Anuradha Bhat was born into a family that has no musical background. Her father Srikrishna
Bhat, a retired mechanical professional and her mother Gayathri Srikrishna, a homemaker are
both ardent music lovers. Her younger sister Anupama Bhat is a popular TV anchor/actor.
Anuradha Bhat was an allrounder right from her childhood days. Schooling and
fine-arts went hand in hand where she excelled in all her subjects of interest. She did very
well in her academics and went on to get the B.SC. & MBA degrees. She received training for
Bharathnatyam from Mrs. Kamala Bhat and completed her Proficiency (Vidwath) in
Bharathnatyam. She also got trained for Carnatic classical vocal, devotional and light music
singing from Late. Sri. M. Srinath Marathe. She learnt Veena recital from Mrs. Ranganayaki
Varadarajan. She also took voice-culture lessons from the legendary composer Sri Rajan
(Rajan-Nagendra fame).
Profile
Anuradha Bhat is a versatile Indian playback singer who has lent her voice for more than
1000 songs in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu & Tulu feature films. She has also rendered several
non-film songs of different genres in 16 different languages with more than 5000 songs to
her credit. She has performed in several live shows across the globe. She is the recipient
of several prestigious awards like the Filmfare Award (South), Karnataka State Film Award ,
Radio Mirchi Music Award, Aryabhata International Award and many more.
Anuradha Bhat was first spotted in ETV Kannada’s "Yedhe Thumbi Haaduvenu - Anveshane",
a talent hunt programme, where she got selected to sing several duets along with her singing
idol DR. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. She was then called for an audition by the renowned Music
Director Sri Hamsalekha and was offered to sing for the background score of the movie
"Nenapirali".
Playback singing
Anuradha Bhat emerged as a full-fledged playback singer through her song "Vasantha Vasantha"
for the movie “Meera Madhava Raghava” (2007) under the music direction of Sri Hamsalekha.
Since then there is no looking back for her. She is known for her scintillating, velvety
voice and has worked with all prominent music directors like Sri Ilaiyaraja, M. M.
Keeravani, Manisharma, Thaman, Gurukiran, Manomurthy, Harikrishna, Arjun Janya and others.
She has lent her voice for more than 1000 songs in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Tulu.
Other projects and activities
Other than playback singing for movies, Anuradha Bhat has sung more than 5,000 songs in 16
different languages (Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Sanskrit,
Prakrit, Kodava, Badaga, Lambaani/Banjara,Tulu, Konkani, Beary & English) for several
other music albums like devotional, folk, bhaavageethe, pop albums, remix songs, children’s
rhymes, Ad films/jingles and TV serial title tracks.
She has also dubbed for cartoon characters and has lent her voice in the narrations for
several animated films, documentaries, jingles and various other projects.
"Chinnu – a series of Kannada Rhymes - Vol. 1, 2, & 3", rendered by Anuradha Bhat, is
very popular among toddlers.
Bhat also conceptualised, sang & featured in her first ever video single "Naa haaduve
nimagaagiye" - an ode to her native land Karnataka.
A compilation of few of her popular songs - “Anuradha Bhat mashup” is another video song
that features her.
Anuradha Bhat is featured as a mentor in Zee Kannada’s popular reality show SaReGaMaPa
(season 18 & season 19) where she trains the aspiring singers/contestants to improve their
vocal quality & singing skills.
Anuradha Bhat worked as an anchor for Doordarshan Chandana’s live show – "Belagu". She
has given several musical performances for various TV channels, to name a few: ETV’s “Endhu
Mareyadha Haadu”, “Snehadha Kadalalli”, Janasri TV’s “Nakshatra Manthana”, etc. She was 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 (Sun Network).
Live Performances
Anuradha Bhat is also known for her concerts / Live performances. She has given several
vocal performances in All India Radio, Doordarshan and other TV channels. She has performed
at various prestigious events like the Hampi Utsav, Mysuru Dasara, Mysore Winter Festival,
Vishwa Kannada Sammelana and Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava (BGU) to name a few.
She has performed live shows in various countries namely, the United States of America
(USA), London (UK), Netherlands (Europe), Sydney, Melbourne & Perth (Australia), Uganda
(Africa), Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai (UAE), Muscat & Sohar (Oman), Qatar, Bahrain & Kuwait.
She has performed with several celebrated musicians like Sri Ilaiyaraja, Dr. S P
Balasubrahmanyam, Shankar Mahadevan, Suresh Wadekar, Udit Narayan, Vijay Yesudas, Vijay
Prakash and many more.
