Srimathumitha

Srimathumitha is an Indian playback and Carnatic singer who sings mainly in Tamil. She has also sung in Telugu, Hindi and Kannada songs. Some of her hit songs include “Azhage Azhage” from the Movie Oru Kal Oru Kannadi, “Valayapatti Thavile” from the movie Azhagiya Tamil Magan, “Kanaa Kaanum Kalangal” from the movie 7G Rainbow Colony, “Rathathin Rathame” from the movie Velayudham, etc. She is one of the leading playback singers in today’s film music scenario. She has sung for leading music directors like Ilayaraja, Harris Jayaraj, Yuvan Shankar Raja, A. R. Rahman, Bharathwaj, Deva, S. A. Rajkumar, and Bharani. She emerged as the “Best Voice of 2002” in the TV Reality Show Rajageetham conducted by RAJ TV. She is the first playback singer to win the Vikadan Awards started in 2004, which was juried by late Sujatha Sir. A. R. Rahman has featured her in 2 songs in the soundtrack of Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.

Early Life and Family Background

Srimathumitha with her Sister and Playback singer Charulatha Mani

Srimathumitha was born on 21 March in Chennai. Her father is Mr.O.S.Mani, a Retired Chief Engineer from Merchant Navy. Her mother Smt. Hemalatha Mani is a Veena exponent. Her sister is Charulatha Mani another famous Playback and Carnatic Singer. She has done her schooling in the Hindu Senior Secondary School and Sankara Vidhyashramam High School. She has completed her bachelor's degree in Computer Applications from Kumararani Meena Muthaiah College of Arts & Science. She is currently pursuing her M.A in Yoga for Human Excellence from the Madras University. She plays Violin and has studied up to 3rd Grade in Piano. She started singing from the age of 4. She is married to Mr. Ashwin Viswanathan, a Software Engineer in Chennai. Her wedding was graced by many celebs from the Tamil Cine Industry, which included the veteran director K. Balachander.

Carnatic Music

Srimathumitha in a Carnatic Performance

Srimathumitha is born into a family of musicians. Her Mother Veena Vidushi Smt. Hemalatha Mani, a disciple of Sri Chittibabu was her first guru in classical music. She started her formal training in Carnatic Classical music under Padmashree Smt. Gayatri Shankaran, a disciple of Late Sri. Lalgudi Jayaraman. She has also undergone Shikshai for several years under the able guidance of Smt. Savithri Satyamurthy in the Dr. S Ramanathan Padhathi. She is currently taking advanced training under Guru Sri.Seetharama Sharma for severalyears. Her devotional and adoration of M. S. Subbulakshmi led GITA cassettes bringing out her first solo CD, “PRODIGY SERIES HITS OF MS SUBBULAKSHMI” when she was just 14. This album contained very challenging classical and Hindustani numbers from MS Amma’s Meera, Shakuntalai, Savithri and Seva Sadhanam and was released by Vidushi Smt. R Vedavalli and Mellisai Mannar MS Viswanathan. She has a strong sense of patriotism and love for India in her that she has brought out “VANDE MATARAM” - Patriotic songs in 14 languages in her voice including rare Bengali and Gujarati songs that are sure to instill a sense of patriotism and make every Indian feel proud. She has avid interest in Sanskrit slokas. This has led HMV to bring out her latest release “HARE KRISHNA” Rare slokas on Lord Vishnu featuring Sri Narasimha Kavacam, Sri Damodarashtakam, The enthralling Kalinga Nardhana Thillana and Bhaja Govindam. She has spoken the meanings of these mantras in English with a vision to carry forward and spread our rich culture and heritage to the younger generations living in India and all over the world.

