National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer

National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer
The 2021 recipient: Shreya Ghoshal
Awarded for	Best Vocal Performance by a Female Playback Singer
Sponsored by	Directorate of Film Festivals
Reward(s)	Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) ₹50,000 (US$630)
First awarded	1968
Last awarded	2021
Most recent winner	Shreya Ghoshal for "Mayava Chayava" from Iravin Nizhal
Highlights
Most awards	K.S.Chitra (6 awards)
Total awarded	53
First winner	P. Susheela

The National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (officially known as the Rajat Kamal Award for the Best Female Playback Singer) is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards of India since 1968 to a female playback singer for the best renditions of songs from soundtracks within the Indian film industry. The National Film Awards were called the "State Awards for Films" when established in 1954. The State Awards instituted the "Best Female Playback Singer" category in 1968. Throughout the years, accounting for ties and repeat winners, the Government of India has presented a total of 53 Best Female Playback Singer awards to 30 different female playback singers.

Until 1974, winners of the National Film Award in this category received a commemorative plaque and certificate; since 1975, they have been awarded with a "Rajat Kamal" (silver lotus), certificate and a cash prize that amounted to ₹50,000 (US$630) in 2012. Although the Indian film industry produces films in more than 20 languages and dialects, ^[1] the female playback singers who have received the 'Rajat Kamal' awards have recorded their renditions in nine major languages: Tamil (fifteen awards), Hindi (fourteen awards), Telugu (seven awards), Marathi (six awards), Bengali (six awards), Malayalam (four awards), Kannada (one award), Assamese (one award) and Konkani (one award).

The first recipient was P. Susheela, who was honoured at the 16th National Film Awards in 1968 for her rendition from the Tamil film Uyarntha Manithan . As of 2021, The female playback singer who won the most 'Rajat Kamal' awards is K. S. Chithra with six wins, followed by P. Susheela and Shreya Ghoshal with five wins each. S. Janaki won the award four times. Two female playback singers — Lata Mangeshkar and Vani Jairam have won it thrice, while three female playback singers — Asha Bhosle, Alka Yagnik and Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar have won it twice. Shreya Ghoshal won the award for her renditions in five different languages, followed by S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra, both of whom won for their renditions in three different languages. Sandhya Mukhopadhyay and Shreya Ghoshal are the only recipients who received the award for two renditions from two different films in the same year, with Ghoshal being the only recipient who received the award for two renditions from two different films in two different languages. K. S. Chithra and Roopa Ganguly are the only recipients who received the award for two renditions from the same film in the same year. Vani Jairam and Lata Mangeshkar are the only recipients who received the award for their various renditions in a single film in the same year. As of 2021, Uthara Unnikrishnan is the youngest recipient who received the award at the age of ten, ^[2] and Nanjamma is the oldest recipient who received the award at the age of sixty-two. ^[3] The only siblings who have received the award are Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. No award was given in this category at the 21st National Film Awards in 1973. The most recent recipient of the award is Shreya Ghoshal who was honoured at the 69th National Film Awards for the song "Mayava Chayava" from the Tamil film Iravin Nizhal . ^[4]

Key

Symbol	Meaning
Year	Indicates the year in which the film was censored by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
†	Indicates a joint award for that year
‡	Indicates that the winner won the award for two renditions from the same or two different films in that year
⸸	Indicates that the winner won the award for various renditions in that year

Superlatives

Wins	Image	Recipient(s)	Years
6		K. S. Chithra	1985, 1986, 1988, 1996, 1997, 2004
5		P. Susheela	1968, 1971, 1976, 1982, 1983
5		Shreya Ghoshal	2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2021
4		S. Janaki	1977, 1980, 1984, 1992

Recipients

P. Susheela has won the award five times. She is the first-ever recipient of the award.

With six wins in three distinct languages, K. S. Chithra is the most awarded recipient in this category.

Shreya Ghoshal has won the award five times in five distinct languages. She is the only recipient to be honoured for two renditions from two different films of different languages in a same year.

Lata Mangeshkar (left) has won the award thrice and Asha Bhosle (right) has won it twice. They are the only siblings to be honoured in this category.

