Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 1: Veteran playback singer Jamuna Rani, who enchanted audiences with her versatile voice across South Indian cinema for several decades, passed away in Bengaluru on Thursday due to age-related ailments. She was 88.
A celebrated singer in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Sinhalese films, Jamuna Rani recorded more than 6,000 songs during her illustrious career. She emerged as one of the most recognisable playback voices of the 1950s and 1960s, leaving behind a rich musical legacy.
Jamuna Rani began her playback singing career at the age of seven with a song in the Telugu film Tyagaya. She also sang the child version of the popular song "O Devadas" in Devadas.
She entered the film industry during an era dominated by legendary singers such as Jikki, P. Leela and M. L. Vasanthakumari. Despite strong competition, she established herself with her distinctive voice and became especially known for singing for the renowned Travancore Sisters, Lalitha and Padmini, whose dance performances featured prominently in several films of the period.
Her career received a major boost after joining Modern Theatres, where her versatility and ability to sing across different musical styles and languages helped her become one of the leading playback singers of her generation.
Apart from playback singing, Jamuna Rani frequently performed in stage shows alongside singer Mano. Their performances, blending different musical influences, were widely appreciated for their distinctive folk flavour.
Paying tribute to the singer in an interaction with The Hindu, Mano recalled her exceptional vocal range, saying she could effortlessly match T. M. Soundararajan in the iconic song "Yaaradi Nee Mohini" from the Uthama Puthiran, describing it as a hugely popular Western-style composition.
Some of Jamuna Rani's most enduring songs include "Senthamizh Then Mozhiyal", "Yaaradi Nee Mohini", "Kungumapoove Konjum Purave", "Mama Mama Mama", "Kaalai Vayasu Kattana Size", and "Paattondru Ketten". She also rendered the popular song "Naan Sirithaal Deepavali" in the Kamal Haasan-starrer Nayakan.
Her passing marks the end of an era in South Indian playback singing, with her timeless songs continuing to resonate with generations of music lovers.