Swarnalatha
Swarnalatha was an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning almost 22 years, she recorded over 7,000 songs in many languages, including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi, and Badaga.
She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her rendition of the song "Porale Ponnuthayi" from the film Karuththamma. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, under whose musical direction she recorded many memorable songs. She was also the first female playback singer to get a National Award In AR Rahman Music. Her distinctive voice, which could effortlessly reach high octaves, quickly made her a name to reckon with in the playback music industry.
Personal life
She was born in Kerala, to K. C. Cherukutty and Kalyani. Her father was a harmonium player and singer. Her mother also had interest in music. Her mother tongue was Malayalam. Swarnalatha was trained to play harmonium and keyboard. Swarnalatha's family later moved to Bhadravathi in Shivamogga District, Karnataka where she had her education. She started singing at the age of 3. Surrounded by a family of musicians and music lovers, Swarnalatha was trained in Carnatic and Hindustani music. Her sister Saroja was her first music teacher.Career
Swarnalatha's family moved to Chennai to seek opportunities in the film industry for her singing talent. The first opportunity came from M. S. Viswanathan in 1987, when she performed a duet with K. J. Yesudas, "Chinnachiru Kiliye" in the film Neethikku Thandanai. Subsequently, she was approached by many other music directors to perform songs under their baton. She also had the opportunity to work with director P. Venu. She was recruited by legendary musicians like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman. She also recorded a few Hindi songs, the most notable one being "Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua" from the film Rangeela with the singer Hariharan.In Telugu, she recorded more songs under the music direction of Mani Sharma, Ramana Gogula, Raj-Koti, Vandemataram Srinivas. They include the immensely popular songs like Raamma Chilakamma, Osey Ramulamma, and Nizam Babulu.
A.R.Rahman, noting her versatility as a singer and her extraordinary voice, used Swarnalatha for many of his songs. She was one of the most versatile singers of her times, as she was able to sing melodies like "Maalayil Yaaro Manathodu Pesa" from Sathriyan or "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuthamma as well as Rahman's experimental songs like "Mukkabla" from Kadhalan or "Mottu Vittadha" from Pavithra. Swarnalatha was the first female playback singer to fetch the National Award under A. R. Rahman's music direction. She received the award for the song "Porale Ponnuthayi". Once in an interview, she said that she was moved to tears when she finished the recording of this song and received praise from A. R. Rahman. She recorded many songs with music directors Deva, Vidyasagar, Harris Jayaraj, Anu Malik, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Raj-Koti, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Mani Sharma, Hamsalekha and many others. She recorded all the songs originally rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum for the Tamil movie Anarkali and was praised by the Bollywood music director Naushad Ali. Once during an interview, the interviewer Setu asked her what the best moment of her life had been, expecting her to talk about receiving the National Award. But nobody had expected her to say that the best moment of her life had been when she received the kudos from the legendary Hindi film music director Naushad Ali ji for her rendition of the songs in Anarkali. Being a non-native Hindi speaker, her pronunciation in Hindi songs was noted as exceptional unlike other prominent singers from South India who had recorded songs in the language.
Death
Swarnalatha died at a private hospital in Chennai at the age of 37, on 12 September 2010. She had been suffering from Idiopathic lung disease.And in her final funeral rally, "Pooraley Ponnuthayi" Song was played.
Awards and recognitions
She received the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer from the Government of India, when she was just 21 years old.National Award -
- 1994– National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma " for her extraordinarily compassionate song upon which much of the crucial dramatic action in the film is enacted. "
- 1991 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Povomma Oorkolam" from Chinna Thambi
- 1994 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma
- 2000 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Evano oruvan" from Alaipayuthey
- 1991 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Povomma Oorkolam" from Chinna Thambi
- 1995 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Muquala Muqapala" from Kadhalan
- 1996 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Akkadannu nanga" from Indian
- 1999 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Ulunthu vidaikayile" from Mudhalvan
- 2000 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Yevano Oruvan " from AlaiPayuthey
- 1994– Kalaimamani Award by the Government of Tamil Nadu for her contributions towards Tamil music.
- 1991 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Povomma Oorkolam" from Chinna Thambi
- 1995 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Muquala Muqapala" from Kadhalan
- 1996 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Akkadannu nanga" from Indian
- 2000 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Yevano Oruvan " from AlaiPayuthey
- 2002 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Thirumana Malarkal " from Poovellam Yun Vasam
- 2002 – The song "Rakkama Kaiya Thattu" from the movie Thalapathi was among the songs listed in a BBC World Top Ten music poll. It was performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Swarnalatha
Film songs
In Ilaiyaraja's musics..
