B. R. Chaya Biography 
B. R. Chaya, known by the nickname "Nightingale of Karnataka" is a successful playback singer and sugam sangeet singer from Karnataka. She has recorded for over 15000 musical album songs and has sung in more than 300 movies. She has received Karnataka State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer twice - Kaadina Benki in 1998 and Rashmi in 1994. She is a recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti 2010 too. She owns an audio company called "Kinnari Audio" which launches budding singers through music albums. Currently she regularly performs abroad as a member of Kannada Association.
She belongs to Bangalore and was a "child prodigy" in terms of music knowledge since very young. She was born on the auspicious day of ‘Sarswathi pooja’, to K Ramamurthy and Janaki in Bangalore. She was initiated to music by her grandparents, Krishna Rao and Bhageerathamma. Though she passed seniors’ exam in carnatic classical music, she got attracted to light music. She schooled at ITI Vidya Mandir School, Bangalore.
Her singing talents were first noticed by musical meastro Ilaiyaraaja who gave her first opportunity to sing a few Tamil and Telugu songs. Jyothi and Ringaram for the year 1982 were her earliest recorded songs. But her first big break was 1984 movie Amrutha Ghalige and the duet - Hindustanavu Endoo Mareyada, composed by Vijaya Bhaskar which helped her to earn quick attention from music lovers. There was no turning back and she very soon became one of the top female voices of the industry. She has a rare distinction of having sung maximum Kannada songs to her credit. She is the youngest singer to get ‘A’ grade in AIR and Doordarshan. She is associated with television and jingles too.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 19, 2014
