – Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum Raathri (Vaishali, Malayalam), 1989 Best Female Playback Singer – Maana Madurai (Minsaara Kanavu, Tamil), 1996 Best Female Playback Singer – Payalein Chun Mun (Virasat, Hindi), 1997 Best Female Playback Singer – Ovvoru Pookalume (Autograph, Tamil), 2004 Filmfare Awards South: Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – Nuvvostanante (Varsham), 2004 Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada – Araluva Hoovugale (Autograph), 2006 Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – Kalabham Tharam (Vadakkumnathan), 2006 Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – Oduvil Oru (Thirakkatha), 2008 Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – Kunnathe Konnakyum (Pazhassiraja), 2009 Kerala State Film Awards: Best Play Back Singer – Karmukil Varnante (Nandanam), 2002 Best Play Back Singer – Mayangipoyi (Nottam), 2005 Best Play Back Singer – Mooli Mooli (Theerthadanam), 2001 Best Play Back Singer – Pular Veyilum (Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu), 1999 Best Play Back Singer – Parvanenthu (Parinayam), 1994 Best Play Back Singer – Ponmeghame (Sopanam), Rajahamsame (Chamayam), Sangeethame (Gazal), 1993 Best Play Back Singer – Sasikala Charthiya (Devaraagam), 1995 Best Play Back Singer – Mounasarovaram (Savidham), 1992 Best Play Back Singer – Thaaram (Keli), Swarakanyakamar (Santhwanam), 1991 Best Play Back Singer – Kannil Nin Meyyil (Innale), Palappoove (Njan Gandharvan), 1990 Best Play Back Singer – Kalarivilakku (Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha), Thankathoni (Mazhavilkavadi), 1989 Best Play Back Singer – Indupushpam (Vaishali), 1988 Best Play Back Singer – Eenam marannakatte (Eenam Maranna Kattu), Thalolam Paithal (Ezhuthappurangal), 1987 Best Play Back Singer – Manjalprasadavum (Nakhakshathangal), 1986 Best Play Back Singer – Oreswaram Ore Niram (Ente Kaanakuyil), Poomaname (Nirakkootu), Aayiram Kannumai (Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu), 1985 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards: Best Female Playback Singer – Multiple Films, 1988 Best Female Playback Singer – Chinna Ponnu Dhaan (Vaigaasi Porandhaachu), 1990 Best Female Playback Singer – Kannalane (Bombay), 1995 Best Female Playback Singer – Ovvoru Pookalume (Autograph), 2004 Nandi Awards (Andhra Pradesh State Film Awards): Best Female Playback Singer – Kaliki Chilaka (Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu), 1990 Best Female Playback Singer – Endharo (Rajeswari Kalyanam), 1991 Best Female Playback Singer – Akasana (Sundarakanda), 1992 Best Female Playback Singer – Venuvai Vachhanu (Matrudevobhava), 1993 Best Female Playback Singer – Priya (Srikrishnarjuna Vijayam), 1996 Best Female Playback Singer (Television) – Anweshitha (Anweshita ETV Serial), 1998 Best Female Playback Singer – Marala Telupuna (Swayamvaram), 1999 Best Female Playback Singer – Nuvvostanante Neddontana (Varsham), 2004 Best Female Playback Singer- Pallavinchanee (Kalavaramaye Madilo), 2009 Karnataka State Film Awards: Best Female Playback Singer – Hele Kogile Impagalaa (Nammoora Mandara Hoove), 1997 Best Female Playback Singer – Busu Busu Nagappa (Arunodaya), 2001 Best Female Playback Singer – Kandamma Kandamma (Maharaja), 2005 Orissa State Film Awards: Best Female Playback Singer – (Mo Kanhu Re), 1993 Asianet Film Awards: Best Female Playback – Thumbayum Thulasiyum (Megham), 1999 Best Female Playback – Varmukile (Mazha), 2000 Best Female Playback – Enthinai Nin Idam Kannin (Mizhi Randilum), 2003 Best Female Playback – Enthu Paranjalum (Achuvinte Amma), 2005 Best Female Playback – Chellathamare (Hallo), 2007 Best Female Playback – Kunnathe Konnakkyum (Pazhassiraja), 2009 Best Female Playback – Ponnodu Poovayi (Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty), 2012 Mathrubhumi Film Awards: Best Female Playback – Thumbayum Thulasiyum (Megham), 1999 Best Female Playback – Varmukile (Mazha), 2000 Best Female Playback – Katte Nee Veesharuthippol (Kattu Vannu Vilichappol), 2001 Best Female Playback – Kaarmukil Varnante (Nandanam), 2002 Best Female Playback – Enthinai Nin Idam Kannin (Mizhi Randilum), 2003 Best Female Playback – Enguninnuvanna (Calcutta News), 2008 Best Female Playback – Chengathir Kaiyum (Snehaveedu), 2011 Mirchi Music Awards South: Radio Mirchi Listeners Choice Award – Kunnathe Konnakyum (Pazhassiraja), 2009 Best Female Playback (Malayalam)- Chithra Shalabhame (Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram), 2010 Radio Mirchi Listeners Choice Award – Kunnathe Konnakyum (Pazhassiraja), 2010 Best Female Playback (Malayalam)- Vishukili (Ivan Megharoopan), 2012 Best Female Playback (Telugu) - Paluku thelpu (Devasthanam), 2012 Bollywood Movie Awards: Best Playback Singer Female – Koi Mil Gaya (Koi Mil Gaya), 2004 Star Screen Awards: Best Female Playback – Payale Chummun (Virasat), 1998 Other awards: Sathyan National Film Award-2007 By Sathyan Foundaion, Thiruvananthapuram, 2007 Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards for Best Female Playback Singer Award – Yaaro Yarukkul (Chennai 600028), 2007 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), 2010 Lata Mangeshkar Award (2011) Thikkurissy Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Naattuvazhiyorathe (Khaddama), 2012 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 Asiavision 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), 2013 CERA Big Malayalam Music Awards for Face of the Award – Honored for completing three decades in the industry, 2013 Global Indian Music Awards(GIMA): Best Carnatic Album for Vande Vasudevam an album based on Annamacharya Krithis, 2013 Minimol Memorial Charitable Trust – Sathkeerthi Puraskaram, 2013 Mappila Kala Academy in memory of K Raghavan Master – "Sangeetha Ratnam Puraskaram" for her contribution to film industry, 2013