Kavita Krishnamurthy – EVERYTHING to know about in simple and easy way.

Kavita Krishnamurthy, born Sharada Krishnamurthy, is a renowned Indian playback and classical singer with an impressive repertoire of 50,000 songs in 45 languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, and many more. She has won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Awards (1995-1997) and was honored with the Padmashri in 2005 for her outstanding contributions to Indian music. In 2015, Jain University in Bangalore awarded her an honorary doctorate. Married to the famous violinist L. Subramaniam since 1999, Kavita continues to be a significant figure in the music industry, residing in Bengaluru.

Kavita Krishnamurthy, born Sharada into a Tamil Iyer family in New Delhi, is the daughter of T. S. Krishnamurthy, who worked for the Education Ministry. Her musical journey began thanks to her aunt Protima Bhattacharya, who enrolled her to train under guru Surama Basu in Rabindra Sangeet. Kavita later pursued formal training in Hindustani classical music under the guidance of classical singer Balram Puri. By the age of eight, she had won a gold medal at a music competition and continued to excel, winning several medals in the Inter-Ministry Classical Competition in New Delhi during the mid-1960s.

During her college days at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Kavita Krishnamurthy got a significant break when she recorded a song for the Bengali film Shriman Prithviraj in 1971, alongside Lata Mangeshkar, under the direction of composer Hemant Kumar. Although she initially aspired to join the Indian Foreign Services, her passion for music led her to Mumbai at the age of 14 to pursue a career as a playback singer in Hindi films.

An alumnus of St. Xavier’s College with a BA Honors in Economics, Kavita was deeply involved in the college’s music group. It was during the annual college festival, Malhar, that she met Ranu Mukherjee, Hemant Kumar’s daughter, who reintroduced her to her father. Hemant Kumar began featuring her in his live performances, where she was noticed by playback singer Manna Dey, who then employed her for advertisement jingles. Through her aunt’s contacts, Kavita met Jaya Chakravarthy, actress Hema Malini’s mother, who introduced her to music director Laxmikant of the Laxmikant–Pyarelal duo in late 1976, marking the start of her prolific career in playback singing.

Kavita Krishnamurthy: A Prolific Playback Journey

Kavita Krishnamurthy, a name synonymous with versatility in Indian playback singing, began her career with her first song in Kadambari (1976), composed by Vilayat Khan. She initially worked as a dubbing artist for Laxmikant–Pyarelal, cutting demos for singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Her first Kannada song, “Ondanondu Kaaladaga,” in the film Ondanondu Kaladalli (1978), became a hit and earned her fame in the Kannada music industry. In 1980, she sang “Kaahe Ko Byaahi” in Maang Bharo Sajana, marking her debut in Hindi films, although the song was dropped from the final cut.

Kavita’s career took off with her 1985 hit “Tumse Milkar Na Jaane Kyon” from Pyaar Jhukta Nahin. This success was followed by the iconic songs “Hawa Hawaii” and “Karte Hain Hum Pyaar Mr. India Se” from Mr. India (1986), composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, which became turning points in her career. The 1990s solidified her status as a leading playback singer with hits from 1942: A Love Story, Yaraana, Agni Sakshi, Bhairavi, and Khamoshi, working with top composers like R. D. Burman, A. R. Rahman, and Ismail Darbar.

Kavita’s collaborations span numerous music directors and singers. She has sung duets with Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, and Amit Kumar, among others. Her work with female singers includes duets with Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal, and Sadhana Sargam. Kavita’s global presence is marked by performances in prestigious venues like Royal Albert Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Madison Square Garden. She has also explored fusion music, collaborating with Western artists across jazz, pop, and classical genres.

Primarily a playback singer, Kavita has also sung for various albums and performed extensively in India and internationally. In 2014, she contributed “Koi Chahat Koi Hasrat” to the album Women’s Day Special: Spreading Melodies Everywhere, showcasing her continuous evolution as a versatile and influential artist in the music industry.

Kavita Krishnamurthy’s Impact on Kannada Music

Kavita Krishnamurthy’s illustrious playback singing career began with Kannada-language films. Her first song was the title track for the film Ondanondu Kaladalli (1978). Since then, she has sung numerous hit songs in Kannada, making her a beloved figure in Karnataka.

Some of her notable songs include:

• “Bareyada Mounada Kavithe” from Sparsha
• “Hoove Hoove” from H2O
• “Endo Kanda Kanasu” from Lankesh Patrike
• “O Malle O Dumbi” from Naga Devate
• “Artha Madkolo” from Shishya
• “Kaveri Kaveri” from Raja Huli

Kavita Krishnamurthy’s Contributions to Pop and Devotional Music

In addition to her success as a playback singer, Kavita Krishnamurthy has made significant contributions to pop and devotional music. Her versatile voice has enriched numerous albums across these genres, showcasing her ability to transcend traditional boundaries. Some of her most prominent works include:

Pop Albums:

• Bhalobasi
• Dujone Dekha Holo
• Together Tagore
• Premer Neshay
• Pop Time
• Shagufthagi
• Dil Ki Awaaz
• Hasratein
• Athens
• Asmita
• Mahiya
• “Hum Dono”

Devotional Albums:

• Shiv Baba Ko Yaad Kar
• Mohe Raam Dhun Laagi
• Bhajan Stuti
• Aadi Ganesh
• Venkatesha Suprabhatam
• Shiva Shlokas
• Koi Akela Kahan
• Meera Ka Ram
• Mahalakshmi Stotram
• Sai Ka Vardaan

Kavita Krishnamurthy’s Television Appearances

Kavita Krishnamurthy has made numerous appearances on television, leveraging her popularity as a playback singer to become a sought-after guest judge on various music reality shows. She served as a judge for Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star (Season 1) on DD National, which aired during prime time. Additionally, she has appeared on Vijay TV Airtel Super Singer and Star Jalsha Super Singer.

Kavita has also lent her voice to several iconic TV serials, including Alif Laila (1980) on DD National, Mahabharat, Ramayan (1986), Shri Krishna, and the 2008 remake of Ramayan.

In 2017, she served as a special juror and judge for a UAE singing competition for students, awarding a prize of 5,000 dinars to the winner. Kavita also made a guest appearance on Rising Star Season 2, which aired on Colors TV on March 4, 2018. Her presence on these shows highlights her continued influence and contribution to the world of music and entertainment.

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