Who is Kalpana Raghavendar?
Kalpana Raghavendar is a renowned Indian playback singer, songwriter, and stage performer, best known for her powerful vocals and versatility in multiple languages. Born on May 8, 1980, she has carved a niche for herself in the music industry with over 1,500 recorded tracks and 3,000 live performances across India and abroad. She gained widespread recognition after winning Idea Star Singer Malayalam (Season 5) and later participated in Bigg Boss Telugu Season 1. Apart from playback singing, she has also served as a judge on Super Singer Junior, mentoring budding talents.
Age and Early Life
Kalpana was born into a family with a rich musical heritage. Her father, T. S. Raghavendra, was a well-known playback singer, actor, and composer, while her mother, Sulochana, is also a singer. She has a younger sister, Shekinah Shawn (formerly Prasanna Raghavendar), who is an opera singer.
Her musical journey began at the tender age of five, learning Carnatic music under Madurai T. Srinivasan. Apart from music, Kalpana is academically accomplished, holding a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree and currently pursuing an MPhil.
Career Highlights
Kalpana started her career as a child artist, acting in the Tamil film Punnagai Mannan (1986) at just six years old. Her playback singing career took off in 1999 with the Telugu song “Mangalagouriki” from the film Manoharam, composed by Mani Sharma. Over the years, she has collaborated with legendary musicians like:
- Ilaiyaraaja
- A. R. Rahman
- M. S. Viswanathan
- K. V. Mahadevan
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- K. S. Chithra
While she has sung for numerous movies, Kalpana is more popular as a live performer, having captivated audiences with her stage shows worldwide. In 2013, she headlined a tribute concert for her guru, Madurai T. Srinivasan, as a lead performer.
Health Updated
Kalpana Raghavendar was reportedly found unconscious at her residence in Hyderabad on Tuesday. According to PTI, citing police sources, she allegedly attempted suicide and was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Authorities were alerted by the Residents’ Association, following which the police arrived at her home and forced open the door to find her in an unresponsive state. She was then quickly shifted to a medical facility for treatment.
Kalpana Took Sleeping Pills, Say Doctors
Medical professionals treating Kalpana revealed that she had consumed sleeping pills. However, further details regarding the incident will only be clear once she regains consciousness.
A police official from KPHB Police Station confirmed that her condition is now stable and out of danger.
