P. Susheela
P. Suseela | |
|---|---|
 Susheela in 2014 | |
| Born | Pulapaka Suseela 13 November 1935 |
| Other names | Evergreen Nightingale of Indian cinema Gaana Kokila Gaana Saraswathi Melody Queen Ghandarva Gayaki |
| Alma mater | Andhra University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse |
Mohan Rao
(m.1957; died 1990) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals,Veena |
| Website | psusheela |
Pulapaka Suseela(born 13 November 1935) is an Indian playback singer associated with the South Indian cinema primarily fromAndhra Pradeshfor over six decades and is referred to as the "Evergreen Nightingale of Indian cinema". She is one of the greatest and best-known playback singers in India. She has been recognized by theGuinness Book of World Recordsas well as by theAsia Book of Recordsfor performing a record number of songs in different Indian languages.[1]She is also the recipient of fiveNational Film Award for Best Female Playback Singerand numerous state awards.[2][3]Susheela is widely acclaimed as a singer who defined feminism[4]in South Indian cinema and is well known for her mellifluous[5][6]vocal performances[7]for over 50,000 (counted as per records) film and devotional songs[8]across South Indian languages.
The song "Naalai Intha Velai"[9]from Tamil filmUyarndha Manidhanbrought her the first award at the16th National Film Awards,[10][11]by winning her theNational Film Award for Best Female Playback Singerin 1969. Susheela became the first female singer in the country to win the national award. She is also considered one of the rich voiced singers whose pronunciation of the syllables are to be very clear and precise in any of the languages she sang.[12]In a career spanning more than six decades, she has recorded nearly 17695 songs in variousIndian languagesincludingTelugu,Tamil,Kannada,Malayalam,Hindi,Bengali,Odia,Sanskrit,Tulu,andBadaga.She has also sung forSinhalesefilms. Her mother tongue isTelugu.She can also speakTamilfluently, with a little knowledge ofHindi,MalayalamandKannada.
Personal life[edit]
Susheela was born in [Andhra Pradesh], India, as the daughter of Pulapaka Mukunda Rao, a leading advocate in Vizianagaram, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh State. She was married to Dr. Mohan Rao, who died in 1990; they have a son named Jayakrishna. Her niece, Sandhya Jayakrishna, who later became her daughter-in-law, is a singer who debuted withA. R. RahmaninIruvar.Susheela has two grand daughters, one of whom is Shuba Sri, the lead guitarist with music directorThaman S.
Education[edit]
After schooling, Susheela joined Maharaja's Music College under the tutelage ofDwaram Venkataswamy Naiduwho was the Principal, in Vizianagaram, and completed Diploma in Music from Andhra University in First Class.
P. Susheela went on to become the most successful playback singer of South India from 1950 to 1990.
Career[edit]
Debut: 1951–1954[edit]
Born into a music-loving family, Susheela had been nurtured with formal classical music training at a very young age. She used to participate in all the musical competitions at her school and Vizianagaram town events. She developed the crucial nuances in singing songs with apt expressions and modulations through her extensive training during those days. She also sang a few songs for theAll India Radio(AIR) for their private program telecasts.
In 1951, music directorPendyala Nageswara Raowas on the look out for some fresh voices to sing for his new film compositions. He approached the AIR to help him shortlist some of the finest singers who have performed for the Radio. AIR sent forward five singers of whom Susheela was selected after some thorough audition tests. She was immediately signed on for the Tamil filmPetra Thai(1952) for a duet song "Edhuku Azhaithhai" withA. M. Raja.[12]This was subsequently made in Telugu asKanna Tallifor which she recorded the same duet withGhantasala.This resulted in her long term employment withAVM Studiossinging for their productions alone with a fixed monthly salary. The studio ownerA. V. Meiyappanhired a Tamil trainer for Susheela to hone her Tamil pronunciation skills. Thus Susheela began her illustrious career gaining abundant knowledge about music and language. She debuted into Kannada language with the filmMaadidunno Maarayain 1954.[13]
Breakthrough: 1955 – 1960[edit]
It was not easy for a newcomer to foray into the musical scene in the 1950s with the domination of eminent female vocalists likeP. Leela,M. L. Vasanthakumari,Jikkiamong others ruling the playback industry. Yet, Susheela made her own mark with her distinct and clear vocals. The year 1955 saw Susheela rising to popularity with her back to back hit songs both in Tamil and Telugu film industries.Missammareleased in 1955 had hugely popular songs backed with strong carnatic classical essence. Susheela created a huge impact among the listeners with her effortless renditions of the toughest notations. The same year released Tamil filmKanavane Kan Kanda Deivammade her a household name in Tamil Nadu.[12]
