Chitra Singh (; formerly known as Chitra Dutta) is an Indian

ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...

singer. She, alongside her second husband, Jagjit Singh, popularized the ghazal genre. Respectfully known as the "king and queen of the Ghazal world," the husband and wife duo created some of the most successful

Indian music Owing to India's vastness and diversity, Indian music encompasses numerous genres in multiple varieties and forms which include classical music, folk, rock, and pop. It has a history spanning several millennia and developed over several ...

of the 1970s and '80s.

Personal life

Chitra was born as Chitra Shome into a Bengali

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

family. After completing her education, she was married to Debo Prasad Dutta, an executive in a leading advertising agency. The wedding was held in the mid-1950s, and the couple had a daughter, Monica, in 1959. While still married to Debo Prasad, Chitra met Jagjit Singh, at that time a struggling singer. Jagjit Singh was from a Punjabi Sikh Namdhari family and hailed from

Sriganganagar Sri Ganganagar is the northernmost city of the Indian States and territories of India, state of Rajasthan, near the international border of India and Pakistan. It is the administrative headquarters of Sri Ganganagar district. It is named after ...

in distant

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

. They first met at a recording studio in 1967, by which time the marriage of the Duttas was already under strain for unknown reasons. Chitra found solace in Jagjit and says she was much taken by his "caring" personality. In 1968, Chitra left Prasad, taking their 9-year-old daughter with her. In 1969, she divorced her husband, secured custody of Monica, and married Jagjit Singh. They welcomed their son Vivek Singh on August 20,1970. In mid seventies, Chitra Singh and Jagjit Singh became famous for their ghazals and came to be known as the "King and Queen of Ghazals". Vivek died in a road accident on July 27, 1990. Chitra has never sung in public, or recorded any song, since the day her son died. Monica first fell in love with Jehangir Chowdhary, an award-winning cinematographer. They were married in 1988 and became the parents of two sons. In 2005, Monica divorced Chowdhary and married British national Mark Houghton Roger Atkins, the managing director of a firm based in Vikhroli,

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

. In 2007, Monica filed a case of harassment against Atkins. In 2008, a magistrate issued a non-bailable warrant against him, but he had already fled the country. In 2009, Monica, aged 50, died by suicide. She was survived by her two sons, Armaan (17) and Umair (12). Two years after this incident, Jagjit Singh died of a brain haemorrhage in 2011. Chitra now lives with her two grandsons.

Discography

* ''A Milestone'' (1976) * ''The Unforgettables'' (1978) * ''Gold Disc'' (1979) * ''Ae mere dil'' (1980) * ''The earliest recordings of Jagjit and Chitra Singh'' * ''Live in concert with Jagjit Chitra Singh'' * ''Live at Wembley'' * ''Live at Royal Albert Hall'' * ''The Latest'' * ''Desires'' * ''Arth/Saath Saath'' * ''Chirag'' * ''Live in

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...

'' * ''Main aur Meri Tanhaayee'' (1981) * ''The Latest'' (1982) * ''Ecstasies'' (1984) * ''A Sound Affair'' (1985) * ''Echoes'' (1985–86, Live Recordings) * ''Beyond Time'' (1987) * '' Mirza Ghalib'' (1988) * ''Someone Somewhere'' (1990) * ''H O P E'' (1991)

References

External links

Oct 2007 Interview

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Chitra Living people Indian women ghazal singers Bengali singers Indian ghazal singers 21st-century Indian women singers Women film score composers 21st-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian women singers 20th-century Indian singers 1945 births Women musicians from West Bengal