National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer

The National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards of India since 1968 to a female playback singer for the best renditions of songs from soundtracks within the Indian film industry. Throughout the years, accounting for ties and repeat winners, the Government of India has presented a total of 45 Best Female Playback Singer awards to 23 different female playback singers.

Until 1974, winners of the National Film Award received a commemorative plaque and certificate; since 1975, they have been awarded with a "Rajat Kamal" (silver lotus), certificate and a cash prize that amounted to ₹50,000 (US$740) in 2013. The first recipient was P. Susheela, who was honoured at the 16th National Film Award (1968) for her renditions from the Tamil film Uyarntha Manithan. The singer who won the most number of Rajat Kamal awards is K. S. Chithra with six wins, followed by P. Susheela with five. As of 2013, two singers—S. Janaki and Shreya Ghoshal—have won the award four times, and two—Lata Mangeshkar and Vani Jairam—have won it thrice. The award has been won twice by Asha Bhosle, Alka Yagnik and Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar. S. Janaki, K. S. Chithra, and Shreya Ghoshal have won the award for their renditions in three different languages. Shreya Ghoshal is the sole recipient of the award for two different songs in the same year in two different languages. Uthara Unnikrishnan is the youngest winner, picking up the award at the age of 10 for the rendition of a song from the Tamil film Saivam (2014). No award was given for this category in 1973.