Thus began a huge legacy of Susheela, who sang in almost all the films produced since 1955 through 1960s and 1970s till 1985. The legendary Tamil musiciansViswanathan–Ramamurthyduo composed some of the most evergreen songs ofTamilcinema history in the voice of Susheela. Her duets with the acclaimed singersGhantasalain Telugu,T. M. Soundararajanin Tamil andP. B. Srinivasin Kannada marked a new era of duet songs in the South Indian music industry. She, along with T. M. Soundararajan went on to record hundreds of songs with Viswanathan – Ramamurthy.[12]Susheela's blockbuster Kannada song "Viraha Nooru Nooru Taraha" for the filmEdakallu Guddada Meleis listed as one of the top 10 evergreen songs in Indian cinema. Her combination with actressJayanthiis very popular inKarnataka.[14]
Successful domination: 1960 – 1985[edit]
The early 1960s saw Susheela grow as an undisputed lead female singer across all the south Indian language films putting all the older veteran singers to the background. The year 1960 saw Susheela entering the Malayalam films with theV. Dakshinamurthycompositions for the filmSeetha.From then, she went on to record numerous hit songs with all the Malayalam composers likeG. Devarajan,M. K. Arjunanamong others. She recorded many Malayalam duets with the veteran singerK. J. Yesudas.Her association with M.S. Viswanathan continued even after M.S.V split up with Ramamoorthy in 1965 and under M.S.V her duets with T.M. Sounderrajan and others and her solo songs were very popular with the audience and made her first choice singer for every other music composer and film producer from 1960 to 1985. M.S.V.'s composition fetched her the firstNational Film Award for Best Female Playback Singerin 1969 for her prolific rendition of "Naalai Intha Velai Paarthu" for the Tamil filmUyarndha Manidhan.The same song got her theTamil Nadu State Awardas well.[15]Thereby, Susheela became one of the first recipients of the most dignified National awards in India. It was during these years the Nightingale of India,Lata Mangeshkardeveloped a strong friendship with Susheela and praised her works frequently. Her work in the Telugu film Chandipriya is superb with song "Sri Bhagya Rekha - Janani Janani" with Jaya Prada's superb dance.M.S.Viswanathanis regarded as her mentor and in his music direction she has maximum popular hit songs from 1955 to 1995.
The 1970s also saw Susheela in her prime form winning almost all the awards both nationally and in all the four states of Southern India. She also recorded Hindi songs during this period with music directors likeKV Mahadevan,Laxmikant Pyarelal,L. Vaidyanathanand Laxmi Kiran, S.L. Manohar, Ajit merchant, G. Devarajan and S.N. Tripathi. It was in this era that she sang a few notable songs for another prolific Indian music directorIlaiyaraja.Though Janaki took a leading position from 1980 with her strong association with M.S.V and Ilaiyaraja, Susheela continued to be at the top till 1985 and after 1985 was still opted by several music directors for her legendary vocals. After 1986, she became selective about film songs and continued to have hit film songs till 2005.
Shift to non-films: 1985– 2000s[edit]
WithS. JanakiandVani Jayaramtaking over the Southern film songs center stage from 1985 andK. S. Chitrabeginning her career, Susheela slowly shifted her focus from films to devotionals and light music. But she continued to sing melodious film songs from 1984 to 1999 though she had after 1985 cut down on offers for singing in films. She even won awards for songs in Telugu films –Viswanatha Nayakuduin 1987,Godavari Pongindiin 1989 and Tamil filmVaramin 1989. She sang duets in Hindi with Kishore Kumar in 1986 for the filmSinghasan– "Chalta Hai Do Dilon Ka Kaise Sansaar" and "Tere Liye Maine Janam" which became popular. She also concentrated more on stage shows across the Globe where many associations worldwide invited her to perform for their organised shows. She recorded more than 1000 devotional songs for various audio companies. In 1988, acclaimed music composerNaushadinsisted her to sing "Janaki Jaane" for his Malayalam filmDhwani.She also recorded a few of her career best songs forIllayaraja,A. R. Rahmanand others in the 1990s. "Kannukku Mai Azhagu" from the filmPudhiya Mugam(1993) composed by Rahman was praised all over for its lyrical content and rendition. She had hit songs in Tamil till 2005 and sang many devotional and folk songs from 1986 to 2005 and did many live shows from 1990 to 2005.
Comeback: 2005– present[edit]
Susheela made a comeback by rendering her voice to her own songRaksha Raksha Jaganmathawhich was released 72 years ago and was released as a single for the movie,Aadai,starringAmala Paul.[16] Susheela also recorded a Tamil song for the film 'LKG' in 2018, alongsideVani Jayaram&L.R.Eswari.Her superhit song 'Elluvochi' from the Telugu film 'Devatha' was reprised in her own voice for the filmGaddalakonda Ganeshin 2019 underMickey J Meyer's supervision.
