Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Swarnalatha, Indian playback singer, died from a lung infection she was , 37

Swarnalatha  was a South Indian film playback singer. From 1987 onward, she rendered nearly 7000 songs in many languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi and Badaga  died from a lung infection she was , 37.[1]
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. Her distinctive voice, which could effortlessly reach high octaves, quickly made her a name to reckon with in the playback music industry.[2]

 (Malayalam: സ്വർണ്ണലത, Tamil: ஸ்வர்ணலதா, Telugu: స్వర్ణలత ; 1973 – September 12, 2010)








 










Personal life and career

She was born in Athikkodu near Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, to K. C. Cherukutty and Kalyani. Her father was a good harmonium player and singer. Her mother also had interest in music. Swarnalatha was trained on the harmonium and keyboard.[3] Swarnalatha's family later moved to Shimoga, where she had her education.[4] Born in a family of musicians (father K. C. Cherukutty was a singer and harmonium player, while sister Saroja was her music guru initially). Swarnalatha took to music when she was in her teens. She opened her account in films when M. S. Viswanathan introduced her in a duet with singer Dr K J Yesudas. The song was Bharathiar's Chinnanchiru Kili ye , for the film Neethikku Thandanai in 1987.[5]
In 1987, she shifted to Chennai, where she met M. S. Viswanathan. M.S.V. introduced her to the film industry through a duet with K. J. Yesudas, "Chinnanchirukiliye Kannamma" from the film Neethikku Dhandanai.[4] Subsequently, many other music directors approached her to perform their songs. 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 Rangeela.

She was one of the most versatile singers of her times, as she was able to sing melodies like "Maalayil Yaaro Manathodu Pesa" from Chatriyan[6] 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 in A. R. Rahman's music 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 other memorable songs with music directors Deva, Vidyasagar, Harris Jayaraj, Anu Malik, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy,Raj-Koti, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Mani Sharma,Hamsaleka and many others.She had sung all the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum in the movie Anarkali(tamil dubbed version of the hindi movie mughal-e-Azam) and she was praised by the acclaimed bollywood music director late Naushad Ali.

Character

Swarnalatha was a very quiet and shy woman. She was very camera shy too. Her musical concerts were quite straight, with only her music doing the talking. Once in an interview, her brother said that she knew nothing in this world except the music. She dedicated her entire life to music.Her calmness and character were liked by so many people in the music industry and her fans.

Death

Swarnalatha died at a private hospital in Chennai at the age of 37 due to cardiac arrest followed by interstitial lung disease (lung infection) after being admitted because she had difficulty in breathing. The singer had been undergoing treatment for lung infection for over a year and had not recorded for films during the period.[1]
Legendary music composer M S Viswanathan, who gave the then 14-year old Swarnalatha a break in films, described her as a very talented singer. She is believed to have approached him first, when she wanted to launch her career in film music. He gave her a chance in the film Needhikku Thandanai. "I was shocked on hearing the news. Swarnalatha was introduced to films by me, and was highly talented in music" he said.[7]

Awards and recognitions

National Award (Silver Lotus Award)
State Awards
Tamil Nadu Government Award
Andhra Pradesh Government Award
Filmfare Awards
Other Prominent Awards
  • 1996 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Akkadanu Nanga" from Indian
  • 1999 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Ulundhu Vithakkaiyilae" from Mudhalvan
  • 2000 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Evano oruvan" from Alaipayuthey
  • 2002 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Thirumana malargal" from Poovellam Un Vasam
Special Awards
  • 2002 - "Swarnalatha" (Rakkama Kaiya Thattu) song from the movie Thalapathi (1991) was the topmost in a BBC World Top Ten music poll.

