Early life and background
Chinmayi's mother, T. Padmhasini, a singer and musicologist, taught her Carnatic music and Hindustani classical music. After her birth and early childhood in Mumbai, Chinmayi relocated to Chennai, where she attended the Children's Garden school until the age of 10. She was then enrolled at Hindu Senior Secondary School, Indira Nagar and went on to complete her school education through home study modules.Chinmayi received the CCRT Scholarship for Young Talent for Carnatic Music from the Government of India at age 11. [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 currently holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Madras.
Chinmayi is a polyglot; apart from Tamil and English, she speaks Telugu, Hindi and German fluently. [2]
Career
Singing
Playback singing
She participated and won the singing competition of Sun TV, Saptasawarangal, following which she was introduced by Singer Srinivas to film composer A. R. Rahman. Chinmayi's playback singing career began with her performance of Rahman's "Oru Deivam 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 "Sahana", Mayya Mayya, "Vaarayo Vaarayo",[3] "Anbil Avan",[4] "Maiyya Yashoda", "Madhno",[5] "Kilimanjaro"," Asku Laska","Nenjil Nenjil", and "Sara Sara Saarakathu".Jingles and advertisements
Chinmayi has sung in various jingles and also dubbed for several artistes in advertisements.The list of Jingles in which she has sung:
- The Chennai Silks (Vivaha Pattu) – Pattu Katti
- Maa Advertisemen – Anbukku
- Kalyan Jewellers – Humming
- Toyota Etios Theme Song – Pehli Baar
- Prince Jewellery Ad – Singara Nagaiyum
- Jayalakshmi Silks – Madhura Swapnanghal
- Sri Devi Textiles
- Tata Gold Plus Ad
- Pepsi Ad
- Nali Silks Ad
- Textile India Ad
- Spinz Talc Ad
- Nyle Ad
- Suryan Fm title song
- Ragamalika Title Song
- Vencobb Chicken Ad
- Saravana Stores
- Dheepam Oil
- Sunland Oil
- The Chennai Silks (Vivaha Pattu) – Anushka Shetty
- Tata Gold Plus Ad
- Head and Sholders — Anushka Shetty
- Sabeena Citrus Plus Ad
- Sri Devi Textiles – Bhavana
- Saffola Masala Oats
- Estancia
- Colgate Active Salt - Anushka Shetty
- Sri Devi Silks - Amala Paul
- AVR Swarnamahal Elite Gallery - Kajal Aggarwal
- Saravana Stores - Samantha Ruth Prabhu
- Dheepam Oil - Herself
Title songs for television serials
Chinmayi has also sung title songs for various television serials. She first sang the title song of Anbulla Snehithiye, after she was introduced to the serial director by director Mani Ratnam. The list of serials she has sung for:[6]- Song — Serial Name
- All songs – Ramayanam(Tamil)
- Snehidi – Anbulla Snehidiye (Tamil)
- Natakam – Natakam (Telugu)
- Paathaigal – Paathaigal(Tamil)
- Sarathakam – Sarathakam (Telugu)
- Pratigatana – Pratigatana(Telugu)
- Naana – Naana(Telugu)
- Vaaram – Vaaram(Tamil)
- Ganga – Ganga Gayathri(Tamil)
- Kanavugal – Kanavugal(Tamil)
- Maraka – Maraka Mudiyuma(Tamil)
- Marum Yugangal – Simran Thirai (Tamil and Telugu)
- Oru Siru Siru – Idhayam Thotta Kathigal(Tamil)
- Oru Nathi – Saratha(Tamil)
- Pookkal Adhu – Appa(Tamil)
- Thooradha – Meera(Tamil)
- Uyire Uyirin – Kanmaniye(Tamil)
- Kodi Mullai – Kodi Mullai(Tamil)
Voice acting
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 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. Recently, Chinmayi dubbed in Vettai for Sameera Reddy. Chinmayi has dubbed for Sameera in all of her Tamil movies.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 third 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, Sun TV's Sangeetha Maha Yuddham. On August 15, 2010, Chinmayi announced that that day's Chhote Ustaad would be her last as host, leaving the show after only eight episodes.Entrepreneurship
Chinmayi serves as 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, to name a few. She received an award from SAARC Chamber for Women Entrepreneurship for Excellence in a niche industry for Blue Elephant in 2010.[7] In 2011, she became the first ever woman entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu to be selected for the prestigious FORTUNE/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership Program.[8][9]As voice actor
- Language in brackets after film title denotes dubbed version
Awards and nominations and honours
Singing awards
- 2012: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2010: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Vaarayo Vaarayo"(Aadhavan)
- 2008: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Sahana"(Shivaji)
- 2011: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)
- 2003: Best Female Playback – "Oru Deivam Thantha Poove"(Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2008: Best Female Playback – "Sahana"(Shivaji)
- 2012: Best Female Playback Singer – "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2010: Best Female Playback Singer – "Vaarayo Vaarayo"(Aadhavan)
- 2008: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – "Sahana"(Shivaji)
- 2011: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)
- Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Awards
- 2008: Best Female Playback Singer – "Sahana"(Shivaji)[10]
- 2010: Best Female Playback Singer – "Vaarayo Vaarayo"(Aadhavan)[11]
- 2009: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – "Avaram Poo"([[Poo (film)|Poo))
- 2009: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – "Chinnamma Chilakkamma"(Sakkarakatti)
- 2011: Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)
- 2010: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Vaarayo Vaarayo"(Aadhavan)
- 2010: Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Laesa Parakkudhu"(Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu)
- 2012 - Nominated, Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2012: SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil - "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011 - Popular Female Playback Singer – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)[12]
- 2011 - Favourite Song of the Year – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)[13]
- 2012 - Best Female Singer Female - "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2012 - Best Song of the Year - "Sara Sara" (Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2011 - Nominated, Best Duet of the Year (along with Javed Ali – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)[14]
- 2012: The Chennai Times Award for Best Female Playback Singer - "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2012: Nominated, The Hyderabad Times Award for Best Female Singer - "Opiri"(Pilla Zamindar)
