Vani Jairam | |
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.jpg) Vani in 2014 | |
| Born | Kalaivani (1945-11-30)30 November 1945 |
| Died | 4 February 2023(2023-02-04) (aged 77) |
| Other names | South IndianMeera |
| Alma mater | Queen Mary's College, Chennai |
| Occupation | Playback singer |
| Spouse | |
| Parents |
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| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2023) National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Filmfare Awards |
| Website | vanijairam |
Vani Jairam (bornKalaivani; 30 November 1945 – 4 February 2023) was an Indianplayback singer inIndian cinema.[2][3] She is fondly referred to as the "Meera of modern India"[4][5] Vani's career started in 1971 and has spanned over five decades. She did playback for over one thousand Indian movies recording over 20,000 songs. In addition, she recorded thousands of devotionals and private albums and also participated in numerous solo concerts in India and abroad.[6][7]
Renowned for her vocal range and easy adaptability to any difficult composition, Vani has often been the choice for several composers across India from the 1970s until the late 1990s. She has sung in several Indian languages languages includingKannada,Tamil,Hindi,Telugu,Malayalam,Marathi,Odia,Sanskrit,[8]Gujarati,Haryanvi,Assamese,Tulu,Kashmiri,Bhojpuri,Marwari,Urdu,Konkani,Punjabi andBengali languages.[9][10]
Vani is the youngest artist to be awarded the "Sangeet Peet Samman". She won theNational Film Awards forBest Female Playback Singer three times and also has won State Government awards from the states ofOdisha,Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu andGujarat.[9] In 2012, she was honored with theFilmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South for her achievements in South Indian film music.[11] In July 2017 she was honored with the Best Female Singer at the NAFA 2017 event atNew York City.[12]
She was well versed in various forms of music, includingCarnatic,Hindustani,thumri,ghazal andbhajan. Apart from singing, she was also a songwriter, composer and painter.[13]
Vani was born as Kalaivani inVellore inTamil Nadu, in a classically trained musicians family, as a fifth daughter in a family of six daughters and three sons. Her parents, Duraisamy Iyer and Padmavathi, trained under Ranga Ramunaja Iyengar and enrolled her in his classes, where he taught her a fewMuthuswami Dikshitar kritis. Later she was given formalCarnatic training under the guidance of Kadalur Srinivas Iyengar, T. R. Balasubramanian, and R. S. Mani.
Vani was glued to theRadio Ceylon channel and was attracted toHindi film songs to the extent that she used to memorize and reproduce the entire orchestration of the songs that used to repeatedly play on the Radio.[14][15] At the age of 8, she gave her first public performance atAll India Radio,Madras.
Vani did her schooling at Lady Sivasamy High School, Chennai.[16] She then graduated from theQueen Mary's College, Chennai.[17][18] Post her studies, Vani was employed with theState Bank of India, Madras, and later in 1967, she was transferred to the Hyderabad branch.[19][14]
After her marriage to Jairam in 1969, she moved toMumbai to set up her family. Upon her request, she was transferred to the Mumbai branch of her bank. Knowing her singing skills, Jairam persuaded Vani to get trained in theHindustani classical music and she enrolled under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan of thePatiala gharana.[14] Her rigorous training under him made her quit her bank job and take up music as her profession. She learned the nuances of various vocal forms such asThumri,Ghazal andBhajan under Khan's tutelage and gave her first public concert in 1969.[20] In the same year, she was introduced to the composerVasant Desai who was recording aMarathi album with singerKumar Gandharva. Upon listening to her voice, Desai chose her to sing the song "Runanubandhacha" for the same album along with Kumar Gandharva. The album released to much popularity among the Marathi audience and the duet song was well received. She sang with the veteran vocalist Agra Charan Pt. Dinkar Kaikini in the 1979 filmMeera. The music was given byPt. Ravi Shankar.[15]
While Vani's popularity continued to soar inBollywood cinema, she started getting offers from theCinema of South India. In 1973, she recorded her firstTamil song for the filmThayum Seiyum under the music direction ofS. M. Subbaiah Naidu. However, the film remains unreleased to date and the song remained in the cans.[14] Her first released song was a duet romantic song withT. M. Soundararajan for the filmVeettukku Vandha Marumagal (1973).[14] The song "Or Idam Unnidam" was composed by the duoShankar–Ganesh, with whom, Vani went on to record maximum songs in Tamil cinema. Immediately after this, she was employed by one of the most successful director-composer duos,K. Balachander andM. S. Viswanathan, for their successful filmSollathaan Ninaikkiren for a solo song "Malarpol Sirippathu Pathinaaru". Thus began her long association with the top-rated music directors in Tamil cinema. Her biggest break came through the song "Malligai En Mannan Mayangum" from the filmDheerga Sumangali (1974), again composed by M. S. Viswanathan.[21] Vani recalled that it was a challenging song and "he (Viswanathan) trusted me with it". She sang many songs composed by M.S.Viswanathan and Shankar–Ganesh.M.S.Viswanathan by seeing her amazing grasping power and ability to write swaras immediately mentioned her as 'Blotting paper'.[22] When Vani was in Madras (nowChennai) for two music concerts at a Bhajan Sammelan, Viswanathan, who was the chief guest, was impressed by her performance and gave her the opportunity to sing the song.[23] The song received laurels and accolades for both its composition and vocal rendition. It was in the same year, she recorded a duet song withS. P. Balasubrahmanyam for music directorVijaya Bhaskar for the filmEngamma Sapatham. It was later reported that Vani's voice featured in all the films which had Vijaya Bhaskar as the composer in both Tamil and Kannada film industries.