Awards
• Karnataka State Film Award (Best Female Playback Singer) for her song "Jnaanajyothi" from
the movie Little Master (2012).
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada) for her song "Chanana
Chanana" from the movie "Ugramm" (2015).
• ZEE Music Award (Best Female Singer) for her song Usiraguve from the movie Bahuparaak
(2015).
• Honored by The Newspapers Association of Karnataka with The Media Acievement Award -
Best Playback Singer (2016)
• Karnataka Chitra Rasikara Sangha Award - Best Playback Singer (2016) for "Irali Hege"
from the movie "Benkipatna"
• Red FM Tulu Film Awards for Best Playback Singer for "Mahamaaye" from the Tulu movie
"Chaali Polilu" (2016)
• Aryabhata International Award (2017) for her contribution in the field of playback
singing.
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada) for her song “Appa I
love you pa“ from the movie “Chowka” (2018).
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) - Best Female Playback Singer
(Kannada) for her song “Appa I love you pa“ from the movie “Chowka” (2018)
• Santosham Award (Best Playback Singer – Kannada) for her song “Appa I love you pa“
from the movie “Chowka” (2018).
• Mirchi Music Award (Best Playback Singer – Kannada) for her song “Appa I love you pa“
from the movie “Chowka” (2018).
• Mirchi Music Award (Female Vocalist of the Decade – Kannada) for her song “Appa I
love you pa“ from the movie “Chowka” (2021).
• Honored by Chittara Media with the 'Chittara Star Award’ (2022)
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada) for her song “Dheera
Sammohagaara“ from the movie “Bicchugatti” (2022)
Nominations:
Anuradha Bhat has 8 consecutive nominations (2013-2022) for Filmfare Award South (Best
Female Playback Singer – Kannada) out of which she has 3 wins (2015, 2018 & 2022). She also has 7
nominations for South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) out of which she has 1 win.
She has also been nominated by the Chandanavana Film Critics Academy (CFCA) 2 times.
Here's the nominations list:
• Udaya Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2011) for "Maleye Maleye" from
Modalasala
• Asianet Suvarna Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2011) for "Neenadadha
Maathu" from Krishnan Love Story
• Asianet Suvarna Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2013) for "Ellello Oduva
Manase" from Sidlingu
• KIMA Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2013) for "Ellello Oduva Manase" from
Sidlingu
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada - 2013) for "Ellello Oduva
Manase (Female)" from the movie Sidlingu
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) – 2013 for "Ellello Oduva Manase
(Female)" from the movie Sidlingu
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada - 2014) for "Srikrishna"
from the movie Bhajarangi
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) – 2014 for "Srikrishna" from the movie
Bhajarangi
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) – 2015 for "Neenu Iruvaga" from the
movie Ninnindale
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada - 2016) for "Irali Hege"
from the movie Benkipatna
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) – 2016 for "Mareyada Pusthaka" from
the movie Rathavara
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada - 2017) for "Yavoora
Geleya" from the movie Ricky
• Kannada International Movie Awards (KIMA) for Best Female Playback singer (2017) for
"Yaavoora Geleya" from "Ricky"
• Kannada International Movie Awards (KIMA) for Best Female Playback singer (2018) for
"Appa I love you" from "Chowka"
• Filmfare Award South (Best Female Playback Singer – Kannada - 2019) for "Holeva
Holeyachege (Slow)" from the movie Ammachi Yemba Nenapu
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) – 2019 for “Nanna Hrudaya” from the
movie I Love You
• Chandanavana Film Critics Award for Best Female Singer (2020) for "Elliruve Hariye"
from the movie Kurukshetra
• Chandanavana Film Critics Award for Best Female Singer (2021) for "Dheera
Sammohagaara" from the movie Bicchugatti
• Vijaya Karnataka Web Cinema Awards ( Best female singer 2021) for “Nee Jeevaku” from
the movie srikrishna@gmail.com
• South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) – 2022 for “Pataki Poriyo” from the
movie “Kotigobba 3”
Honors/Titles:
Anuradha Bhat has been honoured in appreciation by various cultural associations and
organizations.and has received several titles namely
Suvarna Gaana Sharade
Karnatakadha Kogile
Kannada Swara Kogile
Karunaada Gaana Praveene
Gaanayaogi Panchakshari Gavaayi Sangeetha Ratna
Karnatakadha Hemmeya Mahila Sadhaki (Woman Achiever Award)
Swaramadhuri
Swaramedha Sangeeta Ratna
Gaayanashree
Singing Diva