Chitra Iyer

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Chitra Iyer
Dirctor Lenin Rajendran with the cast of Malayalam film Ratri Mazha of Indian Panaorama at presentation on 24.11.2007 at Panji Goa.jpg
Iyer with Director Lenin Rajendran and all other cast of Malayalam film Ratri Mazha at Indian Panaorama during presentation on 24 November 2007 at Panji Goa
Background information
BornKarunagappally Kerala, India
Genres Playback 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.

Contents

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
YearSong titleFilmMusic DirectorNotes
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
YearSong titleFilmMusic Director
1996KunjikattinNaalamkettile Nalla ThampimarSP Venkatesh
1998Aadharam MadhuramGramapanchayath Berny Ignatius
1998Thankamani TharamayKudumba Varthakkal
2001Kalakalam PadumKorappam the Great Balabhaskar
2002Raavinte Devahridayam Mazhathullikilukkam Suresh Peters
2002Kaatoram KadaloramSisiram Berny Ignatius
2002Pakkala
2003Ishtamallada Swapnakoodu Mohan Sithara
2003Chundatu chettipoo Chronic Bachelor Deepak Dev
2003Nalkani AayaloOttakambi Nadam Ramesh Narayan
2003Oru Swapnam
2004Valentine ValentineYouth FestivalM. Jayachandran
2004Maatupetti Mayilattam
2004Paalathil ThallithaliUdayam Mohan Sithara
2004Rithame
2005Oru SwapnamDecember Jassie Gift
2005Kadamthadi
2006Kusumavadana Madhuchandralekha M. Jayachandran
2006Kaadukulirana Bada Dosth
2007Sneham KondoruSooryakireedamBennet
2007Sneham Kondoru (slow)
2011MaanmizhiMetro Shaan Rahman
2011Maanmizhi (Remix)
2013Hey Ethuvazhi Arikil Oraal Gopi Sundar

Television

Other TV Shows as guest

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

TV serials - Malayalam
YearTitleChannelRoleNotes
2002Venalmazha Surya TV Singer - Thalirayi song
2013 Kumkumapoovu Asianet Arundathi Jithan's friendSuper hit
2015-2016Eeran Nilavu Flowers (TV channel) Vidyabharathi
2018–2019Gauri Surya TV Yamini

Filmography

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References

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