The year 1975 turned out to be the first most eventful year for Vani since she won her firstNational Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the songs she rendered in the filmApoorva Raagangal. The songs "Ezhu Swarangalukkul" and "Kelviyin Nayagane" made her popularity soar to heights and she became known as the singer who would always get selected to sing difficult compositions. She was flooded with singing offers from all the top-rated music composers, including M. S. Viswanathan,Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan, Sankar Ganesh,V. Kumar,K. V. Mahadevan,G. K. Venkatesh and Vijaya Bhaskar. In 1977, she first recorded her voice forIlaiyaraaja's composition in the filmBhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri. She won her firstTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for the song "Naane Naana" composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the filmAzhage Unnai Aarathikkiren (1979). With Ilaiyaraaja, Vani went on to record many popular songs in the 1980s for the films such asMullum Malarum (1978),Rosappo Ravikaikaari (1979),Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984),Nooravathu Naal (1984),Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984),Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985) andPunnagai Mannan (1986). In 1994, composerA. R. Rahman recorded her voice for the filmVandicholai Chinraasu for a duet song with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Later in 2014, she recorded a portion of theThiruppugazh composed by Rahman, for the period filmKaaviyathalaivan and followed it with the song "Narayana" in the filmRamanujan.
Jairam recorded thousands of Tamil songs both in solo and duet formats. Many of her duet songs have been recorded along withT. M. Soundararajan,P. B. Srinivas,K. J. Yesudas,S. P. Balasubrahmanyam andJayachandran. Songs like "Ezhu Swarangalukkul", "Keliviyin Nayagane", "Ennulil Engo", "Yaaradhu Sollamal", "Megamae Megamae", "Kavidhai Kelungal", "Nadhamenum Kovililae", "Aana Kana" and "Sugamana Raagangale" are considered amongst the best compositions to be recorded in Vani's voice. The first Ghazal type song inTamil movies was "Megame magame" written byVairamuthu was sung by Vani Jayaram.
Vani's contribution towardsTelugu cinema and devotional songs have been extensive and widespread. She recorded her first Telugu song for the filmAbhimanavanthulu (1973).[24] The song "Eppativalekaadura Naa Swami", composed byS. P. Kodandapani, was a classical dance-based song. Her songs for the filmPooja (1975) brought her to the forefront of Telugu cinema. The songs "Poojalu Cheya" and "Ennenno Janmala Bandham" became household hits and cemented her position. It was for theK. Viswanath's musical filmSankarabharanam (1980), Vani increased her popularity by singing five songs and winning her second National Film award for all the songs collectively. She was also awarded the Andhra Pradesh government'sNandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the same songs. She went on to collaborate with director Viswanath and music directorK. V. Mahadevan for many films likeSruthilayalu (1987),Sankarabharanam andSwathi Kiranam. Later in 1990, the same team produced the filmSwathi Kiranam which was again musically noted; all the songs sung by Vani were received well. She received her third National Film Award for the film.
Apart from K. V. Mahadevan, Vani recorded many Telugu songs forRajan–Nagendra,Satyam,Chakravarthy,M. S. Viswanathan andIlaiyaraaja. She recorded most of the dubbed songs from Tamil composed byIlaiyaraaja.
