Chitra Iyer (also credited as Chitra Sivaraman) is an Indian playback singer who has worked in Indian films across five different industries primarily in Malayalam.
A resident of Bangalore, Chitra worked extensively with A. R. Rahman during the early 2000s on his Tamil films, while also having an alternate career as a television host and actress on Malayalam television.
Career Early in her career, Chitra Iyer attempted to reach out to composer A. R. Rahman to work with him, but found it difficult as she was based out of Bangalore. In 2000, Rahman initiated contact with Chitra and invited her to come to Chennai with a demo cassette of her work, with Chitra recording a series of Tamil and Malayalam songs. On the day of her visit to Chennai, Rahman immediately heard the songs and hired her to record for the song "Athini Sithini" for the film Thenali (2000) during the same evening. She subsequently continued to work for other composers in Tamil cinema including Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Bharadwaj and Vidyasagar under her post-marriage name of Chitra Sivaraman. Furthermore, apart from in her mother tongue of Tamil, Chitra continued to sing playback for Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films.
In the Malayalam entertainment industry, she had an alternate career as an anchor of a Malayalam singing show, Jeeva's Sapta Swarangal and hosted it under her maiden name, Chitra Iyer. Having done her education in Kerala, she had a good foundation in the Malayalam language, with her work on the show leading to further opportunities to sing for films.
Personal life Chitra Iyer is married to former Air Force pilot Vinod Sivaraman since 12 July 1989. The pair met at the insistence of their parents at Chennai Gymkhana Club in early 1989, and have since had two daughters Aditi Anjali, the latter known for her performance in the 2023 Netflix series Class.
In recent years, alongside her television commitments, Chitra has worked as the founder and trustee of the Society for Elephant Welfare in Kerala. She has also promoted farming with the state, supporting a project launched by her mother Rohini Iyer. Likewise, she launched a software company, Darkhorse Productions, in 2013 alongside her daughters Aditi and Anjali Sivaraman.
Notable discography Tamil Year Song title Film Music director Notes 2000 "Athini Sithini" Thenali A. R. Rahman 2001 "Athan Varuvaga" Dumm Dumm Dumm Karthik Raja "Adi Nenthikkitten" Star A. R. Rahman "Thozha Thozha" Pandavar Bhoomi Bharadwaj "Colour Colour" Manadhai Thirudivittai Yuvan Shankar Raja "Panjaangam Paarakadhe" Thavasi Vidyasagar 2002 "Neruppu Koothadikudhu" Thulluvadho Ilamai Yuvan Shankar Raja "Dhuan Dhuan Sa" 16 December Karthik Raja 2003 "Vasiyakaara" Pudhiya Geethai Yuvan Shankar Raja "Ale Ale" Boys A. R. Rahman "Asathura" Enakku 20 Unakku 18 A. R. Rahman 2004 "Anarkali" Kangalal Kaidhu Sei A. R. Rahman "Bommalattam" Bose Yuvan Shankar Raja Malayalam Year Song title Film Music director 1996KunjikattinNaalamkettile Nalla ThampimarSP Venkatesh1998Aadharam MadhuramGramapanchayathBerny IgnatiusThankamani TharamayKudumba Varthakkal2001Kalakalam PadumKorappam the GreatBalabhaskar2002Raavinte DevahridayamMazhathullikilukkamSuresh PetersKaatoram KadaloramSisiramBerny IgnatiusPakkala2003IshtamalladaSwapnakooduMohan SitharaChundatu chettipooChronic BachelorDeepak DevNalkani AayaloOttakambi NadamRamesh NarayanOru Swapnam2004Valentine ValentineYouth FestivalM. JayachandranMaatupettiMayilattamPaalathil ThallithaliUdayamMohan SitharaRithame2005Oru SwapnamDecemberJassie GiftKadamthadi2006KusumavadanaMadhuchandralekhaM. JayachandranKaadukuliranaBada Dosth2007Sneham Kondoru SooryakireedamBennetSneham Kondoru (slow)2011Maanmizhi MetroShaan RahmanMaanmizhi (Remix)2013Hey EthuvazhiArikil OraalGopi Sundar
Television Sapthaswarangal (Asianet) as Host Idea Star singer 2006 (Asianet) as Judge Voice of Kerala (Surya TV) as Judge Sangeetha Mahayudham (Surya TV) as Team Captain Malayalee House (Surya TV) as Contestant Super Star Global (Amrita TV) as Judge Flowers Oru Kodi (Flowers TV) as Contestant
Other TV Shows as guest JB Junction Onnum Onnum Moonu Symphony Ente Daivam Tharapakittu Annonyam Tarang Thara Dambathimarude Samsthana Sammelanam
She has also performed in a few Mauritius Television shows as Performer TV serials - Malayalam Year TitleChannel Role Notes2002 Venalmazha Surya TV Singer - Thalirayi song2013 Kumkumapoovu Asianet Arundathi Jithan's friendSuper hit2015-2016 Eeran Nilavu Flowers (TV channel) Vidyabharathi2018–2019Gauri Surya TV Yamini
Filmography 2005 - Athira X C (Malayalam) - telefilm 2007 - Rathri Mazha (Malayalam) as Mohini Natyamandir 2009 - Makante Achan (Malayalam) as herself 2010 - Kaaryasthan (Malayalam) as herself 2011 - Makaramanju (Malayalam) as Rukku Bai 2012 - Casanovva (Malayalam) as Salsa Teacher 2012 - Unnam (Malayalam) as Padma 2012 - Arike (Malayalam) as Kalpan's chitta 2018 - B.Tech (Malayalam) as Priya's mother 2021 - Mohan Kumar Fans as herself 2022 - Jana Gana Mana as Swetha Gupta 2022 - Meri Awas Suno as Prof. Renuka Varma 2024 - Manorathangal as Tamil lady - Anthology series; Segment : Vilpana
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