List of award recipients, showing the year, song(s), film(s), language(s) and citation(s)

Year [lower-alpha 1]	Image	Recipient(s)	Song(s)	Film(s)	Language(s)	Citation	Refs.
1968 (16th)		P. Susheela	"Paal Polave"	Uyarndha Manithan	Tamil	–	[5]
1969 (17th)		K. B. Sundarambal	"Pazhanimalai Meethile"	Thunaivan	Tamil	–	[6]
1970 (18th) ‡		Sandhya Mukhopadhyay	"Amader Chhuti Chhuti"	Jay Jayanti [lower-alpha 2]	Bengali	–	[7]
			"Ore Sakol Sona Molin Holo"	Nishi Padma
1971 (19th)		P. Susheela	"Chittukuruvikkena Kattupaadu"	Savaale Samali	Tamil	–	[8]
1972 (20th)		Lata Mangeshkar	"Beeti Naa Bitaai Raina"	Parichay	Hindi	–	[9]
1973 (21st)	No awards						[10]
1974 (22nd)		Lata Mangeshkar	"Roothe Roothe Piya"	Kora Kagaz	Hindi	–	[11]
1975 (23rd)		Vani Jairam	"Yezhu Swarangalukkul"	Apoorva Raagangal	Tamil	–	[12]
1976 (24th)		P. Susheela	"Jhummandi Naadham"	Siri Siri Muvva	Telugu	–	[8]
1977 (25th)		S. Janaki	"Senthoora Poove"	16 Vayathinile	Tamil	For purity of diction and melodic excellence; for emotive suggestiveness and lyrical appeal; for a quality of expression which is intensely moving; for rendering the theme song "Senthoora Poove" with deep feeling, reflecting the romantic dreams of youth, slowly merging into the shadows of tragic destiny.	[13]
1978 (26th)	–	Chhaya Ganguly	"Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar"	Gaman	Hindi	For a hauting rendition of Makhdun Mohluddin's famous ghazal "Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar". The chastity of style, the purity of enunciation and the freshness of voice contribute to make it into a memorable song.	[14]
1979 (27th) ⸸		Vani Jairam	– [lower-alpha 3]	Sankarabharanam	Telugu	–	[15]
1980 (28th)		S. Janaki	"Ettumanoor Ambalathil Ezhunnallathu"	Oppol	Malayalam	For the serenity and pathos with which each rendering is imbued and for adding a new dimension to the theme of the film.	[16]
1981 (29th)		Asha Bhosle	"Dil Cheez Kya Hai"	Umrao Jaan	Hindi	For the style with which she invests the rendering of the ghazals that form a part of the texture of the film.	[17]
1982 (30th)		P. Susheela	"Priye Charusheele"	Meghasandesam	Telugu	For her immense contribution to the musical excellence of the film.	[18]
1983 (31st)		P. Susheela	"Entho Beeda Vaade Gopaludu"	M. L. A. Yedukondalu	Telugu	For her fine flight of voice in the endearing of Gopal's magical childhood in the song "Gopaludu" from the film.	[19]
1984 (32nd)		S. Janaki	"Vennello Godhari"	Sitaara	Telugu	–	[20]
1985 (33rd) ‡		K. S. Chithra	"Paadariyen"	Sindhu Bhairavi [lower-alpha 4]	Tamil	For melifluous rendering of songs, both in the folk and the classical moulds, bringing about a melodious synthesis between the two.	[21]
			"Naan Oru Sindhu"
1986 (34th)		K. S. Chithra	"Manjal Prasadavum"	Nakhakshathangal	Malayalam	For her melodious rendering of songs.	[22]
1987 (35th)		Asha Bhosle	"Mera Kuchh Saamaan"	Ijaazat	Hindi	For her rendition with high professional skill and expression, of the many nuances of emotion and meaning of the highly poetic lyrics.	[23]
1988 (36th)		K. S. Chithra	"Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum"	Vaishali	Malayalam	For her clear and tuneful rendering of the song.	[24]
1989 (37th)		Anuradha Paudwal	"He Ek Reshami Gharate"	Kalat Nakalat	Marathi	For her clear and mellifluous rendering of the song.	[25]
1990 (38th) ⸸		Lata Mangeshkar	– [lower-alpha 5]	Lekin...	Hindi	For singing with outstanding expressions with the rarest and purest of styles.	[26]
1991 (39th)		Vani Jairam	"Aanati Neeyaraa"	Swathi Kiranam	Telugu	For the texture and clarity of her voice, which enlivened the classical song sung for the child prodigy.	[27]
1992 (40th)		S. Janaki	"Inji Iduppazhagi"	Thevar Magan	Tamil	For melodious rendering of an innocent love song.	[28]
1993 (41st)		Alka Yagnik	"Ghoonghat Ki Aad Se"	Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke	Hindi	For her ability to identify herself with the characters and render the delicate nuances of human feelings in complex situations.	[29]
1994 (42nd)	–	Swarnalatha	"Porale Ponnuthaaye"	Karuththamma	Tamil	For her extraordinarily compassionate song upon which much of the crucial dramatic action in the film is enacted.	[30]
1995 (43rd)		Anjali Marathe	"Bhui Bhegalali Khol"	Doghi	Marathi	For her melodious and heart rendering song expressing the aridness of life.	[31]
1996 (44th)		K. S. Chithra	"Mana Madurai"	Minsara Kanavu	Tamil	For her soulful rendering of the song.	[32]
