- Chinnaponnu
-
"kalaimamani" thanjai Chinnaponnu Birth name suranam, sivagangai dist Genres Tamil folk music Occupations Playback singer Instruments Vocalist Years active 1990-current Website www.chinnaponnu.com Chinnaponnu (Tamil: சின்னபொண்ணு, sometimes written Chinna Ponnu, or Chinnaponnu Kumar) is a folk singer from the state of Tamil Nadu, India. She was born in Suranam, a small village in Sivagangai district.
Contents
Early life
Chinnaponnu started performing in temple festivals and churches when she was 13 years old. Soon afterwards, she began singing professionally in the troupe of fellow folk artist Kottaisamy, whom she credits as a mentor. Later her voice brought the attention of K.A. Gunasekaran, a leading researcher on the folk arts and folk songs of Tamil Nadu, who also had close ties to the Communist Party of India. Gunasekaran helped promote her performances in different parts of the state.[1]
Career
In 2004, she broke into the Tamil film industry as a playback singer with the song "Vazhthuren Vazhthuren" in the hit film Chandramukhi, starring Rajinikanth and Jyothika.[2] This led to television appearances and interest from other music directors. Her next major hit, "Nakku Mukka", was featured in the 2008 film Kadhalil Vizhunthen. For this song she was honoured with the Kannadasan Award for best folk singer in a Tamil film. A different version of "Nakku Mukka" (with changed lyrics) was featured in a short Times of India ad film entitled "A Day in the Life of Chennai", which won two Gold Lions at Cannes in 2009.[3] [4] In the year 2010, she won the Edition Award 2010 for the song "Theeka Theeka" from the film Suriyan Satta Kalluri directed by S.S. Pandian.[5] In the same year she was also one of the artists featured in the theme song for the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010, composed by A. R. Rahman, with a video directed by Gautham Menon.[6]
In 2010 and 2011, her troupe was one of the headlining acts at the Chennai Sangamam festival. In June 2011, she appeared on the CokeStudioIndia television program with singer Kailash Kher.
Discography
Cassettes
Suriya Thoranam, her first audiocassette, released by Father Bakianathan.
Thannane, with songs written and composed by K.A. Gunasekaran, released by the CPI.
Chinnaponnu recorded many other cassettes in her childhood and young adulthood which were sold and circulated informally. A CD re-release of the best of these tracks is planned.
Solo CDs
Marikkozhunthae (மரிக்கொழுந்தே) (Symphony Records, 2005)
Thannane Thannane (தானானே தானானே) (Symphony Records, 2009)
As Playback Singer
Song Film Music Director Vazthran Vazthran Chandramukhi Vidyasagar Aathi Sivanae Thagappansamy Srikanth Deva Mannarkudi Kalakalakka Sivappathigaram Vidyasagar Naalugopura Karuppusamy Kuthagaitharar Dheena Nakku Mukka Kadhalil Vizhunthen Vijay Antony Theeka Theeka Suriyan Satta Kalluri Deva Dindu Kallu Dindigul Sarathy Dheena Aakayam Edimughanka Eesa Haran Personal life
In 1990 Chinnaponnu was married to composer and percussionist Selva Kumar (who generally performs under the name Kumar) at Thanjavur Mariamman Temple. They have composed music and performed together ever since.
In 2008, Chinnaponnu was involved in a serious car accident, in which her driver was killed.[7] She sustained head injuries and was hospitalized for several weeks, but was performing and recording again within a few months.
Reference
- ^ [, http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/news/june-2010/chinna-ponnu-dreams-big.asp]
- ^ [, http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/14/stories/2007031421790200.htm]
- ^ [, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-06-28/india/28159732_1_jwt-india-agnello-dias-taproot-india]
- ^ [, http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/a-day-in-the-life-of-chennai/]
- ^ [, http://chinnaponnu.com/awards.html]
- ^ [, http://www.indianewsreel.com/Music/Features/20105401105432/Chinna-Ponnu-on-cloud-nine.aspx]
- ^ The Hindu (2008-11-14). "Singer Injured in Road Accident". http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111461490800.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
External links
- http://chinnaponnu.com/index.html
- http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/a-day-in-the-life-of-chennai/
Categories:- Indian female singers
- Indian film singers
- Kollywood playback singers
- Tamil singers
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