L. N. Shastri

L. N. Shastri (also credited as Chaitanya; 30 August 1971 – 30 August 2017) was an Indian playback singer and music composer who primarily worked in Kannada cinema. Starting his career as a playback singer in the film Ajagajantara, Shastri went on to sing for more than 3000 songs.

Under the name of Chaitanya, he composed music for over 25 films starting with Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene (1998). However, he dropped the name due to the identity crisis for the film Bellary Naga (2009).

His biggest hit song as a singer has been "Kolumande Jangamadevaru" from the film Janumada Jodi (1996) which gave him a career break and also fetched him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. He was closely associated with prominent music directors in Kannada film industry including Hamsalekha, V. Manohar, V. Harikrishna, Gurukiran, Arjun Janya and Anoop Seelin. Hamsalekha who has been the main support for his growing career since his initial days.

L. N. Shastri was married to fellow singer Suma. Suma Shastri has sung for more than 50 films.

Career In the early 1990s, Shastri was mainly seen singing track songs for major playback singers like S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and others. The film Ajagajantara (1991) composed by Hamsalekha offered him a chance to share the mic with Balasubrahmanyam for the song "Love Love Loveah". Following this, Shastri teamed up with composer V. Manohar and sang many songs for the films that featured actor Jaggesh in the lead. The songs "Anthintha Gandu Naanalla" from Bhanda Nanna Ganda (1992), "Priya Priya" from Super Nanna Maga (1992), "Dagar Dagar" from Tharle Nan Maga (1992), "Avanalli Ivalilli" from Shhh (1993) were some of his early hits which appealed to the masses. In the meantime, Shastri was working as an assistant composer to both Hamsalekha and V. Manohar for all their films.

In 1996, the folk song "Kolumande Jangamadevaru" composed by V. Manohar and picturized on actor Shiva Rajkumar for the film Janumada Jodi turned his fortunes. The song became an ultimate hit and his rendition was widely acclaimed by critics and masses. He was awarded the Karnataka State Award for this song. Following this, he recorded many songs for all the music directors of the 1990s through 2000s. Many of his songs have been received extremely well by the masses.

In 1998, Shastri turned into a complete music director with the film Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene. Though the songs were received well, the film's dismal performance at the box-office could not help boost the songs. His next composition for the V. Ravichandran starrer Ravimama (1999) was also appreciated. Following this, he composed for about 25 feature films which could not help him to be among the top ranking music directors. His rechristened name Chaitanya was familiar only inside the film fraternity and the audience could not relate his new name with his original name.

On insistence of actor Dr. Vishnuvardhan, his original name was credited with his compositions for the film Bellary Naga (2009) which proved to be the last feature film of the legendary actor. After a brief hiatus, Shastri returned to composing for the films Flop (2015) and Melody (2015) which marked his reunion with director Nanjunda who gave him the first break as a composer.

Discography

As composer Year Film title Notes 1998 Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene Debut film Credited as Chaitanya 1999 Ravimama 2000 Mava Mava Maduve Mado 2001 Amma Ninna Tholinalli Aunty Preethse Haalu Sakkare 2002 Ninagoskara 2003 Mooru Manasu Nooru Kanasu Nagabharana Hey Nan Bheeshma Kano Preetisle Beku 2004 Preethi Nee Illade Naa Hegirali Ayyo Pandu Sakhi 2008 Hogi Baa Magale 2009 Bellary Naga Credited as L. N. Shastry 2010 Deadly-2 2015 Flop 2015 Melody

As singer (selected) Year Film Song name Music Director Co-singer(s) Notes 1991 Ajagajantara "Love Love Loveah" Hamsalekha Debut song 1992 Bhanda Nanna Ganda "Yaarigu Endigu" "Preethiya Theranu" V. Manohar 1992 Alli Ramachari Illi Brahmachari "Achu Mechu" "Banda Banda Ramayya" "Entha Sundara" "Jumma Jumma" V. Manohar 1993 Sshhh "Avanalli Ivalilli" Sadhu Kokila 1993 Gejje Naada "Somavara Santhege" V. Manohar 1994 Panjarada Gili "Naana Naana" V. Manohar 1996 Janumada Jodi "Kolumande Jangamadevaru" V. Manohar Karnataka State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer 1996 Sipayi "Vanditha Kirana" "Odo Chandira" "Karago Chandira" Hamsalekha 1997 O Mallige "O Mallige Ninnade Haadidu" V. Manohar 1997 Jodi Hakki "Laali Suvvali" V. Manohar 1998 A "Chandini" "Helkollakonduru" "Idu One Day Match" Gurukiran 1998 Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene "Anuraagada Ale Mele" L. N. Shastri 1998 Preethsod Thappa "Ondu Moda" Hamsalekha 1999 Naanu Nanna Hendthiru "Ready 123" "Ee Jagave Namadu" "Ee Bhoomige" V. Ravichandran 2001 Ekangi "Ee Chitte Thara" V. Ravichandran 2004 Malla "Karunade" "Mangalyam" "Angada Angada" V. Ravichandran 2005 Aham Premasmi "Yadha Yadhahi" "Oh Premave" "Eshwar" V. Ravichandran 2007 Dheemantha Manushya "Jeevarashiya Amara" A. Karthik Raja 2007 Right Adre "Kudkondu Thooradkondu" Neel 2007 Chanda "Gundene Dyavru" S. Narayan 2009 Bhagyada Balegara "Budu Budu Kavya" Ilaiyaraaja 2013 B3 "Bitthri" Anoop Seelin 2014 Adyaksha "Adyaksha Adyaksha" Arjun Janya Puneeth Rajkumar 2014 Love in Mandya "Lo Maava" Anoop Seelin 2016 Neer Dose "Neer Dose, Neer Dose" Anoop Seelin

Awards Karnataka State Film Awards

1996 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Kolumande Jangamadevaru" (film: Janumada Jodi)

Death L. N. Shastri died on 30 August 2017, after a brief battle with intestinal cancer.