B K SUMITRA

Smt. B K Sumitra born in BilaluKoppa, Chickamagalurdirstrict, entered the Film Music field as a playback singer through the film “Kavaleradu Kula Ondu” under the music direction of G.K.

Venkatesh. She learnt music under Late Manjappa Joyce and M. Prabhakar. Under the music direction of Vijayabhaskar, M. Rangarao, Rajan-Nagendra, Satyam, Upendra Kumar and others, she has sung songs such as “SampigeMaradaHasireleNaduve” from the film “Upaasane”, ManeyeBrindavana from “Brindavana”, MadhuraMadhuraveeManjulagana from “SathiSukanya”, Ondudinarathriyali from “GejjePooje” which have become very popular. She has also sung many folk and devotional songs for leading audio companies like HMV, CBS and Lahari.

Songs penned by famous Kannada poets like Kuvempu, D.R. Bendre, K.S. Narasimhaswami, G.S. Shivarudrappa, K.S. Nissar Ahmad, N.S. LakshminarayanaBhat, DoddarangeGowda have also become famous through Akashavani, Doordarshan and Cassettes.

She has travelled throughout rural Karnataka and has conducted and still conducting around 275 SugamaSangeetha Camps.

In 1992, she has been awarded the “SangeethaNrithyaAkademi Award”, Rajyothsava Award and Kempegowda Award. She has toured America in 1992, 1997 and 2002 and given SugamaSangeetha concerts. She has also conducted coaching camps during her tour.