Chandrika Gururaj

Indian playback singer

Not to be confused with Manjula Gururaj.

Chandrika Gururaj

Born|  (1959-10-04) 4 October 1959 (age 64)

Tumkur, Mysore state (now Karnataka), India

Alma mater| University of Mysore
Occupations|

* Singer
* performer

Years active| 1989 - present
Spouse| Gururaja
Children| 1
Awards| Karnataka State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer
Musical career
Genres|

* Filmi
* Folk
* Classical
* Bhajan
* Ghazal

Instrument(s)| Vocals

Musical artist

Chandrika Gururaj (born 4 October 1959), is an Indian playback singer, known for her works in Kannada.[1][2] Apart from film songs, she has also recorded numerous devotional, bhaavageethe and folk songs.[3][4] For her song "O Priyatama" in the movie Urvashi, Chandrika won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1994. Karnataka Government honoured her with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award for her contribution to music, in 2010.[5][6]

## Personal life

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Chandrika was born on 4 October 1959 in Tumkur to Rangarao and Lalithamma.[7] She graduated in sociology from the University of Mysore. She worked as a lecturer at Tumkur College for a brief period.

Chandrika married Gururaja. The couple have a daughter.

## Career

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Chandrika was first noticed by actor Shankar Nag in a program, who later introduced her to composer Hamsalekha.[7] Hamsalekha gave her, her first song "Kadalige Ondu Kone Ide", in the movie Indrajith, a duet with singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Then she went on to record many film songs with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. J. Yesudas, Mano, P. Jayachandran, L. N. Shastry, Rajesh Krishnan, Ramesh Chandra, and other singers.

She has worked with many composers, including Hamsalekha, V. Manohar, Ilayaraja, Rajan–Nagendra, Upendra Kumar, Raj–Koti, Sadhu Kokila, Rajesh Ramnath, C. Ashwath, Jayashree Aravind, and others.

She has recorded more than 100 film songs and more than 1000 non-film songs.

Some of her notable songs include "Prema Baraha Koti Taraha", "Ee Jogada Jalapatha", "Thattona Thattona", "Mamarake E Kogileya", "Ba Baro O Geleya", "Chaitrada Premanjaliya", "Avannalli Ivalilli", "Sangama Sangama", "O Bandhuve", "Eniddarenu Hennada Balika", "Nenapugala Angaladi", and "Hogabeda Hudugi".

She was one of the jury members in the 2016 Karnataka state film award committee.[8] She is active in performing on stages across the country.[9][10][11]

## Awards

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* 2015 - Kempegowda Award by BBMP
* 2010 - Karnataka Rajyotsava Award[5][12]
* 1995 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer

## Discography

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Main article: List of songs recorded by Chandrika Gururaj

## References

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1. ^ "VN Prasad to bid adieu to big stage singing". Star of Mysore. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
2. ^ Bhumika K. (31 May 2011). "Seeking symphony". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
3. ^ "Sharu Sharanembe devotional song sung by Chandrika Gururaj". Times of India. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
4. ^ "Devotional Video Song 'Banashankari Devi Baaramma' Sung By Chandrika Gururaj". Times of India. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
5. ^ a b "Rajyotsava Awards Official website of Karnataka Government". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
6. ^ "Rajyotsava awards to Ravi, Nagthi, Bhat, Velu". Indiaglitz. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
7. ^ a b "ಕಣಜ: ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೋಶ". Kanaja: Karnataka Information Government official website. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
8. ^ "Amaravati adjudged film". Deccan Herald. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
9. ^ "Tribute to the nightingale". The New Indian Express. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
10. ^ "Confluence of mesmerizing voices". Deccan Herald. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
11. ^ "All ears to melodious nostalgic numbers". Deccan Herald. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
12. ^ "ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಪಟ್ಟಿ 1966 ರಿಂದ - 2015 ರವರೆಗೆ" (PDF). Kannada Siri. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

## External links

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Chandrika Gururaj at IMDb