Chinmayi
Chinmayi Sripada is an Indian playback singer, working mainly for the South Indian film industry. She is also a voice actor, television presenter and radio jockey. She is the founder and CEO of a translation services company Blue Elephant. She is often credited as Chinmayee and Indai Haza, but her birth name is Chinmayi. She rose to fame for her critically acclaimed song "Oru Deivam Thantha Poovae" from the National Award winning movie Kannathil Muthamittal.
Chinmayi | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Chinmayi Sripada |
Also known as | Chinmayee Indai Haza |
Genres |
|
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2002–present |
Early life and background
Chinmayi received the CCRT Scholarship for Young Talent for Carnatic Music from the Government of India at the age of 10.[1] She won the gold medal from All India Radio for Ghazals in 2000 and the Silver for Hindustani Classical Music in 2002. She learned German as a language in the Max Mueller Bhavan in Chennai and completed certification courses from NIIT and SSI in web design. During her school life, she held jobs with both Sify and studentconcepts.org.
Chinmayi has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Madras. She is also a versatile dancer and mostly enjoys the Odissi form of dance. Apart from her mother tongue Telugu, she speaks Tamil, Malayalam , English, Marathi, Bengali and German fluently.[2]
Chinmayi has been married to Rahul Ravindran, since May 5, 2014.[3]
Career
Singing
Playback singing
She participated and won the singing of Sun TV, Saptasawarangal, following which she was introduced by Singer Srinivas to film composer Mr. A. R. Rahman. Chinmayi's playback singing career began with her performance of Rahman's "Oru Dheivam Thanta Poove" for the film Kannathil Muthamittal. After a couple of years of singing exclusively for Tamil, Telugu, Tulu and Malayalam films, she made her Bollywood debut in Mangal Pandey: The Rising with the song "Holi Re". About a year later, she garnered more recognition with her performances of "Tere Bina" and "Mayya" in the movie Guru. In 2007, the song "Beda Beda" marked her first venture into Kannada playback singing. She has since received critical acclaim for songs such as "Oru Dheivam Thantha Poove", "Sahana", "Vaarayo Vaarayo", "Kilimanjaro", "Sara Sara", "Asku Laska" and "Kaathale Kaathale". She has also sung in Marathi language in movies such as "sairat". Chinmayi as of date has to her credit over 1,000 songs in eight different languages.[4]
Additional works
Chinmayi announced that she will release a single in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu in iTunes on occasion of Joy of Giving Week on 2 Oct, and proceeds of which shall go to 17000 ft.org so as to promote philanthropy, charity and the concept of giving.[5]
She also collaborated with Shekar Ravjiani to launch a single in Tamil/Telugu the name of the album being Sitakokachiluka, again for which the legal downloads of it will go to Ma Niketan, a home that takes care of abandoned or uncared for girl children in Thane, a charity that composer Shekhar has been supporting.
Dubbing career
Chinmayi turned a voice actor for the Tamil film Sillunu Oru Kadhal (2006), speaking dubbing for actress Bhumika Chawla. Since then, she has dubbed for several lead actresses in Tamil films, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Sameera Reddy, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Trisha Krishnan. She has also provided her voice in dubbed Telugu films. She dubbed for the critically acclaimed fictional character Jessie who was portrayed by Trisha in Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya. The same character appeared in the film's Telugu version Ye Maaya Chesave and was portrayed by Samantha, while being portrayed by Amy Jackson in the Hindi version Ek Deewana Tha. Chinmayi dubbed for the character in all three films and won the Nandi Award for Best Female Dubbing Artist for Ye Maaya Chesave in 2010. Chinmayi dubbed in Vettai for Sameera Reddy and has dubbed for her in all Tamil movies. She dubbed for Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Eega in Telugu and its Tamil version Naan Ee in 2012. She dubbed voice for Nayantara for Tamil version of the movie Sri Rama Rajyam.[6] Chinmayi has dubbed for Samantha Ruth Prabhu in many films like "Rabhasa", "Atharintiki Daaredi", "Ramayya Vastavayya", "Eega", "Sithamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu", "24", Oh Baby and many more in Telugu.
Television and radio
Chinmayi served as a television presenter during the first season of Airtel Super Singer on STAR Vijay that was aired between April and August 2006 and the first season of Airtel Super Singer Junior from February 2007 to July 2007. In 2008, she returned as host of the second season of Airtel Super Singer, though she discontinued her role before the completion of the season, as she stated the show extended the period of the initial contract. During this time, she was also a radio jockey on Aahaa FM 91.9 in Chennai, on a breakfast show titled Aahaa Kaapi Klub. She later began compering Star Plus's Chhote Ustaad, which ran concurrently with another music talent show she started hosting in June, the debut season of Sun TV's Sangeetha Mahayuddham. On 15 August 2010, Chinmayi announced that that day's Chhote Ustaad would be her last as host, leaving the show after only eight episodes. Now she is in the judges panel of jaya star singers in jaya tv
Personal life
In September 2013, through Twitter, Chinmayi's mother Padmhasini revealed Chinmayi was engaged to Rahul Ravindran, who is also a South Indian actor. Chinmayi and Rahul were friends, colleagues and in due course started dating each other by June 2013.[7] They got married on 5 May 2014.[8]
Activism
Through her Twitter account, Chinmayi has been at the forefront of highlighting claims of sexual harassment in the Indian music industry, in what is widely considered as India's Me Too movement. She accused sexual harassment at the hands of Vairamuthu [9] She also highlighted claims made by other individuals against OS Thyagarajan, Raghu Dixit, Mandolin U Rajesh, Karthik and several other carnatic singers not naming anyone individually.
