Vani Jairam – Popular Playback Singer of ‘Guddi’ fame

Vani Jairam (1945–2023) was a popular female playback singer of yesterdays, who predominantly worked in the South Indian film industry. She also has a few hit Bollywood songs to her credit, apart from a few songs in Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Assamese, Tulu, and Bengali languages. This singing legend has sung in 19 languages and has recorded more than 10,000 film songs and thousands of devotional songs. The recipient of the prestigious National Award for best female playback singer thrice, Vani is often referred to as “Meera of modern India”.

Early Life and Musical Journey of Vani Jairam

Vani Jairam was a winner of numerous accolades, including three National Film Awards in the Best Playback Singing category, four state awards, one Filmfare Award, and many more. One week before her death, on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day, her name was announced in the list of Padma award winners. She was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, her first Padma award, after a long wait of 50 years in her singing career.

On 4 February 2023, the acclaimed playback singer was found dead at her residence in Nungambakkam, Chennai. She had an injury on her forehead. It was her wedding anniversary day, and she was living alone in her apartment ever since her husband passed away in 2018. The couple had no children.

Vani Jairam was born as Kalaivani into a musical family in Vellore

Kalaivani is her birth name. She was born on 30 November 1945 into a family in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, with 9 kids. She was the 5^th daughter of the Duraisamy Iyengar–Padmavathi couple. Both her parents were trained musicians, and Vani received her early music lessons from her mother, followed by Ranga Ramunaja Iyengar. She learnt Muthuswami Dikshitar kritis from her guru.

Later, she took formal lessons in Carnatic music from Kadalur Srinivas Iyengar, T. R. Balasubramanian and R. S. Mani. Since childhood, she was also attracted to Hindi film songs, and later learnt Hindustani music, which helped her a lot in singing Bollywood songs. In fact, she began her film journey with Bollywood films before fully switching to South Indian cinema.

She was married into a family of musicians

Vani completed her school and college education in Chennai and started her professional career as a banker with the State Bank of India, Chennai. In 1967, her job was transferred to Hyderabad. After she decided to concentrate on singing, she quit her banking career in the 1970s. She married Jairam in 1969 and moved to Mumbai.

It was Jairam who persuaded Vani to learn Hindustani classical music, and she enrolled under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan of the Patiala gharana, who taught her thumri, ghazal, and bhajan. In the same year, she gave her first public concert. Very soon, she resigned from her banking job and took up music as her profession. Her mother-in-law, Padma Swaminathan, was also a musician and the daughter of activist F. G. Natesa Iyer. Famous violinist and musician N. Rajam is her sister-in-law. So, she received full support from the family to pursue a musical career.

She recorded a Marathi album with singer Kumar Gandharva in 1969

In 1969, composer Vasant Desai happened to hear her voice and offered her a song alongside famous singer Kumar Gandharva for a Marathi album. Thus, she recorded her first-ever song in Marathi language, “Runanubandhacha“. Vani Jayram continued singing classical and devotional songs, both for filmy and non-filmy albums, for which she is popular among North Indian listeners. Meera by Pt. Ravi Shankar is one such exceptional work, which gave her the prestigious Filmfare award for best playback singing in Hindi.

Vani Jairam’s Film Debut 

Vani’s film career started with Guddi in 1971

Vani Jairam had made up her mind to pursue singing in Hindi films when she was barely in her teens. She was a huge fan of Hindi songs and loved listening to hit numbers on Binaca Geetmala. But she kept it as a secret wish initially. It made her mom a little bit sad, as she wanted Vani to pursue Carnatic music. Just like she dreamt, she joined Bollywood, and the songs composed by Vasant Desai catapulted her to dizzying heights overnight.

Guddi, which marked the screen debut of Jaya Bhaduri, also marked the playback singing career of Vani. She is still known in Bollywood for the couple of songs – Bole Re Papihara and Humko Mann Ki Shakti Dena – recorded for the film, though she sang 300 songs in Hindi. She received occasional hits through Pyar Kabhi Kam Na Karna Sanam in Ek Mutthi Aasman, a duet with Mukesh composed by Madan Mohan, and Teri Jheel Si Gehri Aankhon Mein, a duet with Nitin Mukesh in Dhuen Ki Lakeer.

By that time, she became busy with South Indian films and mostly recorded bhajans or songs belonging to mythological films in Hindi, for which she is known. Yet, Vani got the opportunity to record songs with Madan Mohan, Jaidev, Kalyanji–Anandji, Naushad, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R. D. Burman, O. P. Nayyar, Bappi Lahiri, and many other legends belonging to the era, though she had only a few songs to her credit.

