K. S. Chithra

`I compose in a jiffy'

I like it when the raga matches the situation - Chithra

K.S. CHITHRA AND BHARADWAJ TAKE TIME OFF TO CHAT

They are not new to each other. Yet, they have never discussed music, though it's a common passion. There's little time for conversation because recording sessions keep them busy. But, when requested to do a `Take Two' music director Bharadwaj and playback singer K .S. Chithra happily agreed. The venue was the GRT Grand.

S. R. Ashok Kumar recorded the conversation.

Bharadwaj: Did you think you would be a popular singer one day?

Chithra: Certainly not. Both my parents were teachers. So I thought I would follow in their footsteps. But I was interested in music and started taking lessons. My guru M. G. Radhakrishnan's brother, who was into film music direction, gave me my first break in playback singing. Ilaiyaraaja heard my rendering of the Malayalam version of "Poove Poochuda Va" and asked me to sing the same number in Tamil. It marked my foray into the Tamil film industry. Tell me, how did you enter films?

Audition at AIR

Bharadwaj: I hail from Tirunelveli but studied and began my career as a chartered accountant in New Delhi. Singing, however, remained my first love since my school days. At the All India Radio audition they wanted me to sing my own composition and not a recorded version of a popular song. I set my grandfather's lyrics to tune and passed the audition. That's how I took to composing music. I schooled seriously in music and studied Carnatic, Hindustani and western styles at Delhi University. Devotional songs became my forte. I decided to try my luck in films either in Mumbai or Chennai as I thought my knowledge of Hindi and Punjabi would stand me in good stead. My first stint at music direction was in a Telugu film. It was followed by Kannada films and finally Tamil ["Kadal Mannan"]. Chithra, you've also sung 10 songs for me in 1988, remember? You are known for your excellent pronunciation of Telugu. How did you master the nuances?

Chithra: (With a smile) I must thank S. P. Balasubramaniam for this. Besides Telugu and Malayalam, I have sung in six languages. How do you choose ragas when you compose for a particular situation?

Spontaneous

Bharadwaj: I compose spontaneously. When a director describes a situation I provide him with a choice of at least a dozen tunes.

But, generally the first tune turns out to be the best.

Chithra: (Nods in agreement) This is true even with singers. The first take is the best. I also enjoy it when the raga matches the situation. Take "Autograph", for instance. Your composition `Ovvoru Pookalume' in Sindhubairavi raga that I rendered was apt for the situation. During a recent show in the U.S. an elderly man walked up to me and said he had travelled nearly 1000 km to hear me render just this song.

Many visually challenged people have also appreciated this composition.

Bharadwaj: The reason is that you have sung it in the right spirit.

Chithra: I've taken a break from recording for some months now. You see, my daughter Nandana was born after a 15-year wait.

Bharadwaj: Do you enjoy cooking?

Chithra: Not much. But, I've employed cooks because the smoke and stifling atmosphere in the kitchen can ruin my voice. (Laughs) What's more, my husband does not know how to prepare even a cup of tea.

Bharadwaj: You have sung nearly 15,000 songs. When are you going to take to music direction?

Chithra: As we own an audio company my husband asks me to try a hand at it. But, till today, I have not tested my talent. However, I have set slokas to tune. I wonder why music directors these days have also begun singing.

Bharadwaj: In AIR musicians are known as `staff artistes'. We are like them. If a singer does not turn up the staff artiste fills in. That is how I have sung a couple of numbers.

Chithra: Do you encourage newcomers?

Bharadwaj: I encourage young talent and have given quite a few new singers an opportunity. (It was time to leave... but not before Chithra hummed the tune from "Autograph")

I was fortunate to get this song: Chitra

K. PRADEEP

K.S. Chitra won the National award for her song in the film `Autograph.'

For K.S. Chitra her sixth National award is special. It raises hopes of a return of lyrical songs at a time when popular music has been reduced to a cacophony of cheap imitation of outdated Western trends. This then becomes special for Chitra who has always strived to maintain high standards with her remarkable resilience, ability to apply imagination to her sensuous voice and her unique capacity to sing with imagination.

In the midst of all the noise, when once in a while a song becomes an integral part of the film, when the lyrics get due attention, and the music and voice of the singer fuse harmoniously, it wins instant recognition.

Chitra's song `Ovvoru Pookkalume... ' from the Tamil film `Autograph' was one such instance. And the lyricist Pa Vijay and the singer have been honoured for their efforts.