Entrepreneurship
Chinmayi is the CEO of Blue Elephant, a translation services company she founded in August 2005. The company has ever since been the language service provider for various Multinational companies like Scope E Knowledge, Ford, Dell, Ashok Leyland, Reliance India. She received an award from SAARC Chamber for Women Entrepreneurship for Excellence in a niche industry for Blue Elephant in 2010.[10] In 2011, she became the first ever woman entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu to be selected for the prestigious FORTUNE/US State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership Program.[11][12]
Discography
Filmography
As a dubbing artist
Awards, nominations and honours
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- 2002: Best Female Playback – "Oru Deivam Thantha Poove" (Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2007: Best Female Playback – "Sahana" (Shivaji)
- 2010: Best Female Playback – "Kilimanjaro" (Enthiran)
- Nandi Awards
- 2015-Best Female Playback Singer-"Yenno Yenno Varnala"(Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju)
- 2016-Best Female Playback Singer-"Manasantha Megamai"(Kalyana Vaibhogame)
- 2010-Best Female Dubbing Artist-Ye Maaya Chesave(Samantha Akkineni)
- 2014-Best Female Dubbing Artist-Manam(Samantha Akkineni)
- 2009: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Vaarayo Vaarayo" (Aadhavan)
- 2011: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2016: Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam – "Oonjalil Aadi" (Action Hero Biju)
- 2019: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Kaathale Kaathale" ('96)
- 2019: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Yenti Yenti" (Geetha Govindam)
- 2016: Best Female Playback Singer - Sairaat Zaala Ji (Sairat)
- 2013: Female Vocalist of the Year – "Titli" (Chennai Express)
- 2014: Mirchi Platinum Disc - Mast Magan
- 2014: Mirchi Music Awards - Song of the Year - Zehnaseeb from Hasee Toh Phasee
- 2014: Mirchi Music Awards - Album of the Year - 2 States
- 2009: Best Female Playback Singer – "Vaarayo Vaarayo" (Aadhavan)
- 2011: Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011: Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)[13]
- 2018: Best Female Playback Singer – "Kaathalae Kaathalae" (96)[14]
- Nominated : Best Female Dubbing Artist - 96
- 2011 – SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2010: Popular Female Playback Singer – "Kilimanjaro" (Endhiran)[15]
- 2011: Best Female Singer Female – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011: The Chennai Times Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011: Edison Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Chotta Chotta" (Engeyum Eppodhum)[16]
- 2012: Edison Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Asku Laska" (Nanban)
- 2018: Best Playback Singer (Female) - All songs from 96
- Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Awards
- 2007: Best Female Playback Singer – "Sahana" (Shivaji)[17]
- 2009: Best Female Playback Singer – "Vaarayo Vaarayo" (Aadhavan)[18]
- 2010: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Kilimanjaro" (Endhiran)
- Other Cine Awards
- 2002: Award from Ajanta Fine Arts for "Oru Deivam" (Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2002: Best Media Associates Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Oru Deivam" (Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2002: ITFA Award for Best Upcoming Playback Singer – "Oru Deivam" (Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2007: Film Fans Association Award for Beat Female Playback Singer – "Sahana" (Shivaji)[19]
- 2007: Jaya TV Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sahana" (Shivaji)[20]
- 2007: Lions Club Award for Best Female Playback singer – "Sahana(Shivaji)"
- 2009: Alandur Fine Arts for Best Female Playback Singer
- 2009: South Scope Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Vaarayo Vaarayo" (Aadhavan)
- 2010: BIG Tamil Award for Best Entertaining Female Singer – "Poove Poove" (Siddhu +2)[21]
- 2010: MGR Sivaji Academy Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Kilimanjaro" (Endhiran)[22]
- 2010: Vijayam Tamil Movie Award for Favourite Female Singer of the Year
- 2011: Navaratna Women Achievers Award for Best Female Playback Singer[23][24]
- 2011: BIG Tamil Melody Music Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011: Filmfans' Association Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011: Variety Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2015: Big Tamil Music Awards - Best Female Playback Singer - "Ennodu Nee Irundhaal" (I (film)|I)
- 2015: Ugadhi Puraskar - Best Female Playback Singer - Vadhantune
- 2018: Behindwoods Gold Medals - Voice of the Year (Female) - 96
- 2018: Radio City Awards - Best Singer Female (Telugu) - Yenti Yenti - "Geetha Govindam" & Mellaga Mellaga - "Chi La Sow"
- 2018: Mahila Ratna Awards - Best Singer Female (Telugu) - Yenti Yenti - "Geetha Govindam"
- Nominations
- 2007: Star Screen Award for Best Female Playback – "Tere Bina"
- 2009: Tamil Cinema Press Awards for Best Female Playback Singer – "Nila Nee Vaanam" (Pokkisham)
- 2011: BIG Salute to Tamil Women Entertainer Award for Best Singer[25]
- 2014: Screen Awards for Best Female Playback Singer - "Titli" (Chennai Express)
