# Chitra Iyer

Chitra Iyer (also credited as Chitra Sivaraman) is an Indian playback singer who has worked in Indian and Italian films across five different industries primarily in Malayalam.
A resident of Bangalore, Chitra worked extensively with A. R. Rahman during the early 2000s on his Tamil films, while also having an alternate career as a television host and actress on Malayalam television.

## Career

Early in her career, Chitra Iyer attempted to reach out to composer A. R. Rahman to work with him, but found it difficult as she was based out of Bangalore. In 2000, Rahman initiated contact with Chitra and invited her to come to Chennai with a demo cassette of her work, with Chitra recording a series of Tamil and Malayalam songs. On the day of her visit to Chennai, Rahman immediately heard the songs and hired her to record for the song "Athini Sithini" for the film Thenali (2000) during the same evening. She subsequently continued to work for other composers in Tamil cinema including Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Bharadwaj and Vidyasagar under her post-marriage name of Chitra Sivaraman. Furthermore, apart from in her mother tongue of Tamil, Chitra continued to sing playback for Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films.
In the Malayalam entertainment industry, she had an alternate career as an anchor of a Malayalam singing show, Jeeva's Sapta Swarangal and hosted it under her maiden name, Chitra Iyer. Having done her education in Kerala, she had a good foundation in the Malayalam language, with her work on the show leading to further opportunities to sing for films.

## Personal life

Chitra Iyer is married to former Air Force pilot Vinod Sivaraman since 12 July 1989. The pair met at the insistence of their parents at Chennai Gymkhana Club in early 1989, and have since had two daughters Aditi and Anjali. Anjali is known for her performance in the 2023 Netflix series Class.
In recent years, alongside her television commitments, Chitra has worked as the founder and trustee of the Society for Elephant Welfare in Kerala. She has also promoted farming with the state, supporting a project launched by her mother Rohini Iyer. Likewise, she launched a software company, Darkhorse Productions, in 2013 alongside her daughters Aditi and Anjali Sivaraman.

## Notable discography
### Tamil

| Year | Song title | Film | Music Director |
| 2000 | "Athini Sithini" | Thenali | A. R. Rahman |
| 2001 | "Athan Varuvaga" | Dumm Dumm Dumm | Karthik Raja |
| 2001 | "Adi Nenthikkitten" | Star | A. R. Rahman |
| 2001 | "Thozha Thozha" | Pandavar Bhoomi | Bharadwaj |
| 2001 | "Colour Colour" | Manadhai Thirudivittai | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2001 | "Panjaangam Paarakadhe" | Thavasi | Vidyasagar |
| 2002 | "Neruppu Koothadikudhu" | Thulluvadho Ilamai | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2002 | "Dhuan Dhuan Sa" | 16 December | Karthik Raja |
| 2003 | "Vasiyakaara" | Pudhiya Geethai | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2003 | "Ale Ale" | Boys | A. R. Rahman |
| 2003 | "Asathura" | Enakku 20 Unakku 18 | A. R. Rahman |
| 2004 | "Anarkali" | Kangalal Kaidhu Sei | A. R. Rahman |
| 2004 | "Bommalattam" | Bose | Yuvan Shankar Raja |

### Malayalam

| Year | Song title | Film | Music Director |
| 1996 | Kunjikattin | Naalamkettile Nalla Thampimar | SP Venkatesh |
| 1998 | Aadharam Madhuram | Gramapanchayath | Berny Ignatius |
| 1998 | Thankamani Tharamay | Kudumba Varthakkal | Berny Ignatius |
| 2001 | Kalakalam Padum | Korappam the Great | Balabhaskar |
| 2002 | Raavinte Devahridayam | Mazhathullikilukkam | Suresh Peters |
| 2002 | Kaatoram Kadaloram | Sisiram | Berny Ignatius |
| 2002 | Pakkala | Sisiram | Berny Ignatius |
| 2003 | Ishtamallada | Swapnakoodu | Mohan Sithara |
| 2003 | Chundatu chettipoo | Chronic Bachelor | Deepak Dev |
| 2003 | Nalkani Aayalo | Ottakambi Nadam | Ramesh Narayan |
| 2003 | Oru Swapnam | Ottakambi Nadam | Ramesh Narayan |
| 2004 | Valentine Valentine | Youth Festival | M. Jayachandran |
| 2004 | Maatupetti | Mayilattam | M. Jayachandran |
| 2004 | Paalathil Thallithali | Udayam | Mohan Sithara |
| 2004 | Rithame | Udayam | Mohan Sithara |
| 2005 | Oru Swapnam | December | Jassie Gift |
| 2005 | Kadamthadi | December | Jassie Gift |
| 2006 | Kusumavadana | Madhuchandralekha | M. Jayachandran |
| 2006 | Kaadukulirana | Bada Dosth | M. Jayachandran |
| 2007 | Sneham Kondoru | Sooryakireedam | Bennet |
| 2007 | Sneham Kondoru (slow) | Sooryakireedam | Bennet |
| 2011 | Maanmizhi | Metro | Shaan Rahman |
| 2011 | Maanmizhi (Remix) | Metro | Shaan Rahman |
| 2013 | Hey Ethuvazhi | Arikil Oraal | Gopi Sundar |

## Television

* Sapthaswarangal (Asianet) as Host
* Idea Star singer 2006 (Asianet) as Judge
* Voice of Kerala (Surya TV) as Judge
* Sangeetha Mahayudham (Surya TV) as Team Captain
* Malayalee House (Surya TV) as Contestant
* Super Star Global (Amrita TV) as Judge
* Flowers Oru Kodi (Flowers TV) as Contestant

### Other TV Shows as guest

* JB Junction
* Onnum Onnum Moonu
* Symphony
* Ente Daivam
* Tharapakittu
* Annonyam
* Tarang
* Thara Dambathimarude Samsthana Sammelanam
She has also performed in a few Mauritius Television shows as Performer

### TV serials - Malayalam

| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Venalmazha | Surya TV | — | Singer - Thalirayi song |
| 2013 | Kumkumapoovu | Asianet | Arundathi Jithan's friend | Super hit |
| 2015-2016 | Eeran Nilavu | Flowers (TV channel) | Vidyabharathi | |
| 2018–2019 | Gauri | Surya TV | Yamini | |

## Filmography

* 2005 - Athira X C (Malayalam) - telefilm
* 2007 - Rathri Mazha (Malayalam) as Mohini Natyamandir
* 2009 - Makante Achan (Malayalam) as herself
* 2010 - Kaaryasthan (Malayalam) as herself
* 2011 - Makaramanju (Malayalam) as Rukku Bai
* 2012 - Casanovva (Malayalam) as Salsa Teacher
* 2012 - Unnam (Malayalam) as Padma
* 2012 - Arike (Malayalam) as Kalpan's chitta
* 2018 - B.Tech (Malayalam) as Priya's mother
* 2021 - Mohan Kumar Fans as herself
* 2022 - Jana Gana Mana as Swetha Gupta
* 2022 - Meri Awas Suno as Prof. Renuka Varma
* 2024 - Manorathangal as Tamil lady - Anthology series ; Segment : Vilpana