P. Susheela Trust[edit]
The P. Susheela Trust, formed in 2008, has a monthly pension payment scheme and a few musicians in need are being benefited through it. On every 13 November there would be a musical concert during which a senior artist(s) chosen by a panel is conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award and the P Susheela Trust award. The proceedings of the concert would go towards the Trust maintenance.[17]
The Lifetime achievement awards so far have been conferred uponT. M. SoundararajanandP. B. Srinivas.The recipients of the Trust's awards so far areS. Janaki,Vani Jairam,L. R. Eswari,P. Jayachandran,S. P. BalasubrahmanyamandK. J. Yesudas.
Guinness World Records[edit]
As verified on 28 January 2016, Susheela has reportedly recorded up to 17,695 solo, duet and chorus backed songs in over six Indian languages since the 1960s, not counting some lost early recordings. She has now been recognized by both the Guinness Book of World Records and Asia Book of Records for singing most songs in Indian languages.[18]
Statistics[edit]
Telugu[edit]
Susheela has sung more than 12000 songs inTelugu.S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's first duet in Telugu was with P. Susheela. "SPB has sung his first song with me", says the legendary P. Susheela and SPB recorded more than 4000 duets with P. Susheela. She has recorded more than 2000 songs to K.V.Mahadevan's music. She has recorded more than 2500 songs to K.Chakravarthy's music. She won three national awards for Telugu songs. Before going to USA and UK (in the late '70s), Susheela and SPB recorded 19 duets in one day over 18 hours in addition to a few solo songs.
Tamil[edit]
She has sung more than 6000 songs inTamil,including devotionals. She has sung around 1000 duets withT. M. Soundara Rajan.She also rendered more than 1500 Songs inMSVmusic. She won two national awards for Tamil songs.
Kannada[edit]
Susheela has recorded more than 5000 songs inKannada.She has performed numerous duets withGhantasalaandP. B. Srinivas,and also a few duets with legendary actor and singerDr. Rajkumar.Her duets with P. B. Srinivas are considered some of the evergreen songs ofKannada Film Industry.S. P. Balasubramaniam's first Kannada songKanasido NanasidofromNakkare Ade Swargawas a duet with Susheela.[19][20]
Malayalam[edit]
She has sung more than 1500 songs in Malayalam. The musicianDevarajangave her more than 300 songs (in all languages).[21]
Other languages[edit]
Susheela has sung more than 300 songs in other languages, including 100 film songs inHindi,120 devotional songs inSanskrit,and 9 film songs inSinhalese.[22]She has also sung in Bengali, Punjabi, Tulu, Baduga, and Oriya languages.
Awards[edit]
Civilian and State Government honours[edit]
| Year | Award | Honouring Body |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Kalaimamani | Government of Tamil Nadu |
| 2004 | Raghupathi Venkaiah Award | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Gaana Saraswathi | Government of Karnataka | |
| 2008 | Padma Bhushan | Government of India |
| 2019 | J. Jayalalithaa Special Kalaimamani Award | Government of Tamil Nadu |
National Film Awards[edit]
She was the first recipient of the national award for female playback singing in 1969.
