Chitra Iyer

Chitra Iyer
Iyer (second to right) in 2007
Iyer (second to right) in 2007
Background information
BornKarunagappally Kerala, India
GenresPlayback singing
Occupation(s)Singer, television host, Actor
Years active2000–present

Chitra Iyer (also credited as Chitra Sivaraman) is an Indian playback singer who has worked in Indian and Italian films across five different industries primarily in Malayalam.

A resident of Bangalore, Chitra worked extensively with A. R. Rahman during the early 2000s on his Tamil films, while also having an alternate career as a television host and actress on Malayalam television.[1][2]

Career

Early in her career, Chitra Iyer attempted to reach out to composer A. R. Rahman to work with him, but found it difficult as she was based out of Bangalore. In 2000, Rahman initiated contact with Chitra and invited her to come to Chennai with a demo cassette of her work, with Chitra recording a series of Tamil and Malayalam songs.[3] On the day of her visit to Chennai, Rahman immediately heard the songs and hired her to record for the song "Athini Sithini" for the film Thenali (2000) during the same evening. She subsequently continued to work for other composers in Tamil cinema including Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Bharadwaj and Vidyasagar under her post-marriage name of Chitra Sivaraman. Furthermore, apart from in her mother tongue of Tamil, Chitra continued to sing playback for Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films.[3]

In the Malayalam entertainment industry, she had an alternate career as an anchor of a Malayalam singing show, Jeeva's Sapta Swarangal and hosted it under her maiden name, Chitra Iyer. Having done her education in Kerala, she had a good foundation in the Malayalam language, with her work on the show leading to further opportunities to sing for films.[3]

Personal life

Chitra Iyer is married to former Air Force pilot Vinod Sivaraman since 12 July 1989. The pair met at the insistence of their parents at Chennai Gymkhana Club in early 1989, and have since had two daughters Aditi and Anjali.[4] Anjali is known for her performance in the 2023 Netflix series Class.

In recent years, alongside her television commitments, Chitra has worked as the founder and trustee of the Society for Elephant Welfare in Kerala.[5] She has also promoted farming with the state, supporting a project launched by her mother Rohini Iyer.[6] Likewise, she launched a software company, Darkhorse Productions, in 2013 alongside her daughters Aditi and Anjali Sivaraman.[7]

Notable discography

Tamil
Year Song title Film Music Director Notes
2000 "Athini Sithini" Thenali A. R. Rahman
2001 "Athan Varuvaga" Dumm Dumm Dumm Karthik Raja
2001 "Adi Nenthikkitten" Star A. R. Rahman
2001 "Thozha Thozha" Pandavar Bhoomi Bharadwaj
2001 "Colour Colour" Manadhai Thirudivittai Yuvan Shankar Raja
2001 "Panjaangam Paarakadhe" Thavasi Vidyasagar
2002 "Neruppu Koothadikudhu" Thulluvadho Ilamai Yuvan Shankar Raja
2002 "Dhuan Dhuan Sa" 16 December Karthik Raja
2003 "Vasiyakaara" Pudhiya Geethai Yuvan Shankar Raja
2003 "Ale Ale" Boys A. R. Rahman
2003 "Asathura" Enakku 20 Unakku 18 A. R. Rahman
2004 "Anarkali" Kangalal Kaidhu Sei A. R. Rahman
2004 "Bommalattam" Bose Yuvan Shankar Raja
Malayalam
Year Song title Film Music Director
1996 Kunjikattin Naalamkettile Nalla Thampimar SP Venkatesh
1998 Aadharam Madhuram Gramapanchayath Berny Ignatius
1998 Thankamani Tharamay Kudumba Varthakkal
2001 Kalakalam Padum Korappam the Great Balabhaskar
2002 Raavinte Devahridayam Mazhathullikilukkam Suresh Peters
2002 Kaatoram Kadaloram Sisiram Berny Ignatius
2002 Pakkala
2003 Ishtamallada Swapnakoodu Mohan Sithara
2003 Chundatu chettipoo Chronic Bachelor Deepak Dev
2003 Nalkani Aayalo Ottakambi Nadam Ramesh Narayan
2003 Oru Swapnam
2004 Valentine Valentine Youth Festival M. Jayachandran
2004 Maatupetti Mayilattam
2004 Paalathil Thallithali Udayam Mohan Sithara
2004 Rithame
2005 Oru Swapnam December Jassie Gift
2005 Kadamthadi
2006 Kusumavadana Madhuchandralekha M. Jayachandran
2006 Kaadukulirana Bada Dosth
2007 Sneham Kondoru Sooryakireedam Bennet
2007 Sneham Kondoru (slow)
2011 Maanmizhi Metro Shaan Rahman
2011 Maanmizhi (Remix)
2013 Hey Ethuvazhi Arikil Oraal Gopi Sundar

Television

  • Sapthaswarangal (Asianet) as Host
  • Idea Star singer 2006 (Asianet) as Judge
  • Voice of Kerala (Surya TV) as Judge
  • Sangeetha Mahayudham (Surya TV) as Team Captain
  • Malayalee House (Surya TV) as Contestant
  • Super Star Global (Amrita TV) as Judge
  • Flowers Oru Kodi (Flowers TV) as Contestant
Other TV Shows as guest
  • JB Junction
  • Onnum Onnum Moonu
  • Symphony
  • Ente Daivam
  • Tharapakittu
  • Annonyam
  • Tarang
  • Thara Dambathimarude Samsthana Sammelanam

She has also performed in a few Mauritius Television shows as Performer

TV serials - Malayalam
Year Title Channel Role Notes
2002 Venalmazha Surya TV — Singer - Thalirayi song
2013 Kumkumapoovu Asianet Arundathi Jithan's friend Super hit
2015-2016 Eeran Nilavu Flowers (TV channel) Vidyabharathi
2018–2019 Gauri Surya TV Yamini

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "Find a track - Asian Network - BBC Music". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  2. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories". The Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "When fortune met talent..." The Hindu. 2 January 2004. Archived from the original on 20 November 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  4. ^ "shevlin's world: July 2013". shevlinsebastian.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Society for Elephant Welfare". sew-india.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Mathrubhumi: ReadMore -'Rohini Iyer earns income through varied farming'". mathrubhumi.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  7. ^ "DARKHORSE PRODUCTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED". Indian Company Info. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2017.