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.
In 2010, she was the winner of the south Indian singing show Star Singer season 5, broadcast by the Malayalam TV channel Asianet.– She is a judge of Super Singer Junior.
Early life and background Kalpana Raghavendar was born into a Tamil musical family. Her father, T. S. Raghavendra, was a renowned playback singer, actor and composer, and her mother, Sulochana, is also a singer. She has a younger sister, Shekinah Shawn (born Prasanna Raghavendar) who is an opera singer. Kalpana Raghavendar took her Carnatic music lessons under Madurai T. Srinivasan. She has a Master of Computer Applications degree and is pursuing a Master of Philosophy.
Career Kalpana Raghavendar began her musical career at the age of five. She acted in the film Punnagai Mannan aged six. 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. 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.– – In 2013, she was the lead performer in a tribute concert for her guru, Madurai T. Srinivasan.
Filmography
Television Year Title Channel Language Notes2010Star Singer Season 5Asianet MalayalamStar Singer Season 5 winner 2017 Bigg Boss Telugu (season 1) Star Maa Telugu 11th place- evicted on day 282018Super Singer Junior season 6Star Vijay TamilJudge2019Super Singer TV season 1Star Maa TeluguJudge2020Super Singer Junior season 7Star Vijay TamilJudge2020Saregamapa champions Zee Telugu Telugu Judge2021Airtel Super Singer season 8Star Vijay TamilJudgeSuper Singer Junior season 8Judge2022Star Singer season 8AsianetMalayalamJudge2024Super Singer 10Star VijayTamilGuest
As actor Year Film Role Language Notes1984 Vaidehi Kathirunthal Tamil 1986 Punnagai Mannan Little girl in store Tamil
Discography 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 Ratir 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 Tamil2002 "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 Telugu2003 "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 Telugu2004 "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 M.B.B.S. Telugu "Sande Poddu" Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. 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 Telugu2005 "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 Khaidi Premakatha Telugu "Vadi Vedi" Satti Telugu "Chiru Chiru Chudaraa" Hangama Telugu "Adagandha Andaalu" Ayodhya Telugu2006 "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 Telugu2008 "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 Telugu2009 "Premante Adho Iidhi" Adhineta Telugu "Boomi Kothikum" Arundhathee Tamil "Sandhanakkuyiley Unakkaaga" Thozhi Tamil "Ammamo Pilode" Adugu Telugu "Yaraadi Nee Mohini" Eesaa Tamil "Sayyare Sayya" Drona Telugu 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 Telugu2011 "Acham" Kullanari Koottam Tamil "Ooru Usilampatti" Keezha Theru Kicha Tamil "Aaroora Aariraaro" Sirai Pozludhugal Tamil2012 "Adire andhalu" Nandeeswarudu Telugu "Kozhutha Koyya" Kollaikaran Tamil "Kozhutha Koyya (SolarSai)" Kollaikaran Tamil2013 "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 Kannada2014 "Dikkulu chudaku" Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya Telugu "Undile" Undile Manchi Kalam Mundu Mundhuna Telugu "Prasanna" Dhee Ante Dhee Telugu2015 "Gundello" Andhra Pori Telugu "Pogiren" 36 Vayadhinile Tamil2016 "Yappa Chappa" Kanithan Tamil "Jiguru Jiguru" Rajini Murugan Tamil "Kaara Karuuna" Mapla Singam Tamil "Adho Theme" Manithan Tamil "Oyaa Oyaa" Kaashmora Tamil2022 "Veezehendhen" Regina Tamil2023 "Kodi Parakura Kaalam" Maamannan Tamil 2024"Telangana Tejam"Keshava Chandra RamavathTelugu
Awards Won – Nandi Award for Best Playback Singer Female for the song "Navamoorthulainatti" from Intinta Annamayya (2018) Won – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song Pogiren from 36 Vayadhinile(2015)
References
External links
Television interview on ABN Andhra Jyothi Television interview on TV9