Vani's good professional association withVasant Desai resulted in her breakthrough with the filmGuddi (1971) directed byHrishikesh Mukherjee. Desai offered Vani to record three songs in the film amongst which the song "Bole Re Papihara", featuringJaya Bachchan in the lead role, became a talk-of-the-town song and gave her instant recognition. Composed inMiyan Ki Malhar raag, the song showcased her classical prowess and subsequently fetching her many laurels and awards including theTansen Samman (for best classical-based song in a Hindi film), the Lions International Best Promising Singer award, the All India Cinegoers Association award, and the All India Film-goers Association award for the Best Playback Singer in 1971. Her other songHumko Mann Ki Shakti Dena; Mann Vijaya Karein [O God! Please give us strength to conquer our weaknesses] became a school prayer since the release of the song in 1971 and continues to be even now.[25] She toured the entireMaharashtra state, accompanying her mentor, Desai, and taught manyMarathi songs to school children.
Jairam went on to sing a few songs each for music directors ofHindi cinema, which remain popular, including theChitragupta song, classicalNaushad compositions More Saajan Souten Ghar fromPakeezah (1972) and Dulhan Badi Jadugarni, a duet withAsha Bhosle inAaina (1977),Madan Mohan composition Pyar Kabhi Kam Na Karna Sanam, a duet withKishore Kumar in the filmEk Mutthi Aasmaan (1973),R. D. Burman song Zindagi Mein Aap Aaye, a duet withMukesh inChhalia (1973), Shyamji Ghanshyamji composition Teri Jheel Si Gehri from filmDhuan Ki Lakeer, a duet withNitin Mukesh, and the solo song Aa Balam composed byKalyanji-Anandji in the filmDharm Aur Qanoon.
Jairam sang several songs composed byO.P. Nayyar from the filmKhoon Ka Badla Khoon (1978) including duets withMohammed Rafi and also with Uttara Kelkar and Pushpa Pagdhare. She sang the duet song Maine Tumhe Paa Liya with Rafi composed byLaxmikant-Pyarelal in Jurm Aur Sazaa, and a duet withManna Dey inParinay (1974) composed byJaidev and the solo song Pee Kahan inSolva Sawan (1979) byJaidev.
The song "Mere To Giridhar Gopal" inMeera (1979), composed byPandit Ravi Shankar, won her firstFilmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.[26] She recorded as many as 12 bhajans for the film Meera which became highly popular.
Vani Jairam made her Malayalam debut in 1973 by recording the solo song "Sourayudhathil Vidarnnoru" composed bySalil Chowdhary for the filmSwapnam.[27] The song became hugely popular, giving good credibility to Vani and gave her career a breakthrough. She went on to record over 600 songs in Malayalam cinema. Vani collaborated with all the popular Malayalam composers such asM. K. Arjunan,G. Devarajan,M. S. Viswanathan,R. K. Shekhar,V. Dakshinamoorthy,M. S. Baburaj,Shyam,A. T. Ummer,M. B. Sreenivasan,K. Raghavan,Jerry Amaldev,Kannur Rajan,Johnson,Raveendran andIlaiyaraaja. Her rendition of the song "Aashada Maasam", composed by R. K. Shekhar for the filmYudhabhoomi (1976) met with wide appreciation and further increased her popularity. In 1981, she sang "Kanana Poikayil Kalabham" along withK. J. Yesudas in the composition of M. K. Arjunan for the filmAriyapedatha Rahasyam directed byP. Venu. After a long hiatus, Vani returned to Malayalam cinema in 2014 by recording a duet song for the film1983,[28] and followed it up with a duet song inAction Hero Biju (2016).
Some of Vani's Malayalam songs including "Olanjali Kuruvi", "Pookkal Panineer", "Etho janma kalpanayil", "Poo kondu poo moodi" (Palangal), "Manjil chekkerum" (Raktham), "Onnanam Kunninmel" (Airhostess), "nanam nin kannil" (kelkatha sabdham),"Manju pozhiyunnu" (Uthradarathri) "Thiruvonapularithan" (Thiruvonam), "Dhoomthana" (Thomasleeha), "Seemantha Rekhayil" (Aasheervaadam), "Naadan Paatile", "manjani kombil", "Nimishangal", "Thedi Thedi", "Moodal Manjumai Yamini", "Ee Raagadeepam", "Mandhaarapoo", "Taarake", "Hrudayathin Madhura", "Neelambarathile", "Navaneetha Chandrike", "Oru Raaga Nimishatil", "Thechi Pootha", "Yamini Nin Choodayil" amongst others are widely popular and considered among the best hits.[29] Most of Vani's duets in Malayalam are recorded withK. J. Yesudas andP. Jayachandran.