"I think I was fortunate to get this song. Rarely do you get such meaningful lyrics. Set to Sindhubairavi raga by music director Bharadwaj, the song evokes a lot of positive energy. It is not just my voice that is in it, my heart is also there; my moral convictions have all been transferred into it. It is one of those songs that you could sing anywhere. After it was recorded I prayed that it would be noticed.

"The song forms an integral part of the film. The scene in the film shows some unemployed youngsters who are fed up with life. They listen to the strains of a song from a nearby hall. They walk into the place and see a group of blind musicians. The song sings about life and how one must face it with self-confidence. It exhorts us not to succumb to failure and depression. I heard that a school in Tiruchirapalli is using it as their prayer song and I read somewhere that it has been included in the syllabus of one of the universities in Tamil Nadu."

Bollywood experience

It is songs like this and the recognition for the effort that keeps Chitra focussed on her job despite so many hiccups. Her last award was for the Hindi film `Virasat' (1997) and Chitra had carved a niche for herself in Bollywood. But, like in the case of many South Indian singers, she had to face a lot of drawbacks. There were many instances when her songs were replaced with songs sung by another singer in the audiocassettes and were even removed from the films.

"What pained me was that they never bothered to inform me why my songs were being replaced. Initially, I was really hurt. But then that was not the end of the world. I'm quite satisfied with the offers from South Indian films."

Chitra is now excitedly waiting for the release of Ghulam Ali's new album in which she has sung three songs. "It came as a pleasant surprise. I got a telephone call from Ghulam Ali Sahib asking me if I was interested in singing for his new album. I did not know what to say for a while and readily accepted it. Ashaji (Bhonsle) and Ghulam Ali Sahib are the main singers. I have a folksy number and two duets with Ali Sahib. The music is by Ali Sahib's son. The final mixing will be done in London and the release is, I believe, planned in a grand manner." She has also sung in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's `Parineeta.'

Of late in Malayalam films there is a new trend of cutting out songs from the film and in some cases even from the cassettes and CDs. "This has happened so many times. Nowadays, I cross my fingers when I watch a film for which I had sung, for it may not be featured in it at all. I have sung in a few new films like `Udayon' but I'm not sure how that will turn out."

National recognition

The Padmashri and National award have, perhaps, added to her responsibilities. Talk about the Padmashri Awards and Chitra begins to laugh. The award function went off well but the next day one of the newspapers carried a photograph of Chitra getting an autograph from Shahrukh Khan. "My friends and relatives began pulling my leg. I was doing that for my sister's children who were die-hard Shahrukh fans. I do have a fairly good collection of autographs but this one was not for me."

Chitra has another unique collection. Usually, music directors teach the singers how to render their tunes before the actual recording. Chitra has preserved the records of these training sessions. "This is something I value a great deal. The recordings include the voices of all the music directors who have taught me, right from R.D. Burman and M.S. Viswanathan, to younger directors with whom I have worked. Sometimes it is the pallavi or the charanam of a song, with some of them playing on their favourite instruments."

Although she has cut down on her travel and grinding work schedule after the birth of her daughter Nandana, Chitra still shuttles between various South Indian cities for recordings and performances. All this has stood in the way of her dream of giving Carnatic concerts.

"I still do not know how to face criticism and controversies. I try hard to steer myself away from all that. So, moving into Carnatic music will be only when I'm doubly sure.

"I do try and brush up my classical music but that will not be enough for a full-fledged concert. To keep myself in touch I have come out with a few albums like `Classical Moods' and `Devipriya' that are basically classical kirtans and bhajans. But I feel I still need more time. At this stage of my career there cannot be room for mistakes."

S.R. Ashok Kumar

"I performed live concerts with K.J. Yesudas in India and abroad and that was a turning point in my career"

Chitra, playback singer.

`Chinnakuyil' Chitra's latest recognition is in the form of a national award for the best playback singer (female). But then national awards are not new to her. Chitra looks back on her singing career this week.

I am from a family of musicians. My father Krishnan Nair, also a singer, was my first teacher. I did post-graduation in music in the University of Kerala. I also took training in Carnatic music from K. Omanakutty, a professor in the university. I got the Central Government's national cultural talent search scholarship for vocal classical music from 1978 to 1984.

