K. S. Chithra (born 27 July 1963) is an Indian playback singer known as the “Nightingale of South India”. Over more than four decades she has recorded thousands of songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and other languages. She has won six National Film Awards, the most by any female playback singer, and has been honoured with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra |
| Born | 27 July 1963, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
| Age | 63 |
| Known as | Nightingale of South India; “Vanambadi” |
| Profession | Playback singer |
| Spouse | Vijayashankar |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2005), Padma Bhushan (2021) |
| Awards | 6 National Film Awards (record for a female singer) |
Early Life
Chithra was born in Thiruvananthapuram into a musical family. Her father, Krishnan Nair, was her first teacher, and she later trained in Carnatic music. She earned a master’s degree in music from the University of Kerala.
Career
Chithra was introduced to film music by composer M. G. Radhakrishnan and began recording Malayalam songs in the late 1970s. By the mid-1980s she had become one of the leading voices in Malayalam cinema.
Composer Ilaiyaraaja brought her to Tamil cinema, and her song “Paadariyen Padippariyen” from Sindhu Bhairavi (1986) won her the first of her National Film Awards. She went on to win National Awards for songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, a total of six, the most by any female playback singer. She sang many duets with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and recorded memorable songs for A. R. Rahman, including “Kannalane” from Bombay. Her Hindi work includes the album Piya Basanti with Ustad Sultan Khan, which won an MTV award.
Personal Life
Chithra is married to Vijayashankar, an engineer. Their only daughter, Nandana, died in an accident in Dubai in 2011, a loss the singer has spoken about with great dignity. Chithra is widely admired in the industry for her humility and her charitable work.
Awards and Honours
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was K. S. Chithra born?
K. S. Chithra was born on 27 July 1963 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
What honours has K. S. Chithra received?
Padma Shri (2005), Padma Bhushan (2021).
