Swarnalatha (29 April 1973 – 12 September 2010) was an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning almost 22 years (from 1987 until her death), she recorded over 10,000 songs in many Indian languages, including Tamil language, Telugu language, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali language, Oriya language, Punjabi language, and Badaga language.
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 receive a National Award in A. R. Rahman Music.[ National award winning playback singer Swarnalatha passes away, Asian Tribune, Tue, 14 September 2010 03:25]
Personal life
She was born to K. C. Cherukutty and mother Kalyani. 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 recorded a duet with K. J. Yesudas, "Chinnachiru Kiliye" in the film
Neethikku Thandanai.
Subsequently, she recorded songs for many other music directors. She also had the opportunity to work with the director P. Venu. She was frequently collaborated with 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 singer Hariharan.
In Telugu, she recorded more songs under the music direction of Mani Sharma, Ramana Gogula, Raj–Koti, and Vandemataram Srinivas. They include top-rated songs like Raamma Chilakamma, Osey Ramulamma, and Nizam Babulu. A. R. Rahman employed 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
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". 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 initially rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum for the Tamil movie Anarkali (the dubbed version of the Hindi movie Mughal-e-Azam) and was praised by the Bollywood music director Naushad Ali, which she considered the best moment in her career.
Television
Swarnalatha appeared as a judge in many television singing competitions, notably in the 2001 Vijay TV reality show and in the 2004 Jaya TV Ragamalika.
Death
Swarnalatha died at Malar Hospitals Ltd Adayar,
Chennai at the age of 37, on 12 September 2010. She had Idiopathic lung disease.
Awards and recognitions
National Award ( Silver Lotus Award)-( Rajat Kamal)
-
1994– National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
-
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 Alai Payuthey
Cinema Express Awards
-
1991 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Povomma Oorkolam" from Chinna Thambi
-
1995 – Best Female Playback Singer for "Muquala Muqapala" from Kaadhalan
-
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 Alai Payuthey
Government Honour
Recognition
Frequent collaborations
- Ilaiyaraja
Swarnalatha has sung over 200 songs for
Ilayaraja and marked as one of the noted combinations in 90's. 'Povomaa Oorkolam' and 'Nee Yengae Enn Anbae' from the film
Chinnathambi were hits. Government of Tamil Nadu honoured 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.
She had sung several experimental songs for Ilayaraja such as "Sollividu VelliNilave', "Kanne Indru Kalyana Kathai" and "Ennai Thottu Allikonda".
- A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman and Swarnalatha association started from the year 1993. Their Combination is known for the magical songs such as "Mukkala Mukkabala", "Hai Rama yeh kya hua", which are the hit songs of 90's. She was the first female singer to receive National Award under Rahman's Music for the song "Porale ponnuthayi" from
Karuthamma released in the year 1994. She has sung nearly 80 songs for Rahman. The last song she recorded with Rahman was "Kummi Adi" from the film
Sillunu Oru Kadhal (2004).
- Deva
Swarnalatha sang for Deva from the year 1990. The song "Kanne Karisal" from
Vaigasi Poranthachu marked their first association. The songs sung by her from the films
Senthoorapandi (1993),
Rasigan (1994),
Baashha (1995),
Vishnu (1995),
Maanbumigu Maanavan (1996),
Kadhal Kottai (1996),
Arunachalam (1997),
Anantha Poongatre (1999),
Mugavaree (2000) and
Chokka Thangam (2003) have been popular.
Discography
External links
