Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar once after listening to Kavita`s songs in the film `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam` where Ismail Darbar was the music director said, "I thought Indian music was over... but I was wrong". Kavita Krishnamurthy is an accomplished Indian playback singer. She was born as Sharda Krishnamurthy in Delhi to a Tamil family. But she moved to Mumbai in order to persue her musical career. She was first credited for her renditions in the film `Maang Bharo Sajana`, in 1980. But with the song Hawa Hawai from the film Mr. India, Kavita rose to fame. The song was picturised on the memorable actress, Sridevi. The movie as well as the song became a huge hit.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Kavita Krishnamurthy slowly, but steadily carved a niche in the stardom as the `most versatile and technically gifted female singers in the music-reliant Indian film industry`. Kavita was born in an artistic background. Her father and mother both loved classical Indian music and dance. Her father has also worked for the Education and Cultural Affairs Ministry. From a very young age, Kavita started receiving music lessions. It was obvious for her to learn the Carnatic style of music and her mother was also searching for an expert one but could not find anybody near their home. So her mother enrolled Kavita in Hindustani classical music. Young Kavita spent a great deal of time with her Bengali aunt and uncle. For her, they were her second parents. She also learnt the Bengali style of Rabindra Sangeet under their influence.

In 1971 Kavita made her first film recording with legendary Lata Mang eshkar in a Bengali duet. The music of that song was scored by singer/composer Hemanta Kumar. Along with her Bengali aunt, she moved to Mumbai mainly to attend college; she received a degree in economics from there. During her college days, she met Hemanta Kumar`s daughter, Ranu Mukherjee and was again reintroduced to the legend Hemant Kumar. Afterwards, Hemanta absorbed her as a vocalist for his live performances. During this association with Hemanta, Kavita worked with another historied music director Manna Dey. At the same time, she started singing commercial jingles. Later on she met composer Laxmikant (one-half of the celebrated Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo, who dominated Indian film music during the `70s and `80s) in late 1976.

With the help of Laxmikant and her talent, Kavita however managed to find a place for herself in the domain of Bollywood music industry. In 1980s, she recorded her first song "Kaahe Ko Byaahi". But she rendered her first major hit with "Tumse Milkar Na Jaane Kyon." This song opened up varied avenues for her, in the world of music. Late music director R.D. Burman also made her sing to his tunes. She has sung for the films `Boxer` (`Shaadmaani ho`), `Hum Hain Lajawab`, `Raahi Badal Gaye`, `Farishta`, `Karishma` and a few other films as well. `Ladies Tailor`, `Raaste Pyar Ke`, `Jeevan Dhaara`, `Jeeo Aur Jeene Do`, `Ghar Ek Mandir`, `Zakhmee She`r, `John Jani Janardhan` and `Ek Nai Paheli` are the films where she has sung under the direction of Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Some other hit songs by her are "Tumse Milkar Na Jaane Kyon"; "Hawa Hawai" (Mr. India); "Julie, Julie"; "Ilu Ilu" (from the film Saudagar, in the year1991), duet with Manhar and Udit Narayan; "Saudagar Sauda Kar" (from the film Saudagar, in the year 1991), duet with Manhar and Sukhwinder Singh; "Dil ne kahaa chupke se" (from the film 1942: A Love Story, in the year 1994); "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" (from the film Mohra, in the year 1994), duet with Udit Narayan; "Mera Piya Ghar Aaya" (from the film Yaarana, in the year 1995); "Oh Yaara Dil Lagana" (from the film Agni Sakshi in the year 1996); "Aaj Mein Upar" (from the film Khamoshi, in the year1996); "Bole Chudiyan" (from the film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, in the year 2001), with Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, and Amit Kumar; "Maar Dala" (from the film Devdas, in the year 2002); "Dola Re Dola" (from the film Devdas, in the year 2002); "Kahe Chede Mohe" (from the film Devdas, in the year 2002); "Humesha Tumko Chaha" (from the film Devdas, in the year 2002); "Paighaam" (from the film Lakeer); "Kya Janoo Sajan" (from the film Dil Vil Pyar Vyar); "Loye Loye" (from the film Yaarana); "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam); "Albela Sajan" (from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam); "Dheeme Dheeme" (from the film Zubeidaa); "Mein Albeli (from the film Zubeidaa); "Yeh Dil,Laya Hai Bahar" (from the film Kya Kehna); "Satarangi Re" (from the film Dil Se); "Uppu Karuvaadu" (from the film Mudhalvan)(Tamil); "Achacho Punnagai"( from the film Shahjahan)(Tamil); "Kaatrae En Vaasal"( from the film Rythm)(Tamil); "Nimbooda" (from the film Hum dil de chuke sanam)(Hindi); "Taal" (from the film Ishq Bina); "Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hai" (from the film Khamoshi); "Rimjhim Rimjhim" (from the film 1942: A Love Story); "Yeh Pyar Kya Hai" (from the film Gupt); "Koi Mil Gaya" (from the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai); "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan" (from the film Dil Chahta Hai); "Gupt Gupt" (from the film Gupt); "Dholi Taro Dhol Baje" (from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam); "Tu Mujhe Kabool" (from the film Khuda Gawah); "Kucchi Kucchi Rakhma" (from the film Rangeela); "Jaan Leva" (from the film Moksha); "Acchi Lagati Ho" (from the film Kuch Na Kaho); "I Love My India" (from the film Pardes); "Chalo Chale Mitwa" (from the film Nayak); "Que Sara Sara" (from the film Pukar); "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda" (from the film Pukar). Today, Kavita Krishnamurthy has established herself as a dazzling playback singer. With the films `1942: A Love Story` and Viju Shah`s `Mohra` she is regarded as one of the `most popular contemporary female vocalist` in the field of Indian film. As recognition to the expertise of this outstanding talent, she has been bestowed with laurels, like- Filmfare Award (the Indian equivalent to the Oscars) for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Pyaar Hua Chupke Se." Unlike other playback singers, she has earned the honour of working with the cream of Indian film music, including Anu Malik, Jatin-Lalit, A.R. Rahman, Nadeem-Shravan. She was also conferred Filmfare Awards for the songs like- "Mera Piya Ghar" (Yaraana) and "Aaj Main Upar," (Khamoshi) respectively. In 2002, she was again awarded the Filmfare Award for the song `Dola re dola re...` from the film `Devdas`. In 2005, Kavita Krishnamurthy was conferred one of the highest civilan award, the Padma Shri.

Violin virtuoso Dr L Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurthy got married on November 11, 1999 in Bangalore. They both had earlier collaborated in many concerts and recordings. As Kavita Krishnamurthy says- perfectionism, hard work and melody of Doctor Saab (L. Subramaniam) was what attracted her the most. L. Subramaniam is the music composer for fusion orchestras and movies like `Salaam Bombay` and `Mississippi Masala`. Kavita Krishnamurthy in the same year was recruited by L. Subramaniam as a vocalist for his Global Fusion opus.