Notable Tamil film songs

In A. R. Rahman's music

Song Movie Year
"Kummi Adi" Sillunu Oru Kaadhal 2006
"Evano Oruvan" Alaipayuthey 2000
"Sollaiyo Solai Kili" Alli Arjuna 2001
"Orunal Oru Pozhuthu" Anthimanthaarai 1995
"Kucchi Kucchi" Bombay 1995
"Uyire Uyire" (Chorus) Bombay 1995
"Usilampatti Penkutti" Gentleman 1993
"Akkadanu Nanga" Indian 1996
"Maya Machindra" Indian 1996
"Munneru Dhaan" Indira 1995
"Nee Etty Etty Thottuvachukka" Manitha Manitha 1994
"Anjathea Jeeva" Jodi 1999
"Anna Un Tholil" Jodi 1999
"Sollu Anbe" Jodi 1999
"Yenthen Vaanil" Kadhal Virus 2002
"Mukkala Mukkabla" Kadhalan 1994
"Kadhalenum" Kadhalar Dhinam 1999
"Singore Singore" Kannathil Muthamittal 2002
"Poralae Ponnuthayi (sad)" Karuththamma 1993
"Madrasa Sutthi" May Madham 1994
"Mel Isaiye" Mr. Romeo 1996
"Ulunthu Vithaikayilae" Mudhalvan 1999
"Chittukuruvi" Parasuram 2003
"Mottu Vittatha" Pavithra 1994
"Hai Rama" Rangeela 1995
"Lucky Lucky" Ratchagan 1997
"Mercury Pookal" Ratchagan 1997
"Kummi Adi" Sillunu Oru Kadhal 2006
"Kadhal Yogi" Taalam 1999
"Kuliruthu Kuliruthu" Taj Mahal 1999
"Poongatrile" Uyire 1998
"Rakozhi Rendu" Uzhavan 1993
"Yae Muthu Paapa" Vandicholai Chinraasu 1994

In Ilaiyaraja's music

Song Movie
"Sollividu Velli Nilave" Amaidhi Padai
"Mana Madurai" Anthapuram
"Kuruvi Kudaintha" Azhagi
"Aattama Therottama" Captain Prabhakaran
"Malaiyil Yaaro" Chathriyan
"Chithra Kili" Chinna Devan
"Adi Vannathi Poo" Chinna Jamin
"Onnapoothttu" Chinna Jamin
"Anthiyila Vanam" Chinnavar
"Povomma Oorkolam" Chinna Thambi
"Nee Enge" Chinna Thambi
"Naan Aerikkarai" Chinnaththaayi
"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 Mansilae
"Uthama Puthiri" Guru Sishyan
"Aradi Suvaruthan" Ithu Namma Bhomi
"Oru Pokiri Rathiri" Ithu Namma Bhomi
"Kooyil Mani Kettene" Kanna Unnai Thedukiren
"Enga Then Paandi" Kattabomman
"Adi Asa Machan" Kummipattu
"Oorukku Thekkuttu" Kummipattu
"Ammiyila Araichi" Kummipattu
"Uchi Veyilukku" Kummipattu
"Nee Thane Nal Thorum" Paatu Vathiyar
"Kana Karunk Kuyilae" Paandithurai
"Malliye Chinna Mullaye" Paandithurai
"Vidalapulla" Periya Maruthu
"Vidai Kodu" Piriyadha Varam Vendum
"Ooradangum Samathilea" Puthupatti Ponnuthaye
"Malligai Mottu" Sakthi Vel
"Kalaiyil Kettathu" Senthamizh Pattu
"Punnaivana Poonkuyile" Sevvanthi
"Margalithan Odipochu" Thalapathi
"Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu" Thalapathi
"Ennai Thottu" Unnai Nenachaen Paattu Padichaen
"Ennulle Ennulle" Valli
"Unnai Ethir Parthen" Vanaja Kirija
"Sirakadikuthu Kuruvi" Vanaja Kirija
"Aajare" Vishnu
"Naan Thanga Roja" Time
"Malai Kovil Vasalil" Veera
"Madathile Kanni" Veera

Notable Malayalam film songs

Song Movie
"Kadamizhiyil Kamaldalam" Thenkasipattanam
"Manikkakkallal Menju Menanju" Varnapakittu
"Nandalaala Hey Nandalaala" Independence
"Pottukuthedi Pudavachoodedi" Ravanaprabhu
"Balla Balla Ballare" Punjabi House
"Varthingal Thellalle" Dreamz
"Akkuthikkuthaanakkompel" Mangalya Soothram
"Kannoram Kanamuthe Vaa" Ishtamanu Nooruvattam
"Manjil Pootha Sandhye" Minnaminunginum Minnukettu
"Neeyonnu Paad" Thacholi Varghese Chekavar
"Oru Thari Kasthoori" Highway

To see more of who died in 2010 click here

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