Rita Thyagarajan alias Sucharitha Thyagarajan (born 10 June 1984), known mononymously as Rita, is an Indian playback singer who sings in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, Kannada and Malayalam languages.
Early life Rita was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She was exposed to classical music very early in life and started attending classical Carnatic music lessons at the age of five. Her mother Lalitha Thyagarajan is a veteran illustrator and artist in Chennai and also a classical veena player while her father is employed with a popular Indian daily. She later started learning Hindustani classical music and has trained under celebrated masters in Chennai. Her sister is also trained in classical Carnatic music and runs her own design consultancy business in Chennai. Rita did her early schooling in P.S. Senior Secondary School in Mylapore and moved on to do a bachelor's degree in design from Stella Maris College like her mother and sister. It was in college that she discovered her penchant for other styles of music and experimented with commercial film and Western styles.
She is also a graphic designer and visualiser and co-founder of a design studio of integrated freelance professionals called Utopik.
Early career Rita started her career with D. Imman, who contacted her after listening to her demo CD which she had recorded after college. "Yendan Varungaalaveetukaraney" from the movie Aanai was the first song she recorded and from then she has recorded over 300 songs and jingles in all major South Indian languages. She got her big break with the song "Vada Mapillai" in Villu, and then recorded songs like "Allegra" and "Mambo mamiyaa" for Kandasamy in Tamil. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for the song "Allegra". Her song "Vada Mapillai" won Best Song of the Year at the Radio Mirchi Music awards. She recorded songs in Telugu like "Khilaadikoona" from Athidhi for Mani Sharma and "Panchadharabomma" for M. M. Keeravani which again won the Song of the Year award at the Radio Mirchi music awards.
Rita has worked with music directors like Ilaiyaraaja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Mani Sharma, D. Imman, Vidyasagar, Devi Sri Prasad, S.S. Thaman, M. Jeychandran, and M. M. Keeravani. She also performs for stage shows in Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Sri Lanka, London, Amsterdam, France, Muscat, Canada, USA, and Australia.
Tamil
Year Film Song title Music directorNotes2005 Aanai "Yendan Varungaala Veetukaaranae" D. Imman2006 Saravana "Unnoda Purushanaaga" Srikanth Deva Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu "Ilai Udir Kaalam" Yuvan Shankar Raja Naalai "Azhagiya Dhoorathil" Karthik Raja Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam "Kannukul Aedho" D. Imman2007 Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan "Kalkona Udhattu Kaari" Karthik Raja Aarya "Jillendra Theeyae" Mani Sharma Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram "Engeda Azhagu" Gurukiran Maamadurai "Madhurai Madhuraidhaan" Karthik Raja Cheena Thaana 001 "Morattu Payalae" Deva Malaikottai "Uyirae Uyirae" Mani Sharma Kalloori "June July Maadam" Joshua SridharGillida Aata (Tamil version)"Purushan Kattura Vayasula"Devi Sri Prasad Yaradee Nee Mohini "Oru naalaikkul" Yuvan Shankar Raja2008Arasangam"Jil Jil Mazhayil"Srikanth Deva Sandai "October Maadathil" Dheena Uliyin Osai "Sozha Vala Naadu" Ilaiyaraaja Thala Pullai "Yedho Yedho" S A Rajkumar Mahesh, Saranya Matrum Palar "Vizhiyil Vizhiyil" VidyasagarKee Mu"Azhagaana Pasanga"KalaivananDhanam"Ilamai Kanavugal"Ilaiyaraaja2009Villu"Vaada Mapilai"Devi Sri Prasad "Jalsa" Karthik Anitha"Oh Nenje"Jack Anand Azhagar Malai "Muthamma'' IlaiyaraajaKandasamy"Allegra"Devi Sri Prasad "Mambo Mamiyaa" Thoranai "Pelican Paravaigal" Mani Sharma Vaalmiki "Poo Sirikkudhu" Ilaiyaraaja Malai Malai "Anbu Manam" Mani Sharma Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru "Thiru Thiru Vizhiyae" Mani Sharma Jaganmohini "Poothadhu Poovu" Ilaiyaraaja "Ponmanitheril" IlaiyaraajaRettaisuzhi"Poochaandi"Karthik RajaMathiya Chennai"Unnai Patri Sonnal"IlaiyaraajaIthanai Naala Engirindhaai"Jaalilo jimgana"DheenaMeipporul"Kalyana Kaviyam"Rahul AtulIndian-American Tamil film Odipolama "Ading Ading" D. Imman2010Aridhu Aridhu"Missing Something"Thaman Sura "Siragadikkum Nilavu" Mani Sharma Guru Sishyan "Kadhara Kadhara" DheenaVallakottai"Sarakku Rediyaa"DheenaNagaram Marupakkam"Konjam Konjam"ThamanBayam Ariyaan"Pallanguzhi Kannam"P. C. Shivan Ambasamudram Ambani "Kola Kolaya Mundirikka" Karunas2011Kaavalan"Pattamboochi"Vidyasagar Bhavani "Mullai Malar Mele Dheena Singam Puli "Kangalal" Mani SharmaThalapulla"Ulagathin"S. A. Rajkumar"Edho Edho" Ayyan "Sivagami" Ilaiyaraaja Mappillai "Love Love" Mani Sharma Sabash Sariyana Potti "Sabaash Seriyaana Potti" Thaman Yuvan "Fashion Show" Joshua Sridhar "Pecha" Joshua Sridhar Muran "Andhimandharai" Saajan Uyarthiru 420 "Azhagiya Raavana" Mani Sharma Vaagai Sooda Vaa "Thaila Kili" Mohamaad Ghibran Pesu "Idhayam pesudhey" Yuvan Shankar Raja Mankatha "Vilaiyaadu Mankatha" Yuvan Shankar Raja Osthe "Unnaley Unnaley" ThamanMambattiyaan"Mambattiyaan"Thaman"Yedho Aagudhey"Mouna Guru"Yennaidhu"Thaman Sridhar "Siruvan Sirumiyai" Rahul Raj2012Maasi"Ondi Ondi"Dheena Nellai Santhippu "Kannamuchi Kannamuchi" Yugendran Mayilu "Aadhisokka" Ilaiyaraaja "Dukkam Enna" Ilaiyaraaja Ishtam "Dhinakku Dhinna" ThamanSillunu Oru Sandhippu"Bussey Bussey"F. S. FaizalKai"Meesariye"Ishaan Dev2014Jigarthanda"Kannamma"Santhosh Narayanan Vizhi Moodi Yosithaal "Ellora Sirpam" B.AathifSooran"Thappae Thappillai"P B Balaji"Vaa Maama"P B Balaji2016Oyee "Entha Ooru Ponalum" Ilaiyaraaja Narathan"Saaral Veesum"Mani SharmaBayam Oru Payanam "Wish You A Happy New Year" Y. R. Prasad 2017Kalavu Thozhirchalai"Yedho Yedho"Shyam Benjamin2018 Saamy Square "Molagapodiye" Devi Sri PrasadSanthoshathil Kalavaram"Kaatru Vaanga Nalla Kaatru"Sivanag Padaiveeran "Mattikittein" Karthik Raja2019 Sagaa "Yaayum" Shabir
Telugu