+ Awards Awards and honours WinsInternational honoursIndian honours systemNational HonoursState Government HonoursNational Film AwardsIndian honorificsKerala State Film AwardsAndhra Pradesh State Film AwardsTamil Nadu State Film AwardsKarnataka State Film AwardsOrissa State Film AwardsWest Bengal State Film AwardsFilmfare Awards SouthAsianet Film AwardsCineMAA AwardsMathrubhumi Film AwardsMirchi Music Awards SouthAsiavision AwardsBollywood Movie AwardsStar Screen AwardsMTV Video Music AwardMTV ImmiesCinema Express AwardsGlobal Indian Music Academy AwardsReporter TV AwardsFilm Fans Association AwardsGamma Indian Music AwardsGulf Malayalam Music Awards (GMMA)Santosham Film AwardsKerala Film Critics Association AwardsSouth Indian International Movie AwardsMazhavil Mango Music AwardsList of lifetime achievement awardsOther awardsTotal
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer and carnatic musician from Kerala. Chithra also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. Chithra, renowned for her extraordinary vocal talent, is widely recognized as the Golden Voice of India, a title bestowed upon her by the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London in 2001. The Times Group has honored her as the Melody Queen of Indian Cinema in 2016, reflecting her immense contribution to the industry. She is also celebrated as the Little Nightingale of Indian Cinema, Nightingale of South India, and in different regions, she is known by various affectionate titles: Piya Basanti in North India, Vanambadi in Kerala, Chinna Kuyil in Tamil Nadu, Kannada Kogile in Karnataka, and Sangeeta Saraswathi in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states.
Chithra is a recipient of 6 National Film Awards, 10 Filmfare Awards South and 43 State Government awards from 8 states of India including 18 from Kerala, 12 from United Andhra Pradesh, 5 from Tamil Nadu, 4 from Karnataka, and 1 each from Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments. She was awarded India's third-highest civilian honours Padma Bhushan in 2021 and Padma Shri in 2005 for her valuable contributions towards the Indian musical fraternity.
She is honoured with the title First Ladies by the President of India in 2018 for being the first Indian woman to be honoured by British Parliament at House of Commons, United in 2003. In 2024, she was again honoured by the British Parliament, United Kingdom, with the title The Greatest Indian Singer of All Times. In 2009, She became the first Indian artist to be honoured by Government of China while performing live at the Qinghai International river festival. In 2018, She was honoured by the Speaker of General Assembly, United States. Barring Lata Mangeshkar, she also remains the second female playback singer from India to have performed at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London in 2001 and her Performance was applauded with much appreciation by a roomful of an international audience.
Her song "Kannalane/Kehna Hi Kya" from the film Bombay (1995) was included in United Kingdom The Guardian "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear Before You Die" list. She is conferred with the highest honour of Rotary International, For the Sake of Honour Award in 2001 and has received the MTV Video Music Award – International Viewer's Choice at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 2001. She received honorary doctorates from Sathyabama University in 2011 and from The International Tamil University, United States in 2018.
International honours 2003 - Honoured by the British Parliament at the House of Commons in United Kingdom - (First Indian woman to achieve this feat) 2001 - GOLDEN VOICE OF INDIA - Royal Albert Hall, London 2001 - MTV Video Music Award – International Viewer's Choice at Metropolitan Opera House, New York, United States (only singer from South India to achieve this feet) 2009 - Honoured by the Government of China at Qinghai International Festival - (only Indian to achieve this feat) 2018 - Honoured by Stephen M. Sweeney, President of New Jersey Senate and Craig Coughlin, the Speaker of New Jersey General Assembly, United States 2019 - Honoured by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and is a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, UAE for successfully completing 40 Years in Indian Film Industry 2024 - Honored by the British Parliament, United Kingdom, with the title The Greatest Indian Singer of All Times. 2025 - She was formally honoured by the Parliament of South Australia in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Indian music. 2025 - She was honoured by the Texas House of Representatives, Government of Texas, United States of America, for her lasting contributions to music and the arts. 2025 - she was honoured in the United States with a Joint Legislative Resolution from the State of New Jersey and a Mayoral Proclamation from the Township of Edison for her outstanding contributions to music and philanthropy. 2025 - On October 19, 2025, the K. S. Chithra Day was proclaimed by the Shelby County Government in Memphis, Tennessee via a mayoral proclamation from the Office of the Mayor. 2025 - She was honoured by the Government of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her distinguished contributions to Indian music and her five-decade-long career.
National honours 2021 – Padma Bhushan – India's third highest civilian honour 2005 – Padma Shri – India's fourth highest civilian honour 2001 - National Excellence Award 2001 by Limca Book of Records 2018 - Rashtrapati Award for being the "First Ladies" in the field of music felicitated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of Government of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 20 January 2018.
