#memory
Swarnalata.
29 April is the birth anniversary of playback singer
Swarnalatha (1973-2010).
She had in her short life, yet became a top singer in the 1990s. She is known for her songs like “Hamma Hamma (Bombay).” “Muqaala Muqabla (Humse hai Muqabla)” “Hai Rama (Rangeela),” “”Maya Machindra (Hindiustani),” “”Shabba Shabba (Daud),” “Sunta Hai Mera Khuda (Pukar),” and many more.
Swarnalatha was born on April 29, 1973, in Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala. Swarnalatha grew up in a family where music was a way of life. Her father, K.C. Cherukutty, was a harmonium player and singer.
Her family later moved to Bhadravathi in Shivamogga District, Karnataka, where she continued her education and musical training. Swarnalatha’s sister, Saroja, was her first music teacher, guiding her through the intricacies of Carnatic and Hindustani music.
The journey to Chennai marked a turning point in Swarnalatha’s life. Her big break came in 1987, at the age of 14, when she recorded a duet with the legendary K.J. Yesudas for the film “Neethikku Thandanai” under M. S. Viswanathan.
Over the next two decades, she recorded over 10,000 songs in various Indian languages, including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi, and Badaga.
Swarnalatha’s unique voice and ability to express a wide range of emotions through her singing earned her the title “The Humming Queen of India.”
She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Porale Ponnuthayi” from the film “Karuththamma,” composed by Rahman.
She also recorded songs originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum, for the dubbed version of the Hindi movie Mughal-e-Azam in Tamil.
Some of Swarnalatha’s best songs include ‘Uthama Puthiri Naan’ (Guru Sishyan), ‘Maalayil Yaaro Manadhodu Pesa’ (Kshathiriyan), ‘Povoema Oorkolam’ and ‘Nee Yengae Enn Anbae’ (Chinnathambi), ‘Aattama Therottama’ (Captain Prabhakaran), ‘Maasi Maasam Aalana Ponnu’ (Dharmadurai), ‘Malliye Chinna Mullaye’ and ‘Kaana Karunkuyile’ (Paandidurai), ‘Kuyil Paattu Vandhadenna’ (En Rasaavin Manasile), ‘Malligai Mottu Manasa Thottu’ (Shakthivel), ‘Ennulle Ennulle’ (Valli), ‘Vedalappulla Nesathukku’ (Periya Marudhu), and ‘Rajaadhi Raja Un Thandhirangal’ (Mannan), ‘Malai Kovil Vaasalil (Veera) and ‘Raakkamma Kayyathattu’ from the film Thalapathi.
With Rahman, she sang ‘Raakkozhi Rendum’ (Uzhavan), ‘Usilampatti Pennkutty’ (Gentleman), ‘Madrasa Suthi Paarka’ (May Maadham), ‘Ye Muthu Paappa’ (Vandicholai Chinnaraasu), ‘Mukkala Muqabala’ (Kaadhalan), ‘Evano Oruvan Vaasikkiran’ (Alai Paayuthe), ‘Kuchi Kuchi Raakkamma’ (Bombay), ‘Maayaa Machindra’ (Indian), ‘Anjathe Jeeva (Jodi), Kaadhalenum Thervezhudhi (Kaadhalar Dinam), ‘Mellisaiye’ (Mister Romeo), ‘Ulundu Vidhaikkayile’ (Mudhalvan), ‘Mercury Pookkal’ (Ratchakan), and the few lines in ‘Poonkatrile Unn Suvasathai’ (Uyire).
Swarnalatha battled breathing issues for years. Eventually, it was diagnosed as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare condition.
Swarnalatha’s life was tragically cut short when she passed away on September 12, 2010.