When Lata Mangeshkar opted out of Gulzar’s project, Meera, Vani Jairam got the opportunity to record songs with Pandit Ravi Shankar for the first song. Of the 13 songs recorded, Vani Jairam sang 12 songs. The track Mere To Giridhar Gopal was immensely popular and also bagged her a Filmfare Award. She received a Filmfare nomination for the song “Ayri Main To Prem Diwani” too. After that, she mostly received bhajans and similar kinds of songs rather than romantic tracks. Her beautiful songs in Bansi Birju, Hai Re Saajan Mosey Kahe Kare Barjori, and Aaya Hai Koi Khayaal, composed by Vijay Raghav Rao, also failed to make any impact. She recorded Mora Saajan Sauten Ghar Jaaye of Pakeezah for Naushad.

Vani recorded her first Malayalam song for Salil Chowdhury

When she got her first offer from Malayalam, she was already a known figure in Hindi film music, after the success of a couple of songs in Guddi. Sourayoodhathil Vidarnoru from Swapnam was her first Malayalam song, and since then, she remained one of the most popular playback singers from Mollywood, recording thousands of songs in this language.

After Swapnam, she recorded Chitra Varna of Ayalathe Sundari, Padma Theertha Karayil of Babumon, Maamalayile Poomaram of Aparadhi etc. She recorded maximum Malayalam songs with Sreekumaran Thampi – M. K. Arjunan team, and Yesudas. Most of the songs have a ‘Kerala’ touch and still hold a nostalgic feel.

Her glorious years and comeback

She recorded the maximum number of hit duets with Yesudas. Though they sang together in all South Indian languages, her big hits belong to Malayalam. ‘Maavin Kombiloru Maina’ from Pravaham was their first recorded song. Their second duet, ‘Vaalkkanezhuthi’ from Picnic, is perhaps the most popular one. Yesudas calls her a purist, and they recorded their final song for the movie Action Hero Baiju. In the 1990s, she became less active, and in 2013, she made a glorious comeback by recording Olanjali Kuruvi alongside Jayachandran. She also owns countless hit songs in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

Vani Jairam – Top Hit Malayalam Film Songs

Though Malayalam was not Vani Jairam’s mother tongue, she had a perfect Malayalam dialect, and she recorded songs with almost all leading music directors of the 1970s, 1980s, and even the 2000s. Even after years, her voice never faded. The best instance is the couple of songs she recorded for Abrid Shine movies, which became immensely popular and also bagged her a nomination at the Filmfare Awards. Some of Vani Jairam’s most popular Malayalam songs are listed below.

