All you need to know about K S Chithra: The living legend with a melodious voice

K S Chithra is one of the most revered names in the music industry. With a career spanning more than 4 decades, she is a force to be reckoned with. The 62-year-old is often labeled as the ‘Nightingale of South India’, and has more than 25,000 singing credits under her name.

Here is all you need to know about the legendary and iconic singer.

About the ‘Nightingale of South India’

K S Chithra was born on July 27, 1963, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. From an early age, she was heavily exposed to the world of music as her father was a musician. She was formally trained in Carnatic music from a young age and shared her father's love and respect for classical music.Over the years, Chithra continued to work and hone her skills until, in the 1980s, she had her big break.

She was discovered by famed music director M. G. Radhakrishnan, and the rest is history. Over the years, she has worked extensively across the music industry. She is primarily focused on creating music for films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Not only that, but she has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry, which include Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, M. M. Keeravani, and many others.

Other than her music, she is also known for her laid-back and simple personality, often prioritizing staying away from the limelight and letting her music speak for itself. Her debut came in some Malayalam films, which included ‘Attahasam’, ‘Snehapoorvam Meera’, and ‘Njan Ekananu’, to name a few.

K S Chithra’s accomplishments over the years

In the past four decades, she has worked across several films and genres, many of which have helped her win some big awards. She has received around 12 International honours and 6 National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer. Not only that, but she has also received one of India’s highest honors of all time, the Padma Shri in 2005 and Padma Bhushan in 2021. Till this day, K S Chithra is active in the music industry and continues to work her way around.