Lakshmi Nataraj
Lakshmi Nataraj is an Indian classical vocalist and playback singer who primarily works in Kannada cinema. Besides singing, Lakshmi is also a television personality who has worked as a mentor in singing reality shows such as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Kannada and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Championship. She, along with her sister Indu Nagaraj, are popularly known as Chilkunda Sisters named after their hometown Chilkunda in Mysore district of Karnataka.
Prior to her career in singing, Lakshmi has been a contestant in popular singing talent shows such as Ede Thumbi Haaduvenu in 2005 and Confident Star Singer in 2009 and emerged as the title winner. She is the recipient of a Karnataka State [Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Karnataka State Film Award] for the song "Omkara" from the film Aptharakshaka. She has received many State and private awards, including the "Aryabhatta Award" in 2009, for her achievements in Carnatic music.
Life and career
Lakshmi was born on 5 May 1988 in a family of Carnatic classical personalities in Chilkunda town of Mysore district in Karnataka. Her father C. A. Nagaraj is a noted vocalist and flautist while her mother H. S. Radha is a vocalist. Her younger sister Indu Nagaraj is also a classical and playback singer. Both of sisters were trained in classical music by their grandmother C. S. Sathya Lakshmi. At 7, Lakshmi gave her first concert in 1995 in Gundlupet along with her sister who was 5. The sisters have performed at various arena including the Darbar Hall of Mysore Palace during the Dasara celebrations. Lakshmi has been 'B' high grade artiste at All India Radio. She is married to Nataraj and residing in Bangalore.Lakshmi was introduced to film playback singing through the film Partha in 2003. Since then, she has recorded songs for various films including Maurya, Manasaare, Ghauttham and Aptharakshaka. For the latter, she went on to win several awards including the Karnataka State Film Award for her performance in the song "Omkara". She has recorded songs for various music directors including Hamsalekha, Gurukiran, Arjun Janya, Mano Murthy, B. Ajaneesh Lokanath, Veer Samarth and others.
Discography
This is a partial list of notable films of Lakshmi Nataraj.| Year | Film | Title | Composer | Co-singer | Notes |
| 2003 | Partha | "Sona Sona" | Gurukiran | Gurukiran | |
| 2007 | Meera Madhava Raghava | "Olle Time Banthamma" | Hamsalekha | Indu Nagaraj, Hemanth, Supriya Acharya | |
| 2008 | Manasaare | "Naanu Manasaare" | Mano Murthy | Vikas Vasishta | |
| 2008 | Nee Tata Naa Birla | "Sakhi Sakhi" | Gurukiran | ||
| 2009 | Ghauttham | "Yaara Magalu Ivalu" | Gurukiran | Gurukiran | |
| 2010 | Aptharakshaka | "Omkara" | Gurukiran | ||
| 2011 | Taare | "Chandira Thandu Kodale" | C. R. Bobby | ||
| 2013 | Nenapinangala | "Mella Mella Nanndage" | C. R. Bobby | ||
| 2013 | Advaitha | "Bisilina Besugeya" | Veer Samarth | ||
| 2013 | Manasina Putadali | "Kadala Anchininda" | Rajnarayan Das | ||
| 2014 | Software Ganda | "Saniha Saniha" | Veer Samarth | Rajesh Krishnan | |
| 2014 | Kalyanamasthu | "Appanu Kattida" | Raj Manohar | Chethan Sosca | |
| 2014 | Nan Life Alli | "Jinu Jinugo Maleyali" | B. Ajaneesh Lokanath | Shreeram Narayan | |
| 2017 | Jaali Baaru Matthu Poli Hudugaru | "Suride Geleya" | Veer Samarth | Chethan Gandharva | |
| 2017 | Jaali Baaru Matthu Poli Hudugaru | "Poosi Hodedu" | Veer Samarth | Chethan Gandharva |
Awards & Recognition
- 2002 - Nithyotsava Competitions - MSIL Gaayaki Award
- 2002 - Kishora Prathibhe Puraskara
- 2009 - Aryabhata National Award for achievements in Carnatic Music.
- 2010 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer - Aptharakshaka - "Omkara Abhinaya Veda"
- 2010 - Mirchi Music Award for Best Upcoming Female Singer - Aptharakshaka - "Omkara Abhinaya Veda"
- 2010 - Udaya Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer - Aptharakshaka - "Omkara Abhinaya Veda"