https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=B._K._SumitraB. K. Sumitra - Revision history2026-07-31T14:10:56ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=B._K._Sumitra&diff=488646&oldid=prevRrajani at 00:00, 8 January 20262026-01-08T00:00:12Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian playback singer}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox musical artist<br />
| name = B. K. Sumitra<br />
| image = Bangalore Latha and BK Sumitra.jpg<br />
| caption = Sumitra (right) recording a song with [[Bangalore Latha]]<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1941|4|27}}<br />
| genre = {{hlist|Film|Devotional| Bhavageethe}}<br />
| birth_place = Bilalukoppa, [[Horanadu]], [[Karnataka]], India<br />
| years_active = 1965 – present<br />
| occupation = Playback Singer<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Bilalukoppa Krishnayya Sumitra''', popularly known as '''B. K. Sumitra''', is an Indian singer known for her work in [[Kannada cinema|Kannada films]]. She is also popular for her numerous devotional and folk songs.<ref name="Sumitra">{{Cite news|last=Govind|first=Ranjani|date=2016-04-26|title=Singer B.K. Sumitra turns 75|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/singer-bk-sumitra-turns-75/article8521277.ece|access-date=15 September 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><br />
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==Personal life==<br />
Sumitra was born in Bilalukoppa near [[Hornadu|Horanadu]], [[Karnataka]] to Gangamma and Krishnayya. The family later moved to [[Shivamogga]], where Sumitra was trained in [[Carnatic music]] by M. Prabhakar, the brother of the actress [[Pandaribai]].<ref name="Sumitra" /><br />
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Sumitra married M. L. Sudhakar. Her daughter [[Sowmya Raoh]] is also a playback singer, while her son [[Sunil Raoh]] became a film actor in the Kannada film industry.<ref name="B.K.Sumitra">{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/sumithra-b-k.html#biography|title=Celebrity B. K. Sumitra|website=filmibeat.com|access-date=15 September 2020}}</ref><br />
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==Career==<br />
Sumitra was noticed by music composer [[G. K. Venkatesh]], who asked her to sing in the film ''[[Kavaleredu Kulavandu]]'' (1964).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mfestindia.com/advisory/Sumitra.html#:~:text=In+1992,+she+has+been,coaching+camps+during+her+tour|title=B K SUMITRA, Singer & Tutor|website=mfestindia.com|access-date=7 October 2023|archive-date=9 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409090342/https://mfestindia.com/advisory/Sumitra.html#:~:text=In+1992,+she+has+been,coaching+camps+during+her+tour|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kavaleredu Kula Ondu (1964) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew|url=https://chiloka.com/movie/kavaleredu-kula-ondu-1964|access-date=2020-09-13|website=chiloka.com}}</ref> In a career spanning more than 40 years, she has worked with many composers including [[G. K. Venkatesh]], [[R. Sudarsanam]], [[Vijaya Bhaskar]], [[M. Ranga Rao]], [[Rajan–Nagendra]], and new generation musicians like [[J. Anoop Seelin|Anoop Seelin]]. Sumitra is active in participating in musical workshops and training students across the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prajavani.net/tags/bk-sumitra|title=BK Sumitra|website=Prajavani}}</ref><br />
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==Notable songs==<br />
* ''Ninnolume Emagirali Thande'' (Thande Makkalu)<br />
* ''A Aa E Ee Kannadada'' - [[Karulina Kare]] (1970)<br />
* ''Kareya Keli Bande'' - [[Anuradha (1967 film)|Anuradha]] (1967)<br />
* ''Madhura Madhuravee Manjulagana'' - [[Sathi Sukanya]] (1967)<br />
* ''Sampige Marada'' - [[Upasane|''Upaasane'']] (1947)<br />
* ''Odi Baa Ododi Baa'' - [[Chakra Theertha|Chakratheertha]] (1967)<br />
* ''Maneye Brundavana'' - (Brundavana)<br />
* ''Eddelu Manjunatha'' - [[Eddelu Manjunatha]] (2009)<br />
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==Awards==<br />
Sumitra's awards include:<br />
* Nadoja honour and Honorary Doctorate from [[Kannada University]], [[Hampi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2013/mar/19/b-k-sumitra-takes-us-on-a-journey-down-memory-lane-459828.html|title=B K Sumitra takes us on a journey down memory lane|website=The New Indian Express|date=19 March 2013 }}</ref><br />
* Kempegowda Award<br />
* 1991 – Karnataka Rajyotsava Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://karnataka.gov.in/page/Awards/State+Awards/Rajyotsava+Awards/en|title=Karnataka Government|website=karnataka.gov.in}}</ref><br />
* 1992 – Sangeetha Nrithya Academy Award<br />
* 2017 – G. V. Iyer Award from the Karnataka Film Academy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/599414/annual-film-awards-presented.html|title=Annual film awards presented|date=4 March 2017|website=Deccan Herald}}</ref><br />
* 2019 – Lifetime Achievement Award at KIMA Awards<br />
*2021 – K. Mohandev Alva and Dr. M.K. Shailaja Alva endowment Award from Kannada Sahitya Parishat<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Selected for Kannada Sahitya Parishat Awards-2021|url=https://starofmysore.com/selected-for-kannada-sahitya-parishat-awards-2021/|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Star of Mysore|language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
*{{IMDb name|10519509}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sumitra, B. K.}}<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:1941 births]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women classical singers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]]<br />
[[Category:Kannada-language playback singers]]<br />
[[Category:Singers from Karnataka]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women musicians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian women musicians]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian musicians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 1991]]</div>Rrajani