1997 (45th)		K. S. Chithra	"Paayalein Chhun Mun"	Virasat	Hindi	For her effortless and playful rendering of the song.	[33]
1998 (46th)		Alka Yagnik	"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai"	Kuch Kuch Hota Hai	Hindi	Her rendering of this theme song brings out the different moods and emotion and adds greatly to the impact of the film.	[34]
1999 (47th)	–	Jayshree Dasgupta	"Hriday Amar Prokash Holo"	Paromitar Ek Din	Bengali	For soulful rendering by the singer expressing the inner world of a mentally challenged character in this film.	[35]
2000 (48th)	–	Bhavatharini Ilaiyaraaja	"Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu"	Bharathi	Tamil	For the song which is outstanding because it depicts the velvet voice of the diva.	[36]
2001 (49th)		Sadhana Sargam	"Pattu Cholli"	Azhagi	Tamil	For her lilting and touching rendering of the song.	[37]
2002 (50th)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Bairi Piya"	Devdas	Hindi	For her soulful rendering of the song.	[38]
2003 (51st)		Tarali Sarma	"Kimote Bhokoti"	Akashitorar Kothare	Assamese	For her tuneful rendition of a devotional song without instrumental accompaniment.	[39]
2004 (52nd)		K. S. Chithra	"Ovvoru Pookalume"	Autograph	Tamil	For expressive and soulful rendition of the song with powerful voice throw suitable to the text and the scene.	[40]
2005 (53rd)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Dheere Jalna"	Paheli	Hindi	For her evocative rendition of a song that treads the fine balance between the classical and popular genre of Hindi film music.	[41]
2006 (54th)		Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar	–	Antarnad	Konkani	For the sonorous rendering that gives conviction to the central character of a classical vocalist.	[42]
2007 (55th)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Yeh Ishq Haaye" [43]	Jab We Met	Hindi	For her mellifluous voice and rich tonal quality. Her rendition evokes the beauty of nature through its subtle nuances.	[44]
2008 (56th) ‡		Shreya Ghoshal	"Pherari Mon"	Antaheen [lower-alpha 6]	Bengali	For her wide ranging rendition of human emotions.	[45]
			"Jeev Dangla Gungla Rangla Asa"	Jogwa	Marathi
2009 (57th)		Nilanjana Sarkar	"Boye Jay Sudhu Bish" [46]	Houseful	Bengali	For the haunting texture of a voice that blends the melody, words and rhythm.	[47]
2010 (58th)		Rekha Bhardwaj	"Badi Dheere Jali"	Ishqiya	Hindi	For a sensual and evocative rendering of a heart longing for the beloved.	[48]
2011 (59th) ‡		Roopa Ganguly	"Dure Kothao Dure Dure"	Abosheshey [lower-alpha 7]	Bengali	For her husky and haunting voice that brings a gentle, nostalgic tone and tenor to the film Abosheshey. The languid raw sensuality of her singing is heightened by the absence of musical accompaniment.	[49]
			"Aaji Bijan Ghare"
2012 (60th)		Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar	"Palakein Naa Moondon"	Samhita	Marathi	Gifted with an earthy and haunting voice the singer gives ample evidence of her classical moorings, without any instrumental embellishments.	[50]
2013 (61st)		Bela Shende	"Khurkhura"	Tuhya Dharma Koncha	Marathi	The singer has evoked the requisite emotions of the theme of the film. She has displayed a rare variety in the rendering of this composition.	[51]
2014 (62nd)	–	Uthara Unnikrishnan	"Azhagu" [lower-alpha 8]	Saivam	Tamil	For evoking an emotional resonance through the purity and innocence of her voice.	[52] [2]
2015 (63rd)		Monali Thakur	"Moh Moh Ke Dhage"	Dum Laga Ke Haisha	Hindi	For a delightful and soulful rendition of a song of love.	[53]
2016 (64th)		Iman Chakraborty	"Tumi Jaake Bhalobasho"	Praktan	Bengali	For conveying the emotion of 'letting go' in the most mellifluous and soothing manner.	[54]
2017 (65th)		Shashaa Tirupati	"Vaan Varuvaan"	Kaatru Veliyidai	Tamil	–	[55]
2018 (66th)		Bindhu Malini	"Mayavi Manave"	Nathicharami	Kannada	For rendering a haunting melody that appears to be the voice of the conscience of the protagonist.	[56]
2019 (67th)	–	Savani Ravindra	"Raan Petala"	Bardo	Marathi	For a heart-wrenching rustic rendition of a grieving mother.	[57]
2020 (68th)		Nanjamma	"Kalakkatha" [lower-alpha 9]	Ayyappanum Koshiyum	Malayalam	For the preservation of a tribal folk song in all its nativity.	[58] [3]
2021 (69th)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Mayava Chayava"	Iravin Nizhal	Telugu [lower-alpha 10]	For her melodious expression about the magic of love and longing.	[4]
					Tamil

