Anuradha Bhat


Anuradha Bhat is an Indian playback singer for the feature films. She sings predominantly in Kannada language films. Bhat has recorded for over 1500 feature films and has recorded more than 5000 songs in 15 different languages for various music albums. Bhat is the recipient of Karnataka State Film Award, two times Filmfare Awards South, SIIMA, Mirchi Music Award, Aryabhata International Award, and many more. She is fondly called as “Karnatakadha Kogile” by her fans.

Early life and background

Anuradha Bhat was born to Mr. Srikrishna Bhat and Mrs. Gayathri Srikrishna Bhat in Mangalore, Karnataka. Anuradha's parents are ardent music lovers.
Anuradha Bhat received her education from Carmel English School, St. Ann's Girls' High School, Canara College, MSNM Besant Institute of PG Studies and passed out her B.Sc. and MBA with flying colours. She then got placed in the HR department of a renowned multinational company in Bangalore. But due to the immense love for music, she decided to quit her job and devote all her time to music, thus, enhance her musical knowledge and abilities.
Schooling and fine arts went hand in hand for Anuradha. She received training for Bharathnatyam from Mrs. Kamala Bhat and completed her Proficiency in Bharathnatyam. She also got trained for Carnatic classical vocal, devotional and light music singing from Late. Sri M. Srinath Marathe. She learnt to play the instrument Veena from Mrs. Ranganayaki Varadarajan right from her early childhood days. All these activities helped her win many prizes and awards at an early young age.

Career

Anuradha Bhat was first spotted by Music Director Gurukiran who judged her singing in a District Level - Open to all - Singing Competition that was held in Mangalore. She then gave several performances in Gurukiran's Concerts in India and abroad. Anuradha, during her college days, was selected to sing a few duet songs along with the legendary singer Dr. S. P. Balasubramaniam through "Yedhe Thumbi Haaduvenu - Anveshane", a talent show conducted by ETV Kannada. She was then called for an audition by the renowned Music Director Sri Hamsalekha and was selected to sing the re-recording bits for the movie "Nenapirali". She did a lot of chorus and track singing for Hamsalekha where most of her songs were retained.

Playback singing

Anuradha Bhat emerged as a full-fledged playback singer through her song "Vasantha Vasantha" for the movie Meera Madhava Raghava under the music direction of Hamsalekha.
She then got to sing for all other music directors in Sandalwood industry including V. Manohar, Sadhukokila, Rajesh Ramnath, Gurukiran, Manomurthy, Harikrishna, Arjun Janya and so on. She has sung for Music Directors even outside Sandalwood industry that include the Music Maestro Ilaiyaraja, M. M. Keeravani, Manisharma, Thaman and others.
She became even more popular with her super hit songs like Marali Mareyagi, Jum Jum Maaya, Junglee Shivalingu, Ellello oduva manase, Baite Baite, Srikrishna, Usiraaguve, Chanana Chanana, O Baby, Appa I love you paa, Yelliruve Hariye and many more. So far, Bhat has lent her voice for over 1500 Kannada movies and a few songs in Tulu, Tamil and Telugu and .

Other projects and activities

Other than playback singing for movies, Anuradha Bhat has sung more than 5,000 songs in 15 different languages for several other music projects like devotional, folk, bhaavageethe, pop albums, remix songs, children’s rhymes, ad films/jingles and TV serials.
"Chinnu - Kannada Rhymes - Vol. 1, 2, & 3", all the three series rendered by Anuradha Bhat, became famous even among the toddlers in India and abroad.
She has also dubbed for cartoon characters and has lent her voice in the narrations for several animated films, documentaries, jingles, radio/TV commercials and other projects.
Anuradha Bhat has anchored a live show – "Belagu" for Doordarshan. She has done musical performances for various other TV channels, including ETV’s "Endhu Mareyadha Haadu" and Janasri TV’s "Nakshatra Manthana". She was also seen as a mentor in a musical reality show "Sapthaswara-3" on Kasturi TV. She also hosted the popular musical show "Aksharamaale" for Udaya TV.

Live performances

Anuradha Bhat started performing at the age of 6. She has given vocal performances in All India Radio, Doordarshan and other TV channels. Anuradha, a versatile singer, has given musical performances in India as well as in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Muscat, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. She has performed along with legendary/popular singers like Dr. S.P.Balasubrahmaniam, Shankar Mahadevan, Suresh Wadekar, Udit Narayan, Rajesh Krishnan, Vijay Prakash, Vijay Yesudas and many more. She has performed in Live Concerts of several popular Music Directors such as Ilaiyaraja, M M Keeravani, Hamsalekha, Gurukiran, Manomurthy, V. Harikrishna, and Arjun Janya.
She has given performances in prestigious events of several Zilla Utsava, Mysore Dasara, Vishwa Kannada Sammelana - Bellary, Kalaburgi, Singapore and London, Hampi Utsava, AKKA sammelana, Navika, and Bengaluru Ganesha Utsava.

Awards and honours

;Won:
;Nominations:
;Honors/Titles
Bhat has received the following honours and titles:
• Gaayanashri
• Diva
•Karnatakadha Kogile
• Karunaada Gaana Praveene
• Gaanayogi Panchakshari Gavaayi Sangeetha Ratna
• Swaramedha Sangeetha Sri
• Karnatakada Hemmeya Mahila Saadhaki -2020
• Swara Madhuri
and many others by various other cultural associations and organizations for her contribution to Indian Film music.

Discography

List of films for which Anuradha Bhat has recorded her voice for the soundtracks: