Nation loses a legend, veteran playback singer Vani Jairam passes away

Veteran playback singer Vani Jairam has passed away. She was 78. The singer breathed her last at her home in Chennai today. In her career that spanned over five decades, Vani Jairam's repertoire includes over 10,000 songs, in several languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Hindi and Bengali to name a few. It is to be noted that she was recently honoured with the Padma Bhushan award on the occasion of Republic Day. The singer has also won National Award thrice - for her work in Apoorva Raagangal, Sankarabaranam and  Swathi Kinnaram.

Some of her popular songs in Tamil include Malar Pol Sirpathu (Sollathan Ninaikiren), Malligai En Mannan (Dheerga Sumangali), Kelviyin Nayagane and Yezhu Swarangalukkul (Apoorva Raagangal), Ore Naal Unnai Naan (Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu), Dheiveega Raagam (Ullasa Paravaigal), Andhi Neram (Thillu Mullu), Kavithai Kelungal (Punnagai Mannan). She had last sung the Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu in RJ Balaji's LKG (2019). Vani Jairam won her first National Award in the year 1975 for the song Ezhu Swarangalukkul and Kelviyin Nayagane from the film Apoorva Raagangal.

In Hindi, her song Bole Re Papihara remains a popular song. While thanking the government for the Padma Bhushan honour, the veteran singer sang the lines from the song. She said, "A few days ago, the government of India announced a list of awardees and I came to know that I have been the Padma Bhushan. I felt extremely happy. I started my career in 1970 and it's been 52 years. I have been singing in 19 languages in Indian films. Its been such a long journey. This award is making me very happy. My well wishers and rasikas, who have been listening to songs and encouraging me all these years, I am grateful to all of them.

Apart from her work in films, Vani Jairam has also collaborated with Pandit Birju Maharaj and Odissi Guru Kelucharan Mohopatra. She has also composed and sung songs in praise of Lord Murugan.