B. R. Chaya

Biography:

Bengaluru Ramamurthy Chaya, better known as B. R. Chaya, is a renowned Kannada playback singer, stage performer, and a beloved figure in Sugama Sangeetha, a form of Kannada light music. Her musical prowess spans various genres including pop, folk, devotional, and bhavageethe.

Born to Ramamurthy and S. G. Janaki, Chaya had a unique journey to her musical career. After pursuing a course in horology at RV College, she worked as a watch mechanic at HMT. Her musical talents shone when she represented Karnataka at a national competition organized by Doordarshan in Madras.

Her debut in the music industry began with the Tamil film “Jothi” in 1983, followed by her Kannada debut in Puttanna Kanagal’s “Amrutha Ghalige” in 1984. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first recipient of the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her song “Ruthumana samputadi” from the movie “Kaadina Benki” in 1988.