Kavita Krishnamurthy, a celebrated Bollywood playback singer, has enthralled audiences for decades with her melodious voice. Her contributions span numerous Indian languages, showcasing her remarkable versatility and talent.
Wiki/Biography
Born on Saturday, January 25, 1958, in New Delhi, Kavita Krishnamurthy’s zodiac sign is Aquarius. She holds a B.A. Honors degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. This strong academic foundation complemented her burgeoning musical career.
Family, Caste & Husband
Hailing from a Tamilian Iyer family, her father, T.S. Krishnamurthy, worked in the Education Ministry, and her mother was Kamakshi Krishnamurthy. She has a younger brother trained in classical music. On November 11, 1999, she married renowned violinist Dr. Lakshminarayana Subramaniam, becoming his second wife. While she doesn’t have biological children, she’s a loving stepmother to his four children from his previous marriage: Narayana Subramaniam (a doctor), Ambi Subramaniam (a violinist), Gingger Shankar (a singer), and Bindu Subramaniam (a singer).
Career
Encouraged by her aunt, Protimma Bhattacharya, Kavita began her musical journey with Rabindra Sangeet training under Suruma Basu. She further honed her skills in Hindustani classical music under the guidance of Balram Puri. Her talent shone early, earning her numerous medals in Inter-Ministry Classical Competitions during her school and college years. Her career took off in 1971, with a role in the Bengali film “Shriman Prithviraj,” alongside Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar.
Introduced to music director Laxmikant by Jaya Chakravarthy in 1976, Kavita recorded her first Kannada song, “Ondanondu kaaladaga,” in 1978. Her breakthrough arrived in 1985 with “Tumse Milkar Na Jaane Kyon” from “Pyaar Jhukta Nahin,” but true recognition came with “Hawa Hawaii” and “Karte Hain Hum Pyaar Mr India Se” from the iconic “Mr India” (1986).
She collaborated with legendary figures like R.D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri, Anand-Milind, A.R. Rahman, and many more. Her versatile voice graced countless chart-topping hits, including the popular item number “Tu cheez badi hai mast mast” from “Mohra” (1994). Even in recent times, her talent was showcased in songs like “Tum Ho” from “Rockstar” (2011).
Controversy
In 2010, Kavita’s husband faced accusations of molestation from a former employee.
Awards & Honours
Kavita Krishnamurthy’s extraordinary contributions to the music industry have been widely recognized through numerous prestigious awards:
| Award | Year | Song | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filmfare Award | 1995 | Pyaar Hua Chupke Se | 1942: A Love Story |
| Filmfare Award | 1996 | Mera Piya Ghar Aaya | Yaraana |
| Filmfare Award | 1997 | Aaj Main Upar | Khamoshi: The Musical |
| Filmfare Award | 2003 | Dola Re Dola | Devdas |
| Star Screen Award | 1997 | Aaj Main Upar | Khamoshi: The Musical |
| Star Screen Award | 2000 | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam |
| Zee Cine Award | 2000 | Nimbooda | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam |
| Zee Cine Award | 2003 | Dola Re | Devdas |
| IIFA Award | 2001 | Aey Dil Laya Hai Bahar | Kya Kehna |
| IIFA Award | 2003 | Dola Re | Devdas |
| Padma Shri | 2005 | – | – |
Signature
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Favourite Things
- Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar and A.R. Rahman
- Director: Mani Ratnam
Facts
- Her real name is Sharada Krishnamurthy.
- She aspired to join the Indian Foreign Services during her school years.
- A song she sang for “Maang Bharo Sajana” (1980) was ultimately cut from the final film.
- In 2014, she performed with her husband and son at Madison Square Garden in New York during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
- Jain University awarded her an honorary Doctorate in 2015.
- Besides Bollywood, Kavita and her husband have performed extensively on national and international stages.
- Her daughter, Bindu Subramaniam, launched the “Kavita KS” app (available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store) to connect with fans.