- Other awards
- 2003: Award from Ajanta Fine Arts for "Oru Deivam"(Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2003: Best Media Associates Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Oru Deivam"(Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2003: ITFA Award for Best Upcoming Playback Singer – "Oru Deivam"(Kannathil Muthamittal)
- 2008: Film Fans Association Award for Beat Female Playback Singer – "Sahana"(Shivaji)[15]
- 2008: Jaya TV Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Sahana"(Shivaji)[16]
- 2008: Lions Club Award for Best Female Playback singer – "Sahana(Shivaji)"
- 2010: Alandur Fine Arts for Best Female Playback Singer
- 2010: South Scope Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Vaarayo Vaarayo"(Aadhavan)[17]
- 2011: BIG Tamil Award for Best Entertaining Female Singer – "Poove Poove"(Siddhu +2)[18]
- 2011: MGR Sivaji Academy Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Kilimanjaro"(Endhiran)[19]
- 2011: Vijayam Tamil Movie Award for Favourite Female Singer of the Year
- 2012: Edison Award for Best Female Playback Singer - "Chotta Chotta"(Engeyum Eppodhum)[20]
- 2012: Navaratna Women Achievers Award for Best Female Playback Singer[21][22]
- 2012: Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Female Playback Singer - "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)[23]
- 2012: BIG Tamil Melody Music Award for Best Female Playback Singer - "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- 2012: Filmfans' Association Award for Best Female Playback Singer - "Sara Sara"(Vaagai Sooda Vaa)
- Nominations
- 2008: Star Screen Award for Best Female Playback – "Tere Bina"
- 2010: Tamil Cinema Press Awards for Best Female Playback Singer – "Nila Nee Vaanam"(Pokkisham)
- 2012: BIG Salute to Tamil Women Entertainer Award for Best Singer[24]
Awards for dubbing
- 2011: Won, Nandi Award for Best Female Dubbing Artist – Ye Maaya Chesave(Samantha Ruth Prabhu)[25]
- 2012: Nominated, BIG Salute to Tamil Women Entertaniner Award for Best Dubbing Artist[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[28]
- 2011: Award from SAARC Chamber for Women Entrepreneurship for Excellence[29]
- 2011: Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club Of Madras[30]
Honours
- 2011: She has been selected as a Mentee to the Fortune/US State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership. She is one among four Indians and the only and first person from Tamil Nadu to do so.[31][32]
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 is the first female singer in India to have an exclusive app on all iOS devices.[33] The App is also available in the android version
- 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. 2006-01-13. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Chinmayi's education". Chinmayionline.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ http://www.vijayawards2010.com/modules/common/news.jsp
- ^ "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya: Vintage Rahman — Rediff.com Movies". Movies.rediff.com. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ Prakash KL (2010-06-14). "Lamhaa — Music Review". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "chinmayionline". chinmayionline.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (2010-11-29). "WhatToNameIt: The Blue Elephant receives an Award". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Learning to be a Better Leader — U.S. Consulate General Chennai, India". Chennai.usconsulate.gov. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (2011-04-21). "WhatToNameIt: Another milestone". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "The first ever Film Music Awards of Tamil Cinema". Entertainment.oneindia.in. 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "New Indian Express". M.pressmart.com. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Arts / Cinema : Rhythmic ripples of ‘Mellisai’ mark function". The Hindu. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Arts / Cinema : Rhythmic ripples of ‘Mellisai’ mark function". The Hindu. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Arts / Cinema : Rhythmic ripples of ‘Mellisai’ mark function". The Hindu. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Fans Association Awards". Chennaionline.com. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (2008-01-02). "WhatToNameIt: Sahana". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Tamil Movie Winners of South Scope Cine Awards 2010 Kollywood Winners of South Scope Cine Awards". Tamilspider.com. 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Cities / Chennai : Recognising icons of entertainment". The Hindu. 2011-03-27. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ Posted by seeucom (2011-01-03). "Enthiran was awarded the best commercial film of the year in MGR-Sivaji Awards". Tamilmoviestar.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "BEST SINGER FEMALE AWARD". My Tamil Movie. 2012-02-12.
- ^ "Received the Navratna Award for Women Achievers". Chinmayi/Chinmayee.
- ^ "Chinmayi Navratna Award Photo". Yogitharani.
- ^ "Kollywood gets honoured in Norway". Times of India.
- ^ "A BIG tribute to Tamil Women Entertainers". My Sixer. 2012-02-07.
- ^ "Nandi Awards Winners List −2010". Telugu.way2movies.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "A BIG tribute to Tamil Women Entertainers". My Sixer. 2012-02-07.
- ^ Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (2009-01-19). "WhatToNameIt: The RITZ award for Amazing Women". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Vikatan Awards – 2008". IndusLadies. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ by suraen on January 17, 2011 (2011-01-17). "CHINMAYI SRIPADA!! « Business On Globe". Suraen.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "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 2011-08-20.
- ^ http://www.chinmayisripada.com/2011/09/fortune-most-powerful-women-summit.html"Learning to be a Better Leader — U.S. Consulate General Chennai, India". Chennai.usconsulate.gov. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee (2011-04-21). "WhatToNameIt: Another milestone". Chinmayisripada.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ August 9, 2011 By K. Sreedevi DC chennai (2011-08-09). "Mobile application to promote singer Chinmayi". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-08-20.