1. Valkannezhuthi from Picnic (1975), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Sreekumaran Thampi, Music: M. K. Arjunan
2. Thedi Thedi Njan Alanju from Sindhu (1975), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Sreekumaran Thampi, Music: M. K. Arjunan
3. Maanasa Sancharare from Shankarabharanam (1980), Lyrics: Sadashiva Brahmendra Swamy, Music: K. V. Mahadevan
4. Manjil Chekkerum from Raktham (1981), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: R. K. Damodharan, Music: Johnson
5. Karuna Cheyvaan from Gaanam (1982), Lyrics: Irayimman Thampi, Music: V. Dakshinamoorthy
6. Etho Janma Kanpanayil from Palangal (1982), Lyrics: Poovachal Khadar, Music: Johnson
7. Olanjaali Kuruvi from 1983 (2014), Co-singer: Jayachandran, Lyrics: B. K. Harinarayanan, Music: Gopi Sundar
8. Pookkal Panineer from Action Hero Biju (2016), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Santhosh Varma, Music: Rajesh Murugesan
9. Peythalinja Nimisham from Captain (2018), Co-singer: P. Jayachandran, Lyrics: B. K. Harinarayanan, Music: Gopi Sundar
10. Thiruvona Pulari Than from Thiruvonam (1975), Lyrics: Sreekumaran Thampi, Music: M. K. Arjunan
11. Kurumozhi Mulla Poove from Ee Gaanam Marakkumo (1978), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: O. N. V. Kurup, Music: Salil Chowdhury
12. Manassin Madiyile from Manathe Vellitheru (1994), Co-singer: Chithra & Solo Version, Lyrics: Shibu Chakravarthy, Music: Johnson
13. Dhoomthana from Thomasleeha (1975), Lyrics: Sebastian Joseph, Music: Salil Chowdhury
14. Aashada Maasam song from Yuddha Bhoomi (1976), Lyrics: Mankomb Gopala Krishnan, Music: R. K. Shekhar
15. Seemantha Rekhayil from Aasheerwaadam (1977), Lyrics: Bharanikkavu Sivakumar, Music: M. K. Arjunan
16. Kizhakkonnu Thuduthaal and Thappo Thappo from Puzha (1980), Lyrics: P. Bhaskaran, Music: M. K. Arjunan
17. Sourayoodhathil Vidarnoru from Swapnam (1973), Lyrics: O. N. V. Kurup, Music: Salil Chowdhury
18. Olangalilulayum from Sandhya Mayangum Neram (1983), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: O. N. V. Kurup, Music: Shyam
19. Manjadi Kunnil from Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala, Music: Jerry Amaldev
20. Manjani Kombil from Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala, Music: Jerry Amaldev
21. Naadan Paattile Maina from Raagam (1975), Lyrics: Vayalar, Music: Salil Chowdhury
22. Onnaanam Kunnil Mel from Air Hostess (1980), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: O. N. V. Kurup, Music: Salil Chowdhury
23. Saugandhikangal Vidarnnu from Mahabali (1983), Co-singer: Krishnachandran, Lyrics: Pappanamcode Lakshmanan, Music: M. K. Arjunan
24. Sangamam Ee Poomkaavanam from Koodum Thedi (1985), Co-singer: Krishnachandran, Lyrics: MD Rajendran, Music: Jerry Amaldev
25. Padma Theertha Karayil from Babumon (1975), Lyrics: Mankombu Gopalakrishnan, Music: M. S. Viswanathan
26. Manathe Marikurumbe from Pulimurugan (2016), Lyrics: Rafeek Ahmed, Music: Gopi Sundar
27. Aayilyam Paadathe Penne from Raasaleela (1975), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Vayalar, Music: Salil Choudhry
28. Swarna Meeninte from Sarpam (1979), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, SPB, Susheela, Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala, Music: K. J. Joy
29. Panjavarna Kilivaalan Thalirvettila Thinnitto from Kannappanunni (1977), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: P Bhaskaran, Music: K Raghavan
30. Ponnalayil Ammanamadi from Devadasi (1979), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: ONV, Music: Salil Choudhary
31. Muthum Mudi Ponnum from Prema Geethangal (1981), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Devdas, Music: Johnson
32. Devi Sridevi from Premabhishekam (1982), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Poovachal Khadar, Music: Gangai Amaran
33. Mazhakkala Megham Onnu from Premabhishekam (1982), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Poovachal Khadar, Music: Gangai Amaran
34. Veene Ninne Meettaan from Bharya Oru Manthri (1986), Co-singer: K. J. Yesudas, Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala, Music: Kannur Rajan

Vani Jairam – Some interesting and lesser-known facts

1. She started singing for AIR, Chennai, at the age of 8.

2. She is fondly called Vani Amma in the film circle, as well as by fans.

3. She recorded her first two duets with Yesudas for the Sreekumaran Thampi – M. K. Arjunan team.

4. After she recorded Olanjali Kuruvi aside Jayachandran, making a glorious comeback, the film director’s and the composer’s eyes were filled with tears. This soulful melody became one of the top chartbusters of the year.

5. Her popular song Bole re papihara set on Hindustani raga “Miyan Malhar” finished 22nd in the radio countdown show, Binaca Geetmala’s annual programme in 1972. Also, she received the Mian Tansen Award for Best Film Playback Singer of ‘Classical Song’ in Films.

6. She used to shuttle between Mumbai and Chennai for her recordings, and many recordings in both cities were done on the same day.

7. She received three National Awards for Ezhu Swarangalukkul (Apoorva Raagangal), different songs for Shankarabharanam and Anathineeyara Hara (Swathi Kiranam), 2 for Telugu and one for Tamil. Shankarabharanam also earned her Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

8. She received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for Azhagae Unnai Aradhikkiren and the Gujarat State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Ghoongat. Despite recording numerous hit songs in Malayalam, she never earned a Kerala state award.

9. Kadaloor Sreenivasa Iyengar, guru of her elder sister, was once surprised to see the grasping power of the 5-year old Vani when he taught her a few Dikshitar kritis. Throughout her professional career, musicians and her co-singers have always acknowledged her grasping power (to learn songs).