- 2014: Star Guild Awards for Best Female Playback Singer - " Main Rang Sharbaton Ka" (Phata Poster Nikla Hero)
- 2015: Bollywood Hungama Surfers Choice Music Awards for Best Female Playback Singer - "Zehnaseeb" (Hasee Toh Phasee)
- 2017: Female vocalist of the year for the song "Sairat Zala Ji" from the film Sairat, Mirchi Music Awards [26]
Other awards
- 1999: All India First and Best Performer Award from Sangam Kala Group
- 2000: All India First from All India Radio for Ghazals
- 2003: Pride of Sangam Award
- 2008: RITZ Amazing Woman Award[27]
- 2009: Vikatan Award for Best Television Show Host
- 2011: Award from SAARC Chamber for Women Entrepreneurship for Excellence[28]
- 2011: Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club of Madras[29]
- 2015: Mercedes Benz - Ritz Woman of Merit award
- 2015: Rotary Club Inner Wheel (Nanganallur) : Swarna Ratna Award
- 2016: Indian of the Year: CNN IBN : Chennai Micro
Honours
- 2011: She has been selected as a Mentee to the Fortune/US State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership. She is one among three Indians and the only and first person from Tamil Nadu among 35 other women all over the world.[30][31]
- On 19 October Chinmayi was bestowed with a Femina Penn Shakti Award in recognition of her entrepreneurial and social initiatives.
Trivia
- 2010: She came on-screen for the song composed for World Tamil Classical Conference in 2010 directed by Gautham Menon and composed by A. R. Rahman – Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam
- 2011: She launched an App named as Chinmayi Sripada App. She was the first female singer in the world to have an exclusive app on both iOS and Android devices.[32]
- 2012: She did her first ever advertisement for Dheepam Oil in all the four south Indian languages (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada)
References
- "Entertainment Chennai / Personality : Young and talented". The Hindu. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Chinmayi's education". Chinmayionline.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Rahul Ravindran and Chinmayi Sripada are Married!". Masala.com. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- "'Singing is my first love'". The Hindu.
- "Chinmayi to release single". Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/506558/20130917/singer-chinmayi-marriage-actor-rahul-ravindran-wedding.htm
- Singer Chinmayee marries!
- "'Liar,' Tweets Chinmayi Sripada To Vairamuthu's Defence Against #MeToo Claims". NDTV.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (29 November 2010). "WhatToNameIt: The Blue Elephant receives an Award". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Learning to be a Better Leader – U.S. Consulate General Chennai, India". Chennai.usconsulate.gov. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (21 April 2011). "WhatToNameIt: Anothee". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Kollywood gets honoured in Norway". Times of India.
- "'Pariyerum Perumal' bags Best Film award at Norway Tamil Film Festival".
- "Arts / Cinema : Rhythmic ripples of 'Mellisai' mark function". The Hindu. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "BEST SINGER FEMALE AWARD". My Tamil Movie. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- "The first ever Film Music Awards of Tamil Cinema". Entertainment.oneindia.in. 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "New Indian Express". M.pressmart.com. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Fans Association Awards". Chennaionline.com. 8 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (2 January 2008). "WhatToNameIt: Sahana". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Cities / Chennai : Recognising icons of entertainment". The Hindu. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- seeucom (3 January 2011). "Enthiran was awarded the best commercial film of the year in MGR-Sivaji Awards". Tamilmoviestar.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Received the Navratna Award for Women Achievers". Chinmayi/Chinmayee.
- "Chinmayi Navratna Award Photo". Yogitharani. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012.
- "A BIG tribute to Tamil Women Entertainers". My Sixer. 7 February 2012.
- "nomination".
- Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (19 January 2009). "WhatToNameIt: The RITZ award for Amazing Women". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- suraen on (17 January 2011). "CHINMAYI SRIPADA!! " Business on Globe". Suraen.wordpress.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "I received the Vocational Excellence Award from the Rotary Club of Madras Downtown this evening. Got a lovely citation from them – Twitter". Twitoaster.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- http://www.chinmayisripada.com/2011/09/fortune-most-powerful-women-summit.html.+Chennai.usconsulate.gov.+Archived+from+the+original+on+20+August+2011.+Retrieved+20+August+2011.
- Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (21 April 2011). "WhatToNameIt: Another milestone". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- 9 August 2011 By K. Sreedevi DC chennai (9 August 2011). "Mobile application to promote singer Chinmayi". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 20 August 2011.