Winners

List of award recipients, showing the year (award ceremony), song(s), film(s), language(s) and citation
Year	Image	Recipient(s)	Song(s)	Film(s)	Language(s)	Citation	Refs.
1968 (16th)		P. Susheela	–	Uyarndha Manithan	Tamil	–	[1]
1969 (17th)		K. B. Sundarambal	–	Thunaivan	Tamil	–	[2]
1970 (18th)	–	Sandhya Mukhopadhyay	–	• Jay Jayanti  • Nishi Padma	Bengali	–	[3]
1971 (19th)		P. Susheela	–	Savaale Samaali	Tamil	–	[4]
1972 (20th)		Lata Mangeshkar	–	Parichay	Hindi	–	[5]
1973 (21st)	No Award						[6]
1974 (22nd)		Lata Mangeshkar	–	Kora Kagaz	Hindi	–	[7]
1975 (23rd)	–	Vani Jairam	–	Apoorva Raagangal	Tamil	–	[8]
1976 (24th)		P. Susheela	–	Siri Siri Muvva	Telugu	–	[4]
1977 (25th)		S. Janaki	"Senthoora Poove"	16 Vayathinile	Tamil	For purity of diction and melodic excellence; for emotive suggestiveness and lyrical appeal; for a quality of expression which is intensely moving; for rendering the theme song "Senthoora Poove" with deep feeling, reflecting the romantic dreams of youth, slowly merging into the shadows of tragic destiny.	[9]
1978 (26th)	–	Chhaya Ganguly	"Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar"	Gaman	Hindi	For a hauting rendition of Makhdun Mohluddin's famous ghazal "Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar". The chastity of style, the purity of enunciation and the freshness of voice contribute to make it into a memorable song.	[10]
1979 (27th)	–	Vani Jairam	–	Sankarabharanam	Telugu	–	[11]
1980 (28th)		S. Janaki	"Ettumanoor Ambalathil Ezhunnallathu"	Oppol	Malayalam	For the serenity and pathos with which each rendering is imbued and for adding a new dimension to the theme of the film.	[12]
1981 (29th)		Asha Bhosle	–	Umrao Jaan	Hindi	For the style with which she invests the rendering of the ghazals that form a part of the texture of the film.	[13]
1982 (30th)		P. Susheela	–	Meghasandesam	Telugu	For her immense contribution to the musical excellence of the film.	[14]
1983 (31st)		P. Susheela	"Yendho Beeda Vaade Gopaludu"	M. L. A. Yedukondalu	Telugu	For her fine flight of voice in the endearing of Gopal's magical childhood in the song "Gopaludu" from the film.	[15]
1984 (32nd)		S. Janaki	–	Sitaara	Telugu	–	[16]
1985 (33rd)		K. S. Chithra	"Padariyaen Padippariyaen"	Sindhu Bhairavi	Tamil	For melifluous rendering of songs, both in the folk and the classical moulds, bringing about a melodious synthesis between the two.	[17]
1986 (34th)		K. S. Chithra	"Manjal Prasadavum"	Nakhakshathangal	Malayalam	For her melodious rendering of songs.	[18]
1987 (35th)		Asha Bhosle	"Mera Kuchh Saamaan"	Ijaazat	Hindi	For her rendition with high professional skill and expression, of the many nuances of emotion and meaning of the highly poetic lyrics.	[19]
1988 (36th)		K. S. Chithra	"Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum"	Vaishali	Malayalam	For her clear and tuneful rendering of the song.	[20]
1989 (37th)		Anuradha Paudwal	"He Ek Reshami Gharate"	Kalat Nakalat	Marathi	For her clear and mellifluous rendering of the song.	[21]
1990 (38th)		Lata Mangeshkar	–	Lekin...	Hindi	For singing with outstanding expressions with the rarest and purest of styles.	[22]
1991 (39th)	–	Vani Jairam	"Aanati Neeyaraa"	Swathi Kiranam	Telugu	For the texture and clarity of her voice, which enlivened the classical song sung for the child prodigy.	[23]
1992 (40th)		S. Janaki	"Inji Iduppazhagi"	Thevar Magan	Tamil	For melodious rendering of an innocent love song.	[24]
1993 (41st)		Alka Yagnik	"Ghoonghat Ki Aad Se"	Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke	Hindi	For her ability to identify herself with the characters and render the delicate nuances of human feelings in complex situations.	[25]
1994 (42nd)	–	Swarnalatha	"Porale Ponnuthaaye"	Karuththamma	Tamil	For her extraordinarily compassionate song upon which much of the crucial dramatic action in the film is enacted.	[26]
1995 (43rd)		Anjali Marathe	"Bhui Bhegalali Khol"	Doghi	Marathi	For her melodious and heart rendering song expressing the aridness of life.	[27]
1996 (44th)		K. S. Chithra	"Mana Madurai"	Minsara Kanavu	Tamil	For her soulful rendering of the song.	[28]
1997 (45th)		K. S. Chithra	"Paayalein Chhun Mun"	Virasat	Hindi	For her effortless and playful rendering of the song.	[29]
1998 (46th)		Alka Yagnik	"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai"	Kuch Kuch Hota Hai	Hindi	Her rendering of this theme song brings out the different moods and emotion and adds greatly to the impact of the film.	[30]
1999 (47th)	–	Jayshree Dasgupta	"Hriday Amar Prokash Holo"	Paromitar Ek Din	Bengali	For soulful rendering by the singer expressing the inner world of a mentally challenged character in this film.	[31]
2000 (48th)	–	Bhavatharini Ilaiyaraaja	"Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu"	Bharathi	Tamil	For the song which is outstanding because it depicts the velvet voice of the diva.	[32]
2001 (49th)		Sadhana Sargam	"Pattu Cholli"	Udayageethavin Azhagi	Tamil	For her lilting and touching rendering of the song.	[33]
2002 (50th)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Bairi Piya"	Devdas	Hindi	For her soulful rendering of the song.	[34]
2003 (51st)	–	Tarali Sarma	"Kakuti Gosha"	Akashitorar Kothare	Assamese	For her tuneful rendition of a devotional song without instrumental accompaniment.	[35]
2004 (52nd)		K. S. Chithra	"Ovvoru Pookalume"	Autograph	Tamil	For expressive and soulful rendition of the song with powerful voice throw suitable to the text and the scene.	[36]
2005 (53rd)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Dheere Jalna"	Paheli	Hindi	For her evocative rendition of a song that treads the fine balance between the classical and popular genre of Hindi film music.	[37]
2006 (54th)		Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar	–	Antarnad	Konkani	For the sonorous rendering that gives conviction to the central character of a classical vocalist.	[38]
2007 (55th)		Shreya Ghoshal	"Yeh Ishq Haaye"[39]	Jab We Met	Hindi	For her mellifluous voice and rich tonal quality. Her rendition evokes the beauty of nature through its subtle nuances.	[40]
2008 (56th)		Shreya Ghoshal	• "Pherari Mon"  • "Jeev Dangla Gungla Rangla Asa"	• Antaheen  • Jogwa	Bengali Marathi	For her wide ranging rendition of human emotions.	[41]
2009 (57th)	–	Nilanjana Sarkar	"Boye Jay Sudhu Bish"[42]	Houseful	Bengali	For the haunting texture of a voice that blends the melody, words and rhythm.	[43]
2010 (58th)		Rekha Bhardwaj	"Badi Dheere Jali"	Ishqiya	Hindi	For a sensual and evocative rendering of a heart longing for the beloved.	[44]
2011 (59th)		Roopa Ganguly	• "Dure Kothao Dure Dure"  • "Aaji Bijan Ghare"	Abosheshey	Bengali	For her husky and haunting voice that brings a gentle, nostalgic tone and tenor to the film Abosheshey. The languid raw sensuality of her singing is heightened by the absence of musical accompaniment.	[45]
2012 (60th)		Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar	"Palakein Naa Moondon"	Samhita	Marathi	Gifted with an earthy and haunting voice the singer gives ample evidence of her classical moorings, without any instrumental embellishments.	[46]
2013 (61st)		Bela Shende	"Khurkhura"	Tuhya Dharma Koncha	Marathi	The singer has evoked the requisite emotions of the theme of the film. She has displayed a rare variety in the rendering of this composition.	[47]
2014 (62nd)	–	Uthara Unnikrishnan	"Azhagu"	Saivam	Tamil	For evoking an emotional resonance through the purity and innocence of her voice.	[48]
2015 (63rd)		Monali Thakur	"Moh Moh Ke Dhage"	Dum Laga Ke Haisha	Hindi	For a delightful and soulful rendition of a song of love.	[49]

References

External links

• Official Page for Directorate of Film Festivals, India
• National Film Awards Archives