Alka Ajith

{{short description|Indian playback singer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Alka Ajith | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|01|01|df=y}} | birth_place = Thalassery, India  | instruments = Vocalist | genre = playback singing | occupation = Singer | origin = University of Madras }}

'''Alka Ajith''' is an Indian playback singer, best known for winning season 2 of ''Airtel Super Singer Junior'', a Tamil language music competition reality TV show broadcast on Vijay TV. She was awarded the Jaycey Foundation Best Female Singer Award in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/aug/10/kammatipaadam-wins-jaycey-foundation-award-1640823.html|title=Kammatipaadam wins Jaycey foundation award|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-01-19}}</ref>

== Early life == Alka was born to M.P. Ajith Kumar and K. Sajitha kumari.<ref name="HinduApril2004">{{cite news |title=Small wonder |url=http://www.hindu.com/yw/2004/04/17/stories/2004041701120300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040927105104/http://www.hindu.com/yw/2004/04/17/stories/2004041701120300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2004 |work=The Hindu |date=17 April 2004 |accessdate=18 June 2010}}</ref> Her paternal grandfather was a noted singer. Her father Ajith Kumar is a professional musician and organist,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> who runs Alka's orchestra, "Sangeeth Sagar".<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> Alka first learnt music from her father. She studied in University of Madras in Chennai.<ref name="HinduApril2004"/>

== Musical career == ===Early life=== Alka gave her first public performance when she was two and half years old in 2000,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/><ref name="Hindu7Oct05">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/07/stories/2005100701920200.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150406093934/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/07/stories/2005100701920200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2015|author=J.S. Bablu|title=Kerala : Cynosure of all eyes|newspaper=The Hindu|date=7 October 2005 |accessdate=6 April 2015}}</ref> where she sang the Hindi language song, "Soldier ... ... Soldier... ".<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> In 2001,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> she won International UNESCO Club of Repalle (A.P) award and gold medal,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> and in 2002,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> she won the Rotary International achievement award and gold medal.<ref name="HinduApril2004"/>

When she was four years old, she cut her first audio album, "I love my India".<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> In 2003, Alka entered the Limca Book of World Records,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> and won the title "Bharatheeya Gourav Puraskar" in New Delhi.<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> In 2003, she won the Sauparnika Theeram Mini Screen Award, and Thalassery Drishya Kala's A. T. Ummer Award.<ref name="HinduApril2004"/>

Before reaching the age of seven, Alka has sung more than 5,000 songs,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> could sing in 11 languages,<ref name="HinduApril2004"/> and has given more than 500 concerts across India.<ref name="HinduApril2004"/>

=== Airtel Super Singer Junior === In 2010, Alka shot to fame after becoming the winner of Airtel Super Singer Junior (season 2),<ref name="Hindu14May10">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/let-the-music-begin/article3020894.ece|author=Subha J. Rao|title=Let the music begin! – The Hindu|newspaper=The Hindu|date=14 May 2010|accessdate=6 April 2015}}</ref> a Tamil language music competition reality TV show broadcast on Vijay TV. She regularly participated in the competition since 2009, and was crowned the winner of the competition.

She subsequently made appearances on Airtel Super Singer 3, and Airtel Super Singer Junior 4 as a guest performer.

=== Playback singing === Alka made her debut as a playback singer with the song, "Chirakengu" in the Malayalam language movie ''The Train'' starring Mammootty after being spotted by Srinivas during the grand finale of Airtel Super Singer Junior (season 2).

In 2008, her debut music album ''Chakkaramuthu'' was released, consisting of songs she sang at the age of 10.<ref name="Hindu30Jan08">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013050390200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201040708/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013050390200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 February 2008|title=10-year-old releases music album|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 January 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Year ! Film / Soundtrack ! Language ! Song ! Music director |- | 2011 | ''The Train'' |Malayalam |"Chirakengu" | Srinivas |- | 2011 | ''Pathinettan Kudi Ellai Arambam'' |Tamil |"Konja Neram" | Saravanan Ganesh |- | 2012 | ''Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty'' |Malayalam |"Poovaaname" | Sharreth |- | 2012 | ''Kovalanin Kadhali'' |Tamil |"Mella Mella" | Bharathi K. |- | 2012 | ''Kovalanin Kadhali'' |Tamil |"Enge Selluven" | Bharathi K. |- | 2012 | ''Paagan'' |Tamil |"Poon Thendralai" | James Vasanthan |- | 2013 | ''Raja Rani'' |Tamil |"Chillena" | G. V. Prakash Kumar |- | 2016 |''Deffedar'' |Malayalam |"Oorila Eerila" |Illayaraja |- |}

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajith, Alka}} Category:Indian child singers Category:Living people Category:Women musicians from Kerala Category:Singers from Kerala Category:1990s births Category:Malayalam-language playback singers Category:Tamil-language playback singers Category:21st-century Indian women singers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)