Kalpana Raghavendar

Biography:

Kalpana Raghavendar, born on May 8, 1980, is a versatile Indian talent known for her contributions as a playback singer, songwriter, actor, and a significant presence in reality television. Her musical journey commenced remarkably early at the age of five, setting the stage for a prolific career that spans recording over 1,500 tracks and performing in 3,000 shows across India and globally.

Born into a family steeped in musical heritage, Kalpana’s father, T. S. Raghavendra, a distinguished playback singer, actor, and composer, along with her mother, Sulochana, both paved the way for her musical upbringing. Her younger sister, Shekinah Shawn (born Prasanna Raghavendar), also contributes to the musical realm as an opera singer. Kalpana received her early training in Carnatic music under the tutelage of Madurai T. S. Srinivasan.

Transitioning into a full-fledged playback singing career as an adult, Kalpana made her mark in 1999 with “Mangalagouriki” from the Telugu film Manoharam, under the music direction of Mani Sharma. Her collaboration spanned with renowned composers and singers like M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, K. V. Mahadevan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and K. S. Chithra.

Kalpana Raghavendar’s artistry extends beyond playback singing, with her reputation as a captivating stage performer, having delivered close to 3,000 stage shows globally. Her notable career milestones include winning the south Indian singing show Star Singer season 5 in 2010, her participation in Bigg Boss Telugu Season 1, and her role as a judge on Super Singer Junior. In 2013, she led a tribute concert honoring her guru, Madurai T. S. Srinivasan.