The numbers based on the same tune 'Povomaa Oorkolam' and 'Nee Yengae Enn Anbae' from the film Chinnathambi were huge hits. Songs like these made Swarnalatha the singing voice of Khushbu who was ruling the roost as a Super Star for whom fans had built a temple. Government of Tamil Nadu honored her with the award of Best Singer for the song 'Povomaa Oorkolam'.The song 'Raakkamma Kayyathattu' from the film Thalapathi figured in BBC's Hits List of world songs.
| Song | Movie | - | - |
| "Oorellam Un Paatu Thaan" | Oorellam Un Paatu Thaan | - | - |
| "Nandri Sollave" | Udan Pirappu | - | - |
| "Sollividu Velli Nilave" | Amaidhi Padai | - | - |
| "Kanne indru kalyana" | Aanazhagan | - | - |
| "Aarearaaro aareeraaro" | thayumanavan | - | - |
| "Mana Madurai" | Anthapuram | - | - |
| "Kuruvi Kudaintha" | Azhagi | - | - |
| "Aattama Therottama" | Captain Prabhakaran | - | - |
| "Malaiyil Yaaro" | Chatriyan | - | - |
| "Chithra Kili" | Chinna Devan | - | - |
| "Adi Vannathi Poo" | Chinna Jameen | - | - |
| "Onnapoothttu" | Chinna Jameen | - | - |
| "Anthiyila Vanam" | Chinnavar | - | - |
| "Povomma Oorkolam" | Chinna Thambi | "Paadadi Kuyile Paasa malargale" her fav song | Naangal |
| "Nee Enge" | Chinna Thambi | - | - |
| "Naan Erikarai" | Chinna Thayee | - | - |
| "Kattu Kuyil Pattu" | Chinna Mapillai | - | - |
| "Vennilavu Kothipathu" | Chinna Mapillai | - | - |
| "Semparathi Poovukku" | Dharma | - | - |
| "Maasi Masam" | Dharma Dorai | - | - |
| "Mana Magalea" | Devar Magan | - | - |
| "Vayasu Vantha" | En Mana Vaanil | - | - |
| "Kuyil Paatu" | En Rasavin Manasile | - | - |
| "Uthama Puthiri" | Guru Sishyan | - | - |
| "Aradi Suvaruthan" | Idhu Namma Bhoomi | - | - |
| "Oru Pokiri Rathiri" | Idhu Namma Bhoomi | - | - |
| "Kooyil Mani Kettene" | Kanna Unnai Thedukiren | - | - |
| "Enga Then Paandi" | Kattabomman | - | - |
| "Adi Asa Machan" | Kummi Paattu | - | - |
| "Oorukku Thekkuttu" | Kummi Paattu | - | - |
| "Ammiyila Araichi" | Kummi Paattu | - | - |
| "Uchi Veyilukku" | Kummi Paattu " | - | - |
| "Nee Thane Nal Thorum" | Paattu Vaathiyar | - | - |
| "Kana Karunk Kuyilae" | Pandithurai | - | - |
| "Malliye Chinna Mullaye" | Pandithurai | - | - |
| "Vidalapulla" | Periya Marudhu | - | - |
| "Vidai Kodu" | Piriyadha Varam Vendum | - | - |
| "Ooradangum Samathilea" | Puthupatti Ponnuthaye | - | - |
| "Malligai Mottu" | Sakthivel | - | - |
| "Kalaiyil Kettathu" | Senthamizh Paattu | - | - |
| "Punnaivana Poonkuyile" | Sevvanthi | - | - |
| "Margalithan Odipochu" | Thalapathi | - | - |
| "Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu" | Thalapathi | - | - |
| "Ennai Thottu" | Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen | - | - |
| "Kanna Un Kannil" | Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen | - | - |
| "Ennulle Ennulle" | Valli | - | - |
| "Unnai Ethir Parthen" | Vanaja Girija | - | - |
| "Sirakadikuthu Kuruvi" | Vanaja Girija | - | - |
| "Aajare" | Vishnu | - | - |
| "Naan Thanga Roja" | Time | - | - |
| "Malai Kovil Vasalil" | Veera | - | - |
| "Madathile Kanni" | Veera | - | - |