Nightingale of the south
Music is my weakness, I can go without food but I can’t think life without music. My favorite singers are jagith Singh, K.S.Chitra, K.J.Yesudas. K.S.Chitra is my first choice; she is my god of music. Her voice is sweeter than any other voice. Even lataji’s. I think chitra is the best singer than any other singer.
My review will be about K.S.Chitra.
Chitra
She is one singer who has successfully broken the North-South divide and blazed a trail of glory in both worlds. K S Chitra has almost lorded over the Malayalam film industry, and emerged as the darling of the other industries in South India too. She has also made a successful foray into Hindi films.
`Piya Basanti Re...’ is a rage all over India. The song has given an identity to the nightingale of the south, Ms K S Chitra. Though Ms Chitra has sung several songs for Hindi films, this is the first song that has catapulted her to the centre stage in Bollywood. The five time National Award singer (incidentally one of them came for the Hindi film Virasat in 1997), has got her due in Piya Basanti Re, an album by Sony Music. And she is immensely pleased with the accolades. ’’One is thrilled that one’s voice is now immediately recognized, ’’
Ms Chitra has the distinction of singing for the finest veteran music directors as well as for contemporary stalwarts like Mr. A R Rehman.She has built a formidable reputation and repertoire as a playback singer for south Indian as well as Hindi films. Ms Chitra’s distinctively melodious voice coupled with her musical expressiveness is both pleasing and intriguing. She has won the National Award for the best playback singer five times. The Kerala government has heaped upon her the best playback singer award as many as 12 times and she has the unique distinction of being the first singer, male or female, in the history of South Indian film playback singing to be honoured by all the four southern state governments as the best playback singer
Ms Chitra’s foray into Hindi film music was with Saathiya, ye tune kya kiya ... for the film Love. Prior to Piya Basanti, she had sung for Sunset Point with Sony Music. The album is in the form of a story narrated by ace lyricist Gulzar interspersed with songs sung by Ms Chitra and Mr Bhupinder Singh. It aptly conveys the emotions of a lover’s soul accompanied by the right notes of effervescence and spontaneity. Sony Music is planning to come out with a solo album of Ms Chitra.
Born in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, the earliest influence on Ms Chitra’s musical career was her father, late Krishnan Nair, who was himself a well-known singer. Ms Chitra completed her post graduation in music from Kerala University. She was trained by Professor K Omanakutty under the National Talent Search Scholarship program. Born in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, the earliest influence on Ms Chitra’s musical career was her father, late Krishnan Nair, who was himself a well-known singer. Ms Chitra completed her post graduation in music from Kerala University. She was trained by Professor K Omanakutty under the National Talent Search Scholarship program.
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Ms Chitra came into film music by accident. Professor Omanakutty introduced her to Mr M G Radhakrishnan, the famed Malayalam music director. She sang a song and he used it for a film. ’’I consciously did not want to sing for films. But after this song, she was called to sing for films. Those days, there were two studios in Thiruvanathapuram itself. And that too facilitated her becoming a singer for films. For, if the studios were elsewhere, she doubt that she would have trudged that far to sing while she was still studying.’’ And filmdom would have lost a marvellous voice. Though the appreciation for her voice range and versatility spread all through the south and later nationwide, Ms Chitra has not let all this forget her upbringing. ’’she was raised in a family where they were never let out alone without a companion. And even today, she cannot go anywhere without someone accompanying her. So much so that, now for her frequent trips to Mumbai, her husband accompanies her, ’’ she says. Does that mean she is not confident? ’’she is confident about her talent but she understand her limitations, ’’ she says. ’’And she is not ashamed of the fact that she is dependent on her family for everything in her life.’’
She went on to sing for films like Attahaasam, Snehapurvarn Meera, and Nyan Ekananu. She was soon making a mark in Malayalam films, and was lucky to flower under the guidance of the illustrious Dr K J Yesudas.
News of this young singer’s popularity and talent spread, and music director Ilayaraja initiated her stint in Tamil films with Naan Thaana Antha Kuyil. But it was with the 1986 film Sindhu Bhairavi that Chitra won widespread acclaim and a National Award.
After this, there was no looking back. Film music lovers were charmed by this singer who had strong classical grounding, and could master even the most difficult nuances of music. She has, now to her credit, over 11, 000 songs in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali and Oriya.
Chitra is the finest example of true talent weathering many a storm and still enduring. She will continue gifting us with memorable songs.
listen to some of her tamil hits
https://raaga.com/channels/tamil/artist/Chitra.html
Some of her songs in Hindi……
2001
Aks
Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya
1997
Aflatoon
Moun
Rangeela Raja
Sajna Doli Leke Aana
1995
Rangeela
1993
Ashaant
1991
Kshana Kshnanam (Telugu)
Ennavo Nadikkaradhu (Tamil)
Hairaan (Hindi)
1986
Sindhu Bhairavi (Tamil)
2000
Piya Basanti (non-film)
Sunset Point (non-film)
1996
Aaj Ka Romeo
Chor Chor
Daanveer
Muqadar
Saahasa Veerudu Saagara Kanya (Telugu)
Tu Hi Mera Dil
1994
Bombay
Suhaag
The Gentleman
1992
Roja
1988
Soora Samharam