Kalpana Raghavendar (born 8 May 1980) is an Indian playback singer, winner of Idea Star Singer Malayalam and participant in Bigg Boss Telugu Season 1, songwriter and actor. She started her career as a playback singer at the age of five and, by 2013, had recorded 1,500 tracks and performed in 3,000 shows in India and abroad.[1]

Kalpana Raghavendar
Background information
Born (1980-05-08) 8 May 1980 (age 44)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
GenresPlayback singing, Carnatic music
OccupationSinger
WebsiteKalpana Raghavendar on Facebook

In 2010, she was the winner of the south Indian singing show Star Singer season 5, broadcast by the Malayalam TV channel Asianet.[2] She is a judge of Super Singer Junior.

Early life and background

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Raghavendar was born into a musical family. Her father, T. S. Raghavendra, was a renowned playback singer, actor and composer, and her mother, Sulochana, is also a singer.[1] She has a younger sister, Shekinah Shawn (born Prasanna Raghavendar) who is an opera singer.[3] Raghavendar took her Carnatic music lessons under Madurai T. Srinivasan.[4] She has a Master of Computer Applications degree and is[when?] pursuing a Master of Philosophy.[5]

Career

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Raghavendar began her musical career at the age of five. She acted in the film Punnagai Mannan aged six.[6] Her first vocals were for a family song with P. Susheela, Mano, M. M. Srilekha and her younger sister Prasanna, composed by the music director Saluri Vasurao.[7] As an adult, she started her career as a full-fledged playback singer in 1999 with the song "Mangalagouriki" from the Telugu film Manoharam under the music director Mani Sharma. She has worked with many legendary composers and singers like M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, K. V. Mahadevan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra. She is more familiar to the public as a stage performer rather than a playback singer, having performed nearly 3,000 stage shows worldwide.[1][8] In 2013, she was the lead performer in a tribute concert for her guru, Madurai T. Srinivasan.[4]

Television

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Year Show Channel Language Notes
2010 Star Singer Asianet Malayalam Star Singer 2010 winner
2017 Bigg Boss Telugu (season 1) Star Maa Telugu 11th place- evicted on day 28
2018 Super Singer Junior season 6 Star Vijay Tamil Judge
2019 Super Singer TV season 1 Star Maa Telugu Judge
2020 Super Singer Junior season 7 Star Vijay Tamil Judge
2020 Saregamapa champions Zee Telugu Telugu Judge
2021 Airtel Super Singer season 8 Star Vijay Tamil Judge
Super Singer Junior season 8 Judge
2022 Star Singer season 8 Asianet Malayalam Judge
2024 Super Singer 10 Star Vijay Tamil Guest

Discography

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List of songs recorded by Kalpana Raghavendar

