Padma Shri K.S.Chitra: is a singer who has made her mark in the Indian (film) playback industry. Known as the “Nightingale of South India”. Born on July 27, 1963, in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), into a family of musicians. Her late father, Krishnan Nair, a music teacher, was extremely delighted to see his daughter's interest in music at such a tender age. Her mother was a veena-player and music teacher. Her Sister, K.S. Beena, was also a singer. Chitra would listen to elder sister K.S. Beena learning 'kirtanas' (classical compositions) from her music teacher. In the process, she learnt a few herself. She has one younger brother who plays guitar very well. Both her sister and brother are settled abroad.

She has always confessed that it was music, not studies, that attracted her even when she was in school. She would walk on the terrace with a book in hand, pretending to study, when all the while she was actually humming a song she had heard at the temple nearby. Chitra's father decided to apply for a central government scholarship for those taking up classical music seriously. The condition was that the student should have undergone at least two years of classical music training. But it was only elder sister Beena who had learnt Carnatic music for over two years, Chitra was only a listener.Nevertheless, her father wrote in the application that Chitra too had been learning. She was called for the interview and asked to sing a song. She sang one in the Thodi ragam, and won the scholarship for seven years.

Her family had had no association with films, and not even in her wildest dreams did she think of entering the film world. Her fondness for film songs ended with sitting at the back of a hall, listening to programmes by the famous Yesudas and Sujatha.

MS. Chitra did post-graduation in music in the University of Kerala. She got married to Vijayashankar, an Engineer, who is extremely supportive, undemanding and shares her devotion to music. After a wait of over a decade, Chitra was blessed with a baby girl, Nandhana.

Professional Career

Chitra believes it was her destiny to become a film singer. Born into a family of musicians, Chitra’s talent was recognized and nurtured from an early age by her father, the late Krishnan Nair. He was also her first guru (teacher). She started learning Carnatic music seriously from Omanakutty, sister of the famed Malayalam music composer M.G. Radhakrishnan , after she was selected for the National Talent Search Scholarship from the Central Government from 1978 – 1984.

She was introduced to Malayalam playback singing by Shri. M.G.Radhakrishnan in 1979. Lata Mangeshkar believes that Chitra is the best (next to herself). Even many Hindi music directors believe that Chitra is on par with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. She has worked with music directors such as Gulzar, Ustad Ali, Ghulam Ali, Anu Malik, and A. R. Rahman. She is the best female singer ever in malayalam playback music.

She moved to Film music with lot of guidance and support from her Mentor K.J.Yesudas. Her first songs were for the films like 'Attahaasam', 'Snehapoorvam Meera', and 'Njaan Ekananu' and from then on there was no looking back. Her expressive melodious voice got her plenty of offers and she was soon making a mark in Malayalam films to the extent that she has today monopolised Malayalam film music.

Ms Chitra's foray into Hindi film music was with the song 'Saathiya, ye tune kya kiya' in the film 'Love'. Some of the Hindi films that she has given hit songs are 'Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya', 'Aks', 'Ashoka', 'Rangeela', Bombay etc. She is one singer who has successfully broken the North-South divide and blazed a trail of glory in both.

Chitra who has a strong base in classical music has an ability to pick up even the most difficult pitch with ease. Ms Chitra has many albums especially devotional music to her credit. She has also tried her hand in pop music and made an album with the 'Voodoo Rapper'. Her hugely successful albums include 'Piya Basanti'; her collaboration with sarangi exponent Ustad Sultan Khan, 'Sunset Point', where she worked with Gulzar and Bhupinder.

Chitra, who is a Grade A artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan, has established her own recording label - Audiotracs, to promote new talents in the music world by giving them opportunities to collaborate with her as singers, lyricists and music directors.

She has rendered more than 16000 songs (PlayBack + Non-film songs) . However, success has made Chitra more humble and down to earth. To recall in an interview when she was asked by the interviewer whether she has any idea of teaching kids, she humbly replied “Music is an ocean. I need to learn first to teach anyone. And, I am still learning. So, there is no question of teaching to someone”.

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