It was music director M.G. Radhakrishnan who gave me my break. "Attahasam", "Snehapurvam Meera" and "Nan Ekananu" were my first few films. I performed live concerts with K.J. Yesudas in India and abroad and that was a turning point in my career. Veteran music directors such as Ravindran, Shyam, Jerry Amaldev, Kannor Rajan and Johnson also helped me move up in my career ladder. I was given the title `chinnakuyil' for my song in the film "Neethana Antha Kuyil." The song was composed by Ilayaraja. It was Ilayaraja who made me popular in South India by giving me chance to sing some of his best composition. I have also sung for M.S. Viswanathan, K.V. Mahadevan, Keervani, Vidyasagar, Bharadhwaj, Chakravarthy and Hamsalekha. In Hindi Anand-Milind, Nadim-Sharavan, A.R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan and Vishal.

I have sung 12,000 songs in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Oriya, Bengali, Bhaduga and Punjabi. As an exclusive artiste for Sony Music, I released two Hindi pop albums "Piya Basanti" and "Sunset Point". I have also sung the `Enchanting Melodies' (Padms of Swatithirunal) and `Krishnapriya' (Keerthans on Lord Krishna).

I have been honoured by four Southern states. Till now I have received six national awards (a record for any female playback singer) for "Sindhu Bairavi" in 1986, "Nakhashatangal" (1987), "Vaishali" (1989), "Minsara Kanavu" (1996), "Virasat" (1997) and now for "Autograph" for 2004.

I have bagged 13 Kerala State awards, 3 Tamil Nadu State awards, six Andhra State awards and two Karnataka State awards, besides 30 from different social, cultural, corporate and media organisations. I am happy to say that I am the only singer from India to perform live in the House of Commons, London, and also the first Indian female singer from South to perform live in the Royal Albert Hall.

My favourite singers: Hindi--Lathaji and Ashaji with Mohamad Rafi and Kishore Kumar. In the South--S. Janaki and P. Susheela, K.J. Yesudas and S.P. Balasubramaniam.

If you want me to choose the best among the national award song then I would say first is the best. The composition was from Ilayaraja and it was "Sindhu Bairavi". Among the three best from all my songs then I would say is `Varmukelae' from the film "Mazha". The second is `Ethetho Ennam Valarthean' from "Punnagai Mannan" and the third is from `Khanahai Kiya' from Bombay.

I wish that God allowed me to sing till I am capable. My husband Vijay Shanker manages my recording dates and our cassette company. My daughter Nandana, aged two-and-a-half, enjoys good music.

The recent award winning song Pa. Vijai's `Ovvoru Pookalumae' from "Autograph" has inspiring lyrics. Director Cheran sat through the entire recording. He took more care to see that the song came out well. In fact, I had to redo two lines as people were not satisfied that part. Today wherever I go, people demand that I sing this song. If there is no orchestra they would ask me to sing at least four lines of the song. When I came to know about the national award I personally thanked director Cheran and director Baradhwaj.

Classical gems from Chitra

Classical Moods

Devipriya

Manorama Music,

Rs. 50.00

One dream that K. S. Chitra has been chasing for long is getting seriously into the classical circuit. It is not that this gifted singer has not made a try. She has conducted Carnatic classical concerts on a few stages but is still rehearsing for what she hopes would be a flawless act. And this rehearsal is what one finds in most of her recent albums. They are mostly classical-based ones where Chitra renders, in her dulcet voice some of the traditional krithis and bhajans.

Two of the latest to hit the stands are Classical Moods and Devipriya. The former is a collection of nine popular classical krithis and bhajans. The collection is proof of Chitra's ability to flit smoothly from Carnatic to Hindustani ragas with the mood and emotion intact. Included in this album are some select pieces like the `Gayiye Ganapathi... ' by Thulasidas, `Kuzhal oothi... ' by Oothukkadu Subramania Iyer, the oft heard Meera bhajan `Koi kahiyore... .,' Swati Tirunal's `Tarunee... ' and Adi Sankara's `Hara noopura... '

The second album is a collection of Carnatic classical Devi sthuthis from some of the master composers like Muthuswami Dikshitar, Muthiah Bhagavathar, Purandaradas, Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer, Swati Tirunal and Irayimman Thampi. Chitra's rendering of these, especially `Pahimmam Sri Rajarajeswari... ' in Janaranjini raga, `Mamava sada janani... ' in Kanada and `Srichakraraja... ' a Ragamalika are outstanding.

Source : http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/08/06/stories/2005080603400400.htm