Chinnaponnu | |
|---|---|
 Chinnaponnu in aPuthuyugam interview | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Filmi,Folk music |
| Occupation | Playback singer |
| Instrument | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1990–current |
Chinnaponnu (also credited asChinna Ponnu orChinnaponnu Kumar) is a folk andplayback singer from the state ofTamil Nadu, India.
Chinnaponnu was born in Suranam, a small village inSivagangai district, Tamil Nadu, India. She started performing in temple festivals and churches when she was 13 years old. Soon afterwards, she began singing professionally in the troupe of fellow folk artist Kottaisamy, whom she credits as a mentor. Later her voice brought the attention ofK.A. Gunasekaran, a leading researcher on the folk arts and folk songs of Tamil Nadu, who also had close ties to theCommunist Party of India. Gunasekaran helped promote her performances in different parts of the state.[1]
In 2004, she broke into theTamil film industry as a playback singer with the song "Annanoda Paatu” in the hit filmChandramukhi, starringRajinikanth andJyothika.[2] This led to television appearances and interest from other music directors.
In the year 2010, she won the Edition Award 2010 for the song "Theeka Theeka" from the filmSuriyan Satta Kalloori directed by S.S. Pandian. In the same year she was also one of the artists featured in the theme song for theWorld Classical Tamil Conference 2010, composed byA. R. Rahman, with a video directed byGautham Vasudev Menon.[3]
In 2010 and 2011, her troupe was one of the headlining acts at theChennai Sangamam festival. In June 2011, she appeared onMTVCoke Studio television series in the episodes 'Vethalai' and 'Tere Naam' along with singerKailash Kher andPapon.
In 2012, she entered theTelugu film industry with the song Pattuko Pattuko in the hit movieBus Stop with music byJB andG. Anil.
Her next major hit, "Nakku Mukka", was featured in the 2008 filmKadhalil Vizhunthen. For this song she was honoured with theKannadasan Award for best folk singer in a Tamil film. A different version of "Nakku Mukka" (with changed lyrics) was featured in a shortTimes of India ad film entitledA Day in the Life of Chennai, which won two Gold Lions atCannes in 2009.[4][5] The song even featured in theBollywood hit filmThe Dirty Picture.
She was a contestant inBigg Boss (Tamil season 5). She got eliminated on Day 28 due to the lack of public votes.
Suriya Thoranam, her first audiocassette, released by Father Bakianathan.
Thannane, with songs written and composed by K.A. Gunasekaran, released by theCPI.
Chinnaponnu recorded many other cassettes in her childhood and young adulthood which were sold and circulated informally. A CD re-release of the best of these tracks is planned.
Marikkozhunthae (Symphony Records, 2005)
Thannane Thannane (Symphony Records, 2009)
In 1990 Chinnaponnu was married to composer and percussionist Selva Kumar (who generally performs under the nameKumar) atThanjavur Mariamman Temple. They have composed music and performed together ever since.
In 2008, Chinnaponnu was involved in a serious car accident, in which her driver was killed.[6] She sustained head injuries and was hospitalised for several weeks, but was performing and recording again within a few months.
In 2021, Chinnaponnu participated in the reality show Bigg Boss Tamil Season 5 and became the only aged female contestant to survive in the house for 4 weeks.
In 2023, Chinnaponnnu is participating inZee Tamil showSuper Jodi.