The title song "Marathe Marikurumbe" in the film "Puli Murugan", rendered by Jairam, was short-listed in 70 songs which were considered eligible for nomination to the 2018 Oscar Award, under the category of "Original Song".[citation needed]
Music directorVijaya Bhaskar who worked with Vani in Tamil films introduced her toKannada cinema in 1973 for the filmKesarina Kamala. She recorded two songs in the film, which was immediately followed by her breakthrough song "Bhaavavemba Hoovu Arali" from the filmUpasane (1974). This song cemented her position in Kannada films which lasted for three decades. After Vijaya Bhaskar gave her a career break, she was employed immediately by top-running composers such asG. K. Venkatesh,M. Ranga Rao,Rajan–Nagendra,Satyam,Upendra Kumar,T. G. Lingappa,L. Vaidyanathan andHamsalekha. The combination ofPuttanna Kanagal (director) - Vijaya Bhaskar - Vani Jairam produced many popular songs backed by strong female-centric themes. She modulated her voice and accent for the song "Happiest Moment" from the filmBili Hendthi (1975).
With her contemporary singerS. Janaki, Vani recorded few female duets, notably "Madhumasa Chandrama" (Vijaya Vani 1976) and "Teredide Mane O Baa Athithi" (Hosa Belaku 1982). She recorded many popular songs in the 1980s with the legendary actor-singerDr. Rajkumar. Most of her duet songs in Kannada have been with Rajkumar,P. B. Srinivas,S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,P. Jayachandran andK. J. Yesudas. Some of her most memorable songs include "Ee Shatamanada Madari Hennu", "Besuge Besuge", "Belli Modave Elli Oduve", "Jeevana Sanjeevana", "Deva Mandiradalli", "Haadu Haleyadaadarenu", "Kannada Naadina Karavali", "Priyathama Karuneya Thoreya", "Sada Kannali Pranayada", "Endendu Ninnanu Marethu", "Hodeya Doora O Jothegara".
Vani Jairam sang in manyOdia films of 1970's and 1980's and became household name inOdisha.[30] She recorded most songs with the films of music composerPrafulla Kar as well as in the films ofOdia andKannada composerUpendra Kumar. Some of her works inOdia cinema include mega hits like "Chhota E Ghara E Sansara" inKrushna Sudama (1975)," Mukunda Murari Hey Chakradhari"and "Jogire Khoju Kahin" inMukti (1977),"Keun Nama Dhari" ,"Tuma Sadhira Ranga" and "Adine Malli Mahaka" inSindura Bindu (1976)," Megha Barasila Tupuru Tupuru" and "Hayere Haye Garaje Megha" inSesha Shrabana (1976), "Maa Go Mamatamayee Mata" and"Na Jaa Sajani" inBandhu Mohanty (1977), "Mo Bhaina Bhaina" inPunarmilan (1977), "Ei Gaanra Maudamani", "Paichhi E Jibane" and "Ki Sundara Aha Ki Anandamaya" inGouri (1978), "Aahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari" ,"Holi Holi Re Holi " and "Chikilika Bambalika" inBalidana (1978),"Bhagya Mora Sate Ki", "Ei Jhiatira Pada Talamala" ,"Kuhu Kuhu Bane Kuhu "and "Hey Nagadeva" inSati Anasuya (1978)," Aliali Kain Sunagori" and "Pirati Chori Chori" inJay Maa Mangala (1980),"Dhali Dia Saraa" and Jhuli Jhuli Khele Doli" in Tapasya(1980), "Akhila Brahmanda Pati" and "Mo Manara Chadhei" inRam Balaram (1980), "Aaha Sita" inRamayan (1980), "Jhumi Jhumi Nupura Baje" inHira Moti Manika (1980), "Nadire Nadire" ,"Tui Malmali" ,"Emiti Bi Nadi Achhi" and" Hip Hip Hurray Gadi Jae Gadire" inPooja (1981), "Aha Ki Badhia" inAlibha Daga (1980). Her other films includePatipatni(1978),Pipasa(1978),Sita LavaKusha(1981),Debjani(1981)Astaraga (1982),Pratidhwani (1984),Para Jhia Ghara Bhangena (1985),Palataka(1985),Gruhalaxmi(1986) etc. ForDevajani she has wonOdisha State Film Award for Best Female Playback singer.