State government honours 1997 – Kalaimamani Award – Government of Tamil Nadu 2011 – Lata Mangeshkar Award – Government of Andhra Pradesh for Cultural Council 2013 - Sangeeta Samman Puraskar (P B Srinivas) Award by the Government of Karnataka 2014 – Vanita Ratnam Award (Kamala Surayya Award) by Government of Kerala for Social Welfare Department 2018 - Harivarasanam Award by the Government of Kerala 2023 - Lata Mangeshkar Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh 2024 - 15th Ram Kadam Art Glory Award (Kala Gaurav Puraskar), Maharastra
Indian honorifics 2011 – Honorary Doctorate – Sathyabama University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 2018 – Honorary Doctorate – The International Tamil University United States Kalaimamani Kalaiselvam Gana priya Kala Ratna Kala srestha Sangeetha Ratnam Swara Ratna Sathkeerthi Sangeetha Ganendhuchooda Vanitha Ratnam Stree Ratna
Lifetime achievement awards 2003 – Lifetime Achievement Award from Global Malayali council London 2003 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award Lifetime Achievement Award 2005 – SIKHARAM – 15 lifetime achievement award 2005 from India Today 2005 – Jeevan TV – P. Jayachandran Lifetime Achievement Award 2005 2007 – Aginhotri lifetime achievement award 2007 from Samorin of Calicut 2014 - Lifetime Achievement Award from Raindropss a youth-based social organization on the occasion of Women's Day 2017 – V.C.Padmanabhan memorial award for lifetime achievement from manappuram finance Ltd. 2018 - Legend of the Year Award - RED FM MUSIC AWARDS 2018 2019 - Women achievers, News7 Tamil's Thangatharagai Lifetime Achievement award for being as an inspiring women icon and for her outstanding achievements 2019 - Most Socially Committed Lifetime Achievement Award - Ishal Laila Awards 2019, Dubai 2019 - "Excellence in the field of Music Award" - JFW Women Achievers 2021 - "Mirchi Music's Lifetime Achievement Award" for extraordinary contribution to South-Indian Film Music
National Film Awards
Chithra has won six National Awards for best female playback singer, the highest by any female playback singer. 1986 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Padariyen Padippariyen, Naan Oru Sindhu" (Sindhu Bhairavi, Tamil) 1987 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Manjal Prasadavum" (Nakhakshathangal, Malayalam) 1989 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum Raathri" (Vaishali, Malayalam) 1996 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Maana Madurai" (Minsaara Kanavu, Tamil) 1997 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Payalein Chun Mun" (Virasat, Hindi) 2004 – Best Female Playback Singer – "Ovvoru Pookalume" (Autograph, Tamil)
Filmfare Awards 1998: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - "Payaley Chunmun" (Virasat) 2004: Nominated— Best Female Playback Singer - "Koi Milgaya" (Koi... Mil Gaya)
Filmfare Awards South She is a singer with 22 Filmfare Awards South Nominations, resulting in 10 wins for 3 different languages- highest by any singer (Shares the record with Shreya Ghoshal). She holds the record of winning Filmfare Awards South for record number of times in Malayalam & Telugu i.e.,6 & 3 times respectively. She has a record for being the oldest winning singer at the age of 61 years
2004: Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Nuvvostanante" (Varsham) 2006: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Kalabham Tharam" (Vadakkumnadhan) 2006: Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada – "Araluva Hoovugale" (My Autograph) 2008: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Oduvil Oru" (Thirakkatha) 2009: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Kunnathe Konnakyum" (Pazhassiraja) 2013: Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Seethammavaakitlo" (Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu) 2016: Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Ee Premaki" (Nenu Sailaja) 2017: Best Female Playback Singer - Malayalam - "Nadavathil" (Kambhoji) 2022: Best Female Playback Singer - Malayalam - "Theerame" (Malik) 2024: Best Female Playback Singer - Malayalam - "Muttathe Mulla" (Jawanum mullappoovum)
Nominations 2005: Nominated— Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu - "Manasa Manasa" (Nireekshana) 2006: Nominated— Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu - "Muvvala Navvakala" (Pournami) 2006: Nominated— Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu - "Manasavacha" (Godavari) 2009: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Kannada - "Nadheem Dheem Tana" (Gaalipata) 2011: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Malayalam - "Malakha Pole" (Mummy & Me) 2013: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Malayalam - "Vishukkili Kanippoo Kondu Vaa" (Ivan Megharoopan) 2015: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu - "Marhaba" (Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju) (shared the nomination with Aishwarya) 2016: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Tamil - "Konji Pesida Venaam" (Sethupathi) 2021: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Tamil - "Yennuyire" (Annathae) 2022: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Telugu - "Antha Ishtam" (Bheemla Nayak) 2023: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Tamil - "veera raja veera" (Ponniyin Selvan: I) 2023: Nominated—Best Female Playback Singer - Malayalam - "Ee Mazhamukilo" (Jaladhara Pumpset since 1962)
IIFA Utsavam Nominations 2017: IIFA Utsavam for Best Female Singer - "Maye Maye" (Jessie)
Kerala State Film Awards Chithra is the highest recipient of Kerala State Awards under the "Best Playback Singer Female" category & she has won it for 16 times with a record of winning them for 11 times in a row i.e.,(1985–1995) 2016 – Best Play Back Singer – "Nadavathil Thurannilla" (Kambhoji) 2005 – Best Play Back Singer – "Mayangipoyi" (Nottam) 2002 – Best Play Back Singer – "Karmukil Varnante" (Nandanam) 2001 – Best Play Back Singer – "Mooli Mooli" (Theerthadanam) 1999 – Best Play Back Singer – "Pular Veyilum" (Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu) 1995 – Best Play Back Singer – "Sasikala Charthiya" (Devaraagam) 1994 – Best Play Back Singer – "Parvanenthu" (Parinayam) 1993 – Best Play Back Singer – "Ponmeghame" (Sopanam), "Rajahamsame" (Chamayam), "Sangeethame" (Gazal) 1992 – Best Play Back Singer – "Mounasarovaram" (Savidham) 1991 – Best Play Back Singer – "Thaaram" (Keli), "Swarakanyakamar" (Santhwanam)