Radha and Jayalakshmi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Radha, Jayalakshmi | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1932 |
| Died | Jayalakshmi - May 27, 2014(2014-05-27) (aged 82) |
| Genres | Carnatic music |
| Occupation | vocalist |
Radha (born 1932)[1] andJayalakshmi (1932 - 2014),[2] popularly known asRadha Jayalakshmi (Tamil:ராதா ஜெயலட்சுமி), were an IndianCarnatic music vocalist duo as well asplayback singers in films in the 1940s and 1950s. They later became teachers and trained notable Carnatic music singers. Jayalakshmi was the playback singer of the duo, but was credited as Radha Jayalakshmi in the cine field. Radha was her cousin and singing partner on stage performances. They were early vocalists in the duo singing trend inCarnatic music which started in the 1950s and includes performers likeBombay Sisters andSoolamangalam Sisters. In recent times, the trend has been continued by popular Carnatic music singers likePriya Sisters, their disciples,Ranjani Gayatri, Bellur sisters, Mambalam Sisters,Akkarai sisters, and others.[3]
The duo was awarded the 1981Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Carnatic Music – Vocal, given by theSangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama[4]Vidushi Jayalakshmi died in Chennai on 27 May 2014.[5]
Radha and Jayalakshmi's singing style belongs to theG. N. Balasubramaniam school, and they received their training in classical vocal music from the noted vocalist and teacher himself.[6]
Jayalakshmi has rendered songs in her trained, cultured and 'ringing' sweet voice in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada movies from the late 1940s to the early 60s.
She also has a few playback singing credits from the 1970s.
In Deivam,Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan had both Radha and Jayalakshmi renderThiruchendooril Por Purindhu, a devotional song set in Thiruthani. This is perhaps the only film song sung by Radha of the duo. But both have given stage performances throughout India.
The singers had no longer been giving performances towards the time of Jayalakshmi's death, but instead had shifted their efforts to teaching Carnatic music and were regarded as great teachers. Shanmukhapriya and Haripriya, popularly known as thePriya Sisters, were their students.[7]
Jayalakshmi's most memorable songs date from the 50s films.
Jayalakshmi was often paired to sing with the male singersT. M. Soundararajan,Seerkazhi Govindarajan andA. M. Rajah. Other male singers she sang with include T. A. Mothi,Ghantasala,S. Balachander,Thiruchi Loganathan, K. Prasad Rao,V. N. Sundaram, Subrahmanyam andPithapuram Nageswara Rao.
She also sang duets with female singers, most notably withP. Leela andSoolamangalam Rajalakshmi. Others areM. L. Vasanthakumari,P. A. Periyanayaki,N. L. Ganasaraswathi,A. P. Komala,T. V. Rathnam,M. S. Rajeswari,S. Janaki,K. Rani andJikki.
The singing actors she sang with wereK. R. Ramasamy andS. Varalakshmi.
Jayalakshmi of the duo, died, aged 82, inChennai on 26 May 2014.[8]