Besides Hindi and South Indian languages, Vani Jairam has made recordings inGujarati,Marathi,Marwari,Haryanvi,Bengali,Odia,English,Bhojpuri,Rajasthani, Badaga,Urdu,Sanskrit,Punjabi andTulu 19 languages totally. She has been awarded many prestigious awards, among them Best Female Playback Singer for the states ofGujarat (1975),Tamil Nadu (1980) andOdisha (1984). One of her most famous Marathi songs, "Runanubandhachya", is a duet with the classicalHindustani singerKumar Gandharva. This song was composed by Vani's mentorVasant Desai for a Marathi drama calledDev Deenaghari Dhaavlaa. The lyrics were written byBal Kolhatkar.[citation needed].
Jairam recorded "Holi Songs" and "Thumri Dadra & Bhajans" withPandit Birju Maharaj. She also recorded "Gita Govindam" composed byPrafulla Kar withOdissiGuru Kelucharan Mohapatra playing thePakhawaj. Jairam released "Murugan Songs" with songs written by her with music composed by her.
Vani was married into a family which supported music. Her mother-in-law, Padma Swaminathan, a social activist and Carnatic music singer, was the last surviving daughter ofF. G. Natesa Iyer.N. Rajam is her sister-in-law.[31][32][33]Her husband Jairam was a student of PanditRavi Shankar[34] The couple did not have children. Jairam died on 24 September 2018, aged 80.
Jairam made her debut in Hindi film "Guddi" ,from which 'Bole re papihara' was a very big hit all over India. Overnight she became very popular.Previously her first song withKumar Gandharva in Marathi also became hugely popular. Similarly, In Tamil her first song with msv 'malligai en mannan mayangum',in Malayalam 'Sourayudhathil' followed by Telugu,Kannada,Odia,Gujarati all became very big numbers. Her first song itself in all languages became very popular making her recognized by the state people as their own state singer.[15][24][26]
Jairam specially recognised for unique voice and versality in singing all languages and all types of songs as the own language people.[35] She is always opted specially for any kind of difficult compositions, some examples are "aanathineeyara" fromSwathi Kiranam, "brochevarevarura" fromSankarabharanam, "yezhu Swarangalukkul" and "Kelviyin nayagane" fromApoorva Ragangal, "Kavithai kelungal", "kanchi kamachi", etc.[10]
Vani died following a fall on 4 February 2023, at the age of 77.[36][37] Taking note of late Vani Jairam's contribution and influence on the music industry, political leaders and music industry icons expressed their condolences.[38]
TheGovernorR. N. Ravi arrived at Jairam's residence and paid his last tribute.[39]
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The P. Suseela Trust honoured Vani Jairam at a function inHyderabad, with a citation and a purse of one lakh. The event was widely covered on television. On 28 May 2014,[40] Vani was felicitated inBhubaneshwar for her contribution toOdia cinema.[35] Preceding it was the PBS Puraskar Award in Hyderabad, instituted in memory of the inimitable P.B. Srinivas. On 30 July 2014, Yuva Kala Vahini, an organisation in Hyderabad, presented her with the 'Pride of Indian Music' Award.[41]
featured her famous musician daughter-in-law Dr N Rajam, her daughter Sangeetha Shankar, and her grandchildren Ragini Shankar and Nandini Shankar giving a brilliant violin concert accompanied by Kedar Kharaton on table. That was followed by another world-famous musician Vani Jairam, another daughter-in-law, rendering two compositions.
The two-day celebration of Padma Swaminathan's 100th birthday on 1 December at Brindavan Hill, Coimbatore was attended by her family including (L to R): Nandini Shankar (great granddaughter), Shankar Devraj (Sangita's husband), T.S. Jairam (son) and Vani Jairam, Padma Swaminathan, N. Rajam and T.S. Subramanian (son), Sangita Shankar (granddaughter) and Ragini Shankar (great granddaughter). It was followed by a violin concert by N. Rajam (daughter-in-law) with Sangita, Nandini and Ragini accompanied by Kedar Kharaton (tabla). Vocalist Vani Jairam (daughter-in-law) rendered a few compositions.
"I first met Pandit Ravi Shankar in 1970 in Mumbai immediately after my marriage to Jairam who was a student of Pandit Ravi Shankar's Kinnara School of Music.
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