Stars : Star Interviews : Sunita

A versatile singer, Sunitha in her decade and half career won so many hearts with her mellifluous numbers and bagged many awards including six Nandi awards. Her very first song, Ee Velalo Emi Chestuntavo, from the film Gulabi, brought Sunitha fame and popularity. Yet, she brims with childlike joy after winning Filmfare award for a Kannada song.

"Although I was nominated for 10 times for Telugu films, I never won a Filmfare Award. Still, I am thrilled winning the award for a Kannada song too. I would have been even happier if it was for a Telugu song though. I won this Filmfare, my first in career, for the film Cheluveye Ninna Nodalu," she said.

It is not her first song in Kannada though. "My first song in Kannada was for the film Bhoomi Geeta for Ilayaraja sir's composition," she added.

South side story

Not just in Kannada, she also sang for Tamil and Malayalam films too. "So far I rendered for about 3200 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. Did 8 films in Tamil, 14 films in Kannada and 2 songs for a Malayalam movie recently."

Sunitha started her career in 1995 with the film Gulabi, directed by Krishnavamsi. "My first song was recorded on May 31st, 1995. Gulabi brought me recognition and later Maghamasam song from Egire Paavuram strengthened my position as singer. In the last 16 years, I won 6 Nandi Awards, 3 for film singing," she added.

Apart from singing, she's known for giving voice to actresses. Then, what does she enjoy - the role of a dubbing artiste or singing? "Singing is my passion but I love dubbing. Job of lending voice to actors is not an easy job, it is very tough to bring emotions through dialogues and do lip sync. It is almost like proxy-acting," Sunitha clarifies.

Dreams

Having won so many state awards, one expects her next target is to have a National award in her kitty, right? "Till few years ago, that was my ambition but now I realized that one should work with such targets. We should keep giving our best and leave rest to the fate. I don't deny that I don't have desire to win the National award but that is not the target or ambition."

Inspirations in life

Who does she consider as role model? "My favorite singer undoubtedly is Md.Rafi but my role model is S P Balasubramaniam sir. Among the female singers, I love P Susheela gaaru for her clarity of voice and her diction. She treats words like rose petals. S Janaki's style of expressing and showing no inhibitions in rendering any kind of song is an inspiration to me. Chitra gaaru is like combination of Susheela and Janaki."

Glamour World

Any plans of acting? "No. I feel I am not fit into of that area. Moreover, I have got same kind of image and fame from now," she concludes.

Interview by JP

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