See also

• Bollywood portal
• Music portal
• Film portal

• List of Indian female playback singers

Notes

1. Denotes The year in which the film was censored by the Central Board of Film Certification.
2. Mukhopadhyay was awarded for two songs from two different films.
3. Jairam was awarded for her various renditions in the film Sankarabharanam .
4. K. S. Chithra was awarded for two different songs in the same film.
5. Mangeshkar was awarded for her various renditions in the film Lekin...
6. Ghoshal was awarded for two songs from two different films in two different languages.
7. Ganguly was awarded for two different songs in the same film.
8. Unnikrishnan is the youngest recipient of the award who won at age of 10.
9. Nanjamma is the oldest recipient of the award who won at age of 62.
10. Ghoshal was awarded for a bilingual song.

References

1. "Central Board of Film Certification – Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Central Board of Film Certification. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
2. "10-year old Uthara to receive National Award 20 years after father singer P Unnikrishnan got". The Indian Express . 30 March 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
3. "Nanjiamma: 62-year-old tribal who won National Award for Best Female Playback Singer". The Economic Times . 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
4. "Shreya Ghoshal is now five-time National Film Award winner". ThePrint . 24 August 2023.
5. "16th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
6. "17th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
7. "18th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
8. "P Susheela Awards" . Retrieved 4 July 2012.
9. "20th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
10. "21st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
11. "22nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
12. "23rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
13. "25th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
14. "26th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
15. Narayanan, Arjun (13 December 2009). "Much more than the name of a raga". Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
16. "28th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
17. "29th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
18. "30th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
19. "31st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
20. "32nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
21. "33rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
22. "34th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
23. "35th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
24. "36th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
25. "37th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
26. "38th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
27. "39th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
28. "40th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
29. "41st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
30. "42nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
31. "43rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
32. "44th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
33. "45th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
34. "46th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
35. "47th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
36. "48th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
37. "49th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
38. "50th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
39. "51st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
40. "52nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
41. "53rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
42. "54th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
43. Percepts Kanchivaram bags highest honour at the 55th National Awards. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
44. "55th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
45. "56th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
46. "57th National Film Awards (Video)".
47. "57th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
48. "58th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
49. "59th National Film Awards for the Year 2011 Announced". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
50. "60th National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
51. "61st National Film Awards Announced" (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
52. "62nd National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
53. "63rd National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
54. "64th National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
55. "65th National Film Awards: Full winners list". The New Indian Express. 13 April 2018.
56. "National Film Awards 2019: Full winners list". The New Indian Express. 10 August 2019.
57. "67th National Film Awards announced; Sikkim wins award for Most Film Friendly State". Press Information Bureau . 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
58. "National Film Awards 2020: Full winners list". The Hindu.

External links

• Official Page for Directorate of Film Festivals, India
• National Film Awards Archives