Year Song title Film name Language Co-artist(s)
1991 "Poda Poda Punnaku" En Rasavin Manasile Tamil
1992 "Eyru Mayil Eyri" Thambi Pondatti Tamil
1995 "Thennati Singam" Pasumpon Tamil
1997 "Meenachi Kayil" Vidukathai Tamil
1999 "Thirupachi Arivaala" Taj Mahal Tamil
2000 "Manasuna Pongina" Sparsha Telugu
"Alaipongera" Sakhi Telugu
"En Manathai" Pottu Amman Tamil
"Saregama" Vamshi Telugu
"Mangala Gouri" Manoharam Telugu
2001 "Mandela Mandela " Narasimma Tamil
"Mayabini Raati Bukut" Daag Assamese Zubeen Garg
"Lala Nanthala" Narasimma Tamil
"Premante Suluvu Kadhura" Kushi Telugu
"Monalissa" Anandam Telugu
"Alai Kadalil" Pappa Tamil
"Gunthalakadi" Cheppalani undhi Telugu
"Arasanda Raman" Murari Tamil
2002 "Musugu veyyodhu" Khadgam Telugu
"Lokam" Bobby Telugu
"Ammadu Appachi" Indra Telugu
"Hey mama" Takkari Donga Telugu
"Aleba Aleba" Takkari Donga Telugu
"Cheliya cheliya singaram" Kalusukovalani Telugu
"Orinayano" Thotti Gang Telugu
"Rendu" Coolie Telugu
"Ku Ku Ku" Kouravudu Telugu
"Oh Pilla" Joruga Husharuga Telugu
2003 "Rangareddy Zilla" Ayudham Telugu
"Iylasa Kattumaram" Arasu Tamil
"Anbae Inithu" Hollywood Tamil
"Penne Neeyum" Priyamana Thozhi Tamil
"Kadalora Kavithai" Student Number 1 Tamil
"Kadhal Thozhi Kadhal Thozhi" Student Number 1 Tamil
"En Idhayam (Febi)" Dhanush Tamil
"Naan Putham Puthu" Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu Tamil
"Jee Boumbha" Alaudin Tamil
"Vaanam Enaku" Ice Tamil
"Appappa" Ice Tamil
"Dondapandu lanti" Pellam Oorelithe Telugu
"Sarigamapadanesa" Raghavendra Telugu
"Nammina Namadhi" Raghavendra Telugu
"Thillana" Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu Telugu
"Prapanchame" Abhimanyu Telugu
"O malle Puvvura" Pellam Oorelithe Telugu
"Seetharamula kalyanam" Evare Atagaadu Telugu
"Vana Vana" Evare Atagaadu Telugu
"Nee left kannu" Abbayi premalo paddadu Telugu
"Abba em body" Abbayi premalo paddadu Telugu
"Gundammo" Palnati Brahmanayudu Telugu
"Brindavanamlo" Palnati Brahmanayudu Telugu
"Preminchu kunna vaalu" Kalyana Ramudu Telugu
2004 "Abho ni amma" Anji Telugu
"Chiku Buku pori" Anji Telugu
"Indurudu" Mass Telugu
"Radhu kadha" Sakhiya Naatho raa Telugu
"Chakkaranti" Sakhiya Naatho raa Telugu
"Joole Joole" Varsham Telugu
"Ye Jilla" Shankar Dada MBBS Telugu
"Gongoora" Venky Telugu
"Azhaku Neeya" Jai Tamil
"Alek Alek" Jai Tamil
"Oru Chinna Vennila" Gambeeram Tamil
"Aggipulla Geeyagane" Okato Number Kurraadu Telugu
"Ithuvarai Yarum" Kadhaludan Tamil
"Kadal Kadal" Aalukkoru Aasai Tamil
"Bhel Poori Nan" Aalukkoru Aasai Tamil
"Asale Chalikalam" Mr & Mrs Sailaja Krishnamurthy Telugu
"Veena Vani" Pon Megalai Tamil
"Thathai Thathai" Manmadhan Telugu
"Chemma Chekka" Chanti-The hero Telugu
"Sri Anjaneyam Slokam" Sri Anjaneyam Telugu
2005 "Kandi Chenu Kada" Naa Alludu Telugu
"Pilla Chusthe" Naa Alludu Telugu
"Istanbul Rajakumari" Mazhai Tamil
"Kadavul Thanda" Maayavi Tamil
"Devaloga Rani" Maayavi Tamil
"Nenjam Ennum" Aaru Tamil
"Koncham Koncham" Thirudiya Idhayathai Tamil
"Adhire Adhire" Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana Telugu
"Agadalu Pagadalu" Radha Gopalam Telugu
"Eh Oore Chinnadana" Bhadra Telugu
"Ammama Nee Misam" Andarivaadu Telugu
"Doli Doli" Sankranthi Telugu
"Nee Varumbodhu" Mazhai Tamil
"Nagamani" That Is Pandu Telugu
"Ela Radamma" Koneti Rayuni Koti Ratnalu Telugu
"Vishnu Vishnuvani" Koneti Rayuni Koti Ratnalu Telugu
"Tirumala Sikhranan" Koneti Rayuni Koti Ratnalu Telugu
"Kathadi Pole" Maayavi Tamil
"Mallela Maimarupey" Andari kosam Telugu
"Chelivadanam" 786 Kaidi Prema Katha Telugu
"Vadi Vedi" Satti Telugu
"Chiru Chiru Chudaraa" Hangama Telugu
"Adagandha Andaalu" Ayodhya Telugu
2006 "Getup Marchesa" Andala Ramudu Telugu
"Silusilukkum Silmisham" Chennai Kadhal Tamil