| Year | Movie | Song | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Uyarndha Manithan | Naalai Intha Velai Parthu | Tamil |
| 1971 | Savaale Samali | Chittuk Kuruvikkenna Kattuppaadu | |
| 1978 | Siri Siri Muvva | Jummandi Naadham | Telugu |
| 1982 | Meghasandesam | Aakulo Aakunai | |
| 1983 | M.L.A. Edu Kondalu | Entha Beeda Vade |
Filmfare Awards South[edit]
State Awards[edit]
| Year | Award | Movie | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Tamil Nadu State Award | Uyarntha Manithan/Lakshmi Kalyanam | "Paal Polave Vaan" / "Brindavanathukku" |
| 1971 | Kerala State Award | Oru Penninte Katha | "Poonthen Aruvi Ponmudi Puzhayude" |
| 1975 | Kerala State Award | Chuvanna Sandyakal | "Poovukalku Punya Kaalam" |
| 1977 | Nandi Award | Daana Veera Soora Karna | "Kalagantino Swamy" |
| 1978 | Nandi Award | Naalaaga Endaro | "Kalyanini Kanulunna Manusuku Kanipinchu" |
| 1981 | Tamil Nadu State Award | Anbulla Athaan | "Aazhakkadal Neenthi Vanthen" |
| 1982 | Nandi Award | Meghasandesam | "Aakulo Aakunai" |
| 1984 | Nandi Award | Sangeetha Samrat | "Entha Sogasugaade" |
| 1987 | Nandi Award | Viswanatha Nayakudu | "Kavi Jana Samaaja Bhoja" |
| 1989 | Nandi Award | Godavari Pongindi | "Eppatla Godavari Pravahistondi" |
| 1989 | Tamil Nadu State Award | Varam | "Magane Magane Kannurangu" |
| 2002 | Nandi Award | Many movies | Many songs |
Other Awards[edit]
- "Kamban Pugazh" award from All Ceylon Kamban Kazhakam, Sri Lanka, 2016
- Best singer of the decade Award from Dr. Subbarami Reddy in 2001
- Lifetime Achievement Awardat7th South Indian International Movie Awards
| bharathi daasan award by Tamil Nadu Govt - |
| KalaimaamaNi award by Tamil Nadu Govt- 1991 |
| Raghupati Venkaiah Award award by Andhra Pradesh Govt. -2004 |
| kamukara award by kerala Govt. |
| Screen -videocon lifetime achievement award -1996 |
| LifeTime Achievement Award by American Telugu Association - 10 July 2004 at Chicago, USA. |
| Sangeetha Kala bharathi by Detroit Telugu Association (1979) |
| Telugu Association of North America – 1995 |
| Awards for Excellence by IAAFA in 1993 |
| Telugu Association of Southern California – 1995 |
| AVM ’50 award – 1997 |
| North American Alumini Association |
| DTA – 1989 |
| Madhura Gaana Madhuri Award |
| Award by Telugu Association of Greater Chicago |
| K.B.Sundaramabal Award |
| K.V.Rao Jyothi Rao award -1999 |
| Ghantasala Award for 2003 (11/22/2003) |
| Tamilnadu MGR Cine Cultural Academy Award -1994 |
| Subbaraami reddy award -1996 |
| Award by Indian Performing Rights Society |
| Award Presented at Andhra Pradesh Rashtra Yuva Janostav |
| Bharath kalachar -2001 (gaana kala bharathi) |
| Kala Saagar Award |
| Award – Tribute To Shivaji -2003 |
| Jayshree International – Life Time Achievement Award – Kalabushan ( presented by Smt Jayachitra) |
| Thyagaraja Ganasabha – Only singer to be presented this award by Thyagraja Ganasabha Andhra Pradesh. |
| Krishna Pushkara Award |
| Yesudas Award |
| Kamukara – Lifetime Achievement Award |
| Gaana Saraswathi by Sangeeth Melody Orchestra |
| Aasthana Gayini in Shri Kalahasthi Shiva Temple |
| Madras film fans association award - 26 times |
| Dr. Rajkumar Award-2020by Raghavendra Chitravani Foundation |
Discography[edit]
1950s[edit]
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | "Chandana Charchita Nila Kalebara", "Thennavan Thaai Nattu Singaarame" | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | A. Maruthakasi,K. S. Gopalakrishnan | |
| 1958 | Uthama Puthiran | "Mullai Malar Mele", "Anbe Amudhey", "Unnazhagai Kanniyargal" | G. Ramanathan | A. Maruthakasi,K. S. Gopalakrishnan | |
| 1958 | Sabaash Meena | "Aanaaga Pirandhadhellam", "Kaanaa Inbam Kannidhadheno", "Erungammaa Summaa Erungammaa" | T. G. Lingappa | K. Jamuna Rani,T. A. Mothi,J. P. Chandrababu,T. G. Lingappa |
1960s[edit]
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Kaavalkaaran | "Ninaithen Vanthai", "Mellappo Mellappo", "Kattazhagu Thangamagal" | M. S. Viswanathan | Vaali,Alangudi Somu | |
| 1967 | Sakshi | "Atu Yennela Itu Yennela", "Dayaledha Neeku Dayaledha", "Silipoda Sinnoda Cheera Dochukunnoda", "Amma Kadupu Challaga" | K. V. Mahadevan | Aarudra,Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu | Ghantasala,P B Srinivas |
| 1969 | Deiva Magan | "Kaathalikka Katrukollungal", "Koottathileya Yarthan" | M. S. Viswanathan | Kannadasan |
1980s[edit]
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Swati Mutyam | "Laali Laali" | Ilaiyaraaja | C. Narayana Reddy | |
| 1988 | Swarnakamalam | "Ghallu Ghallu" | Ilaiyaraaja | Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| "Shiva Poojaku" | |||||
| "Koluvai Vunnade" |
1990s[edit]
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Coolie No. 1 | "Kalaya Nijama" | Ilaiyaraaja | Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Dalapathi(D