Concerts and Performances in Carnatic Music

Srimathumitha with S.Janaki Amma

• She recently performed in the Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaaru concert conducted by Lakshman Shruthi Musicals and Vijay TV in Kamarajar Arangam, Teynampet, Chennai.
• She has been performing Classical Carnatic katcheris for many years and has performed at the Janmashtami Festival at Hare Krishna Temple, ISKCON Chennai in 2010 and 2011. These concerts have been recorded live and brought out as CDs.
• She has performed several thematic concerts for Doordarshan Podhigai on Lord Muruga shot at Arupadai Veedu Temple and recently on Lord Ganesh for Vinayakar Chathurthi which keeps getting telecasted on popular demand.
• “KRISHNAVATARA” was a concert performed by her at The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Main Auditorium on November 13, 2011. This attracted huge crowds and the auditorium overflowed. She did a presentation and did a 2-hour concert of various kritis, Bhajans, Abhangs of various saint composers like Annamacharya, Purandaradasa, Thyagaraja, Abhanga, Meera and Andal on Lord Krishna. This concert was unique and one of its kind and garnered appreciation from all quarters.
• She has performed “AAMCHI MUMBAI SINGARA CHENNAI” concert by event art, collaborating with Singer Roop Kumar Rathod at Chennai in Feb 2013. She represented the music of Chennai.^[1]
• She has conceptualized and performed “SANGAMAM- UNITY IN DIVERSITY” a 2-hour package focusing on different genres of music like Classical Carnatic, Semi Classical Film songs, Ghazals and Bhajans for Jupiter Fine Arts Navarasa 2013 held at Rani Seethai Hall. It was a charity show for RMD Pain and Palliative care.
• She performed A Classical Carnatic concert “Bhagyadha Lakshmi Bramma” for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Navarathri Mandapam Music Seriesin 2013.
• She has also performed a fusion music concert for TED Ex’s Chennai Conference.
• She has also performed a thematic 2 hour Hindustani bhajan concert at TTD Chennai which got rave reviews in all leading dailies.
• She has performed a classical concert for CFAA (Colorado Fine Arts) at Denver, USA in Feb 2014 and a light music show at Sanjose Bharati Tamil Sangam for Tamil New Year 2014. A seasoned Carnatic Vocalist, she is currently under the tutelage of Bhagavathalu Sri. B. Seetharama Sarma.
• Recently she performed at a concert for All India Sai Samaj at Shirdi Sai Temple, Mylapore in Navarathri Series in October 2014.

Awards and Recognitions in Carnatic Music

Srimathumitha getting her prize from M.S.Subbulakshmi Amma

• Her tryst with winning several competitions began with the rendering of “GIRIDHARA GOPALA” sung by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi, dressed as Meera and winning the first prize from Violin Maestros Ganesh Kumaresh when she was just 5.
• She has won the first prize in several television shows like Sapthaswarangal, RAJ TV’s Rajageetham (Best voice of 2002).
• In line with celebrating 50 years of Indian Independence she won the all India first prize in the National Integration songs contest held by The Music Academy in 1997. She was given the prize by the then ex-governor Shri.C.Subramaniam amidst an august gathering of prominent state and central government personalities.
• In 1999, she won the All India Ghazal Contest organized by Sangam Kala Group in New Delhi. She performed a Ghazal by renowned singer Runa Laila at Siri Fort, New Delhi. She was adjudged the winner by Bollywood greats like Yash Chopra, Uttam Singh and other judges.
• She was the winner of maximum first prizes in the year 1999 at the annual music competitions held by The Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, Mylapore Fine Arts, Indian Fine Arts, Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha winning prizes in all composer categories in open age group including the coveted Tambura prize from Mylapore Fine Arts for Purandara Dasa Kritis and Swati Tirunal Kritis and winning in all Trinity kritis.
• She has also won All India first prize in Annamacharya Kritis held by Annamacharya Bhavana Vahini, Hyderabad and received the prize from Minister Shri Arun Jaitley. She has also won first prizes at Kritis, Ragam Thanam Pallavi competitions held by Navya Nataka Samithi, Hyderabad, Rasika Ranjani Sabha, and Trichy.
• She is a recipient of CCRT scholarship and was also awarded the south zone cultural cash award on completion of stipulated period of scholarship.
• She has received the first prize in Bharathiyar songs competition from Bharat Ratna Smt.M. S. Subbulakshmi herself.
• She has won the first prize in Oothukadu Venkata Subbier kritis contest for 5 consecutive years.

Playback Singing

Srimathumitha with the Ace Music Director Harris Jayaraj

Harris Jayaraj introduced her as a playback singer in the year 2003. She has worked in his music for several songs, ever since. She has sung in the name M.Madhumitha from her debut in 2003 till 2007. Later from 2007 till now she is singing in the name Srimathumitha. She has sung in Child harmony for A. R. Rahman for many movies like Dil Se.., Lagaan, Pukar, Sangamam, Jana Gana Mana and Kannathil Muthamittal. She started her career as a cine playback singer with a dream debut super hit song “Mudhal Mudhalai” in the movie Lesa Lesa. This was a peppy duet number in the music direction of Harris Jayaraj and the lyrics of lyricist Vaali.Her first duet with Hariharan “Oddiyaanam” from the movie Arul composed again by Harris Jayaraj was a super hit chart buster and she had finished recording for the song in just 20 mins. She was spotted by Director Bala while singing chorus for the movie Nandha. He liked her voice and made her to sing a full song in the same movie. “Kanaa Kaanum Kalangal “from the movie 7G Rainbow Colony gave her a critical acclaim. She also won the Best Singer award from variety Cine Directory for this song and also VGP award. She has sung the title song for Iyakkunar Sigaram K.Balachander’s serial “Amudha Oru Acharyakuri” (Kalaignar TV) in Mr. Kannan’s music. One of the coincidence is that her first song “Mudhal Mudhalai” from the Tamil movie Lesa Lesa was penned by the great lyricist late Vaalee Sir and the very last song written by him just before his demise, for the movie Kaaviya Thalaivan, was sung by her. She was interviewed by legendary singer Mano on his super-hit TV show “Manadhodu Mano” that has been aired on Jaya TV for more than 3 years. She has been a judge for many auditions of Vijay TV’s Super Singer show and as a celebrity guest for Sun Singer show on SUN TV. “ISAI CAFÉ” shows that she did along with her sister Charulatha for RAJ TV was a huge hit worldwide.

Hit Songs

Srimathumitha with Legendary Lyricist Late Vaali Sir

• Mudhal Mudhalai – Lesa Lesa – Harris Jayaraj
• Oddiyaanam – Arul – Harris Jayaraj
• Valayapatti Thavile – Azhagiya Thamizh Magan – A. R. Rahman
• Kanaa Kaanum Kalangal – 7G Rainbow Colony – Yuvan Shankar Raja
• Taj Mahal Oviya Kadhal – Kalvanin Kadhali – Yuvan Shankar Raja
• Matha Un Kovilil - Naan Kadavul – Ilayaraja
• Suthi Poda Venaama – Ayya - Bharathwaj
• Vaanam Kunindhu – Soori – Deva
• Yaradhu Yaro – Yathumaagi – James Vasanthan
• Rathathin Rathame – Velayudham – Vijay Antony

Concerts and Performances in Playback Singing

Srimathumitha with SPB

• She had toured USA for shows with Playback singer P. Unni Krishnan in 2003, the very year getting her first entry into playback singing.
• She has performed a one-woman show “DIVASFOREVER” showcasing evergreen film hits of singers P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle in Tamil and Hindi at Narada Gana Sabha Main Auditorium for a full house audience of 1200 people.
• She has toured several countries like USA, UK, Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, Kuwait and Dubai and has done several charity concerts all over the world and has sung alongside the great playback singers SPB, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan etc.
• She has done hundreds of shows worldwide in USA, Canada, London, Sri Lanka, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia and has been featured with legends like S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki and Yuvan Shankar Raja concert. She is very popular among Tamils worldwide.
• She has also done a lot of corporate shows and is known for her performance skills and entertaining showmanship on stage.
• Srimathumitha was invited by the Norway Tamil Film Festival in April to perform at the closing ceremony of the prestigious Norway Tamil Film Festival that is organized every year at Oslo to honour the very best of Tamil Cinema.
• She had rocked audiences at Europe on a tri-city tour of Switzerland, Paris, and Frankfurt for Christmas 2011 and New Year 2012. Her show at Zurich was one of the biggest Tamil shows held there with an audience turnover of over 4000 people the biggest Zurich has ever witnessed.
• She performed at “Tamil Puthaandu” Special program for Bharati Tamil Sangam, San Jose on April 19, 2014.
• She performed at the prestigious Wembley Arena, London for Kalaignar TV’s “Maanada Mayilaada” Grand Finale Season 8 with singers like Velmurugan. Several stars of Tamil cinema like Simbu, Trisha, Jeeva, Kushboo, Sundar C., Sivakarthikeyan and Shiva attended this.

Awards and Recognitions in Playback Singing

• Best Playback Singer – Vikadan Awards
• Best Playback Singer 2004 - Variety Cine Directory Film Awards
• Best Playback Singer 2004 - Duke Awards
• Best Playback Singer – VGP Awards
• Best Playback Singer – Film Today Awards
• Music Achiever award from the University of Madras in its 150th year celebrations.

Filmography

Tamil

Telugu

Kannada

Hindi

Albums

• Prodigy Series Hits of MS Subbulakshmi by M. Madhumitha - GIRI Trading
• Vande Mataram - GIRI Trading
• Bhakthi Sangeeth - Rhythm Music
• Hare Krishna - Saregama

In 2002, GIRI Trading produced her first ever audio album “PRODIGY SERIES HITS OF MS SUBBULAKSHMI in which she sang hits of the great M. S. Subbulakshmi, from movies like Meera, Sakuntalai, and Savithri etc. This album was released by the legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan.This album of hers is a great hit and is indeed a connoisseur’s delight. Her album titled “VANDE MATARAM” contains patriotic songs in 14 Indian languages, which are sure to instill a sense of patriotism and make every Indian feel proud.

Her avid interest in Sanskrit slokas has led HMV to bring out her latest release “HARE KRISHNA” Rare slokas on Lord Vishnu featuring Sri Narasimha Kavacam, Sri Damodarashtakam, The enthralling Kalinga Nardhana Thillana and Bhaja Govindam.

Other Works

Srimathumitha with K.Balachander Sir

• She and her sister and popular singer Charulatha Mani have composed many singles.
• Their “MACHI SONG” for Chennai Super Kings for IPL is a huge YouTube hit.^[5]
• In 2013 she released a private single titled “Why this Kolaveri Da”.
• She has sung the title song for Iyakkunar Sigaram K. Balachander’s serial “Amudha Oru Acharyakuri” (Kalaignar TV) in Mr. Kannan’s music.
• She has also sung adjingles for many leading brands in several languages.

References