"Kala Kala Kalai" E Tamil
"Thothapuram" Varalaru Tamil
"Madura Jilla" Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam Tamil
"Neeve Na Sarvam" Swapnam Telugu
"Naa Dhyanam" Swapnam Telugu
"Pranamati" Prem Telugu
"Utee Tippu" Hanumanthu Telugu
"Kalayo Vyshnava Mayo" Evandoy srivaru Telugu
"Krishnaveni Krishnaveni" Ghana Telugu
2007 "Mancham Vesy" Seema Sastri Telugu
"Na Coffee" Lakshyam Telugu
"Manmatha" Viyyalavari Kayyalu Telugu
"O Apparoa" Yamagola Malli Modalayindi Telugu
"Adukodaniki" Yamagola Malli Modalayindi Telugu
"Jalakthik Raja" Yamagola Telugu
"Okkasari" Gundamma Gaari Manavadu Telugu
"Manasantha Edo" Venkatadri Telugu
"Sexy Haseena" Venkatadri Telugu
"Hey Handsome" Viyyalavari Kayyalu Telugu
2008 "Ninne pelladukoni" Ready Telugu
"Cheppalanundi" Ontari Telugu
"Sudha Badhakam" Somberi Telugu
"Thanuvu kore" Kalyanam Telugu
"Intinta" Kuberulu Telugu
"Thodai Nuvvu Undalamma" Devarakonda Veeraiah Telugu
"Nanna Nanna" Indrajit Telugu
"Maaya Maayaga" Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters Telugu
2009 "Premante Adho Iidhi" Adhineta Telugu
"Boomi Kothikum" Arundhathee Tamil
"Sandhanakkuyiley Unakkaaga" Thozhi Tamil
"Ammamo Pilode" Adugu Telugu
"Yaraadi Nee Mohini" Eesaa Tamil
2010 "O Nene O Nuvvani" Kalavaramaye Madilo Telugu
"Ada Engengum Aasai" Kola Kolaya Mundhirika Tamil
"Jingu Chikk" Mynaa Tamil
"Pada Pada" Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu Telugu
"Manasu Manasutho" Adhi nuvve Telugu
2011 "Acham" Kullanari Koottam Tamil
"Ooru Usilampatti" Keezha Theru Kicha Tamil
"Aaroora Aariraaro" Sirai Pozludhugal Tamil
2012 "Adire andhalu" Nandeeswarudu Telugu
"Kozhutha Koyya" Kollaikaran Tamil
"Kozhutha Koyya (SolarSai)" Kollaikaran Tamil
2013 "Navamoorthulainatti" Intinta annamayya Telugu
"Nila Nila" Nirnayam Tamil
"Santhiran Sooruyan" Muthu Nagaram Tamil
"Vijay Pola" Sandhithathum Sindhithathum Tamil
"Kaali Kaali" Meiyyazhagi Tamil
"Chandare chanda" Shiva kesav Telugu
"Jam Jam Jam" Maad Dad Malayalam
"Muddada Nagaye" Galaate Kannada
2014 "Dikkulu chudaku" Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya Telugu
"Undile" Undile Manchi Kalam Mundu Mundhuna Telugu
"Prasanna" Dhee Ante Dhee Telugu
2015 "Gundello" Andhra Pori Telugu
"Pogiren" 36 Vayadhinile Tamil
2016 "Yappa Chappa" Kanithan Tamil
"Jiguru Jiguru" Rajini Murugan Tamil
"Kaara Karuuna" Mapla Singam Tamil
"Adho Theme" Manithan Tamil
"Oyaa Oyaa" Kaashmora Tamil
2022 "Veezehendhen" Regina Tamil
2023 "Kodi Parakura Kaalam" Maamannan Tamil

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Filmy-carnatic renditions". New Indian Express. 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Kalpana Raghavendra Wins Idea Star Singer Season 5". International Business Times. 25 September 2011.
    - "Kalpana Raghavendar Winner Of Idea Star Singer Season 5". Kerala TV. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. ^ Gautam, Savitha (24 April 2012). "Shekinah shawn opera". The Hindu.
  4. ^ a b Malathi Rangarajan (10 January 2013). "Congenially classical". The Hindu.
  5. ^ "About Kalpana". Vasundhara magazine. 21 September 2014.
  6. ^ "என் பாடல்கள் அளவுக்கு முகம் தமிழ் ரசிகர்களுக்குப் பரிச்சயமானதில்லை: கல்பனா ராகவேந்தர்!" [My face is not familiar to Tamil fans as my songs are: Kalpana Raghavendar!]. Dinamani (in Tamil). 16 March 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Kalpna interview - about her". ABN Andhra Jyothi. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Raining Music for a Cause". New Indian Express. 7 July 2015.
    - "Melodies United by Tune, Divided by Language". New Indian Express. 23 May 2015.
    - "Rahman and Team Recreate Magic". New Indian Express. 4 October 2014.
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