Uthara Unnikrishnan

Uthara Unnikrishnan
Born (2004-06-11) 11 June 2004
Nationality Indian
Years active 2012–present
Known for 2015 National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer
Parent(s) P. Unnikrishnan
Priya Unnikrishnan

Uthara Unnikrishnan (born 2004) is an Indian playback singer. In 2015, she won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer at the 62nd National Film Awards for her rendition of the song "Azhagu" (Beautiful) from the 2014 Tamil film Saivam, a family drama directed by A. L. Vijay. She has recorded the song when she was 7 years old. She received the award at the age of 10, becoming its youngest recipient.[1][2]

Biography

Uthara Unnikrishnan is the daughter of Carnatic classical singer P. Unni Krishnan and Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Unnikrishnan. Her father, a recipient of multiple National Film Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, received his first award in 1995 for his debut performance of the Tamil songs "Ennavale adi ennavale" and "Uyirum neeye".[1]

Uthara began learning Carnatic music at the age of six from Sudha Raja. She is a sixth-grade student of Lady Andal, Chetpet.[3] Apart from Tamil music, she enjoys Western classical music and wants to master both genres.[4]

Song

"Azhagu" (Beauty) was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, based on raga Darbari Kanada. The song describes a child's perception of the beauty around her. The song was penned by Na. Muthukumar, who also received the National Film Award for Best Lyrics.[5] When Uthara Unnikrishnan accompanied her mother Priya Unnikrishnan to Carnatic singer Saindhavi's house during Bommala Koluvu festival, she sang a few lines. A couple of months later, Saindhavi's husband G. V. Prakash Kumar called upon Uthara to croon a solo melody for Saivam.[6] Uthara recorded the song for child actor Sara Arjun when she was eight years old in 2013. [7] Apart from "Azhagu", she has sung two more Tamil songs.[8]

While praises poured in from many people, singer Pradip Somasundaran criticised the jury's selection, terming the song as having been heavily modified through use of pitch correction software.[9] Uthara later worked on Theri with G. V. Prakash Kumar in the song "Eena Meena Teeka".[10] She has also sung the title song Minnamini kunjale of Malayalam TV series Moonumani airing in flowers TV.

References

  1. 1 2 "Like Father, Like Daughter". Tehleka.com. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "62nd National Film Awards: Complete list of winners". IBN Live. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Uthra Unnikrishnan sings at Saivam audio launch (video)". YouTube. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "10-year old Uthara to receive National Award 20 years after father singer P Unnikrishnan got". Indian Express. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "62nd National Film Awards: Tamil movies bag eight honours". Times of India. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "The family note". The Hindu. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Eight-year old Uthara croons for 'Saivam'". sify.com. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Uthara Unnikrishnan: Like father, like daughter". Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Best female singer award is amusing". The Times of India. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "GV50- 'Theri' audio review". Sify. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
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