Vani Jairam
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A brief biography
February 5, 2023: The Times of India
Chennai : Iconic playback singer Vani Jayaram, had crooned over 10,000 songs in 19 languages, including the very popular Hindi number ‘Bole re papihara’ and was named for the Padma Bhushan Award.
She was 78 and was living alone at a downtown apartment, where she was found dead, police said adding there was an injury on her forehead and further investigation is on under Cr Pc Section 174 (circumstances raising suspicion over death). It appears, the singer might have fallen down and injured herself, police said.
Vani Jayaram’s husband predeceased her and she had no children, the singer’s domestic help said. In her long and illustrious career of over 50 years, she had rendered a mine of memorable songs including the ‘Bole re papihara’ from Hindi flick Guddi (1971), ‘Yezhu Swarangalukkul’ from Tamil film Apoorva Ragangal (1975) and ‘Malligai En Mannan Mayangum’ (1974 Tamil movie Deerga Sumangali). She had worked with iconic musicians including M S Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraaja. Former CM and top star in her times J Jayalalithaa was among those for whom Vani Jayaram had sung and no wonder she was hugely popular for her mellifluous voice. Born Kalaivani in Vellore in Tamil Nadu on 30 November 1945, she was a versatile singer in various languages. She had sung over 10,000 songs in 19 languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada. PM Modi, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, CM M K Stalin, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Pinarayi Vijayan, AIADMK interim chief and leader of opposition, K Palaniswami were among a host of leaders who condoled herdeath. AGENCIES
Her famous songs
Avijit Ghosh, Feb 2, 2023: The Times of India
New Delhi : Composer Vasant Desai brought her to the world of Hindi film music with Guddi (1971). But over the years, Vani Jayaram also sang for most top Bollywood music directors: Madan Mohan (Ek Muthi Aasman), Jaidev (Man Jaiye, Parinay), LaxmikantPyarelal (Jurm aur Sazaa), Naushad (Pakeezah), Ravi Shankar (Meera), Bhaskar Chandavarkar (Maya Darpan), SN Tripathi (Hare Krishna), RD Burman (Chhaliya, new), OP Nayyar (Khoon Ka Badla Khoon), Kalyanji-Anandji (Dharm aur Kanoon), Bappi Lahiri (Haisiyat), to name a few. A sample of her finest numbers:
Film | Guddi (1971) Song | Bole re papihara
He wants to talk love. The girl on the cusp of adulthood doesn’t know what is love. But she sings a song amidst falling rain and surrounded by sculptures of love. Written by Gulzar, a master of the unsaid, the song reminds you of Kalidas’ Meghdoot and reveals her subterranean desires; the papihara, a bird of yearning, being the metaphor. Vasant Desai composes the semi-classica l track in raag Mian ki Malhar and Jayaram rides the high notes the way it is meant to. Bole re papihara finished 22nd in radio countdown show Binaca Geetmala’s annual programme in 1972. But the singer had a wider impact than what the charts reveal. The freshness and poise ofJayaram’s voice made her the talk of the music studios and the subject of magazine interviews. Even today the song remains her primary badge of identity for most Hindi film music lovers.
Film | Guddi (1971) Song | Humko mann ki shakti de ma
No other hymn – with the possible exceptionof Itni shakti humein dena data (film: Ankush, 1986) – has been recited with more frequency in school morning prayers across generat ions. Vastly different in scale and mood from Papihara, the tune tested Jayaram’s range and she rose to the challenge.
Film | Dhuen Ki Lakeer (1974) Song | Teri jheel si gehri aankhon mein (with Nitin Mukesh)
Jayaram paired with Nitin Mukesh -one of his earliest songs – to deliver this underfeted gem that longforgotten composer duo Shamji-Ghanshamji and lyricist Rameshwar Tyagi conjured. Go to YouTube and see how Jayaram fluidly modulates her voice for a very young Parveen Babi crooning, Tuney raat koi sapna dekha. A song that deserved so much more, much like the singer.
Film | Meera (1979) Song | Mere to Girdhar Gopal doosro na koi
For whatever reasons, Lata Mangeshkar did not sing for the Gulzar film. Given a lifetime opportunity to perform 12 songs penned by Meerabai, the 16th century poetess, and composed by the virtuoso Ravi Shankar, the singer unfurled what she was capable of. In Hindi films, Meera is Jayaram’s tour de force. The song won her a Filmfare award for best female singer.
Film | Khoon ka Badla Khoon (1978) Song | Zulf lehrai to saawan ka mahina aa gaya
Jayaram adorned this peppy track with the verve and bounce it needed. Among the catchiest tunes OP Nayyar composed in the post-Asha Bhonsle phase of his career.
Film | Pakeezah (1972) | Song | Mora saajan souten ghar jaaye
After music director Ghulam Mohammad passed away, Naushad stepped in to complete the long-in-the-making film’s score. The album is filled with classics and this is one of the lesser-heard tracks. But once you pay attention, you realize how elegantly Jayaram rendered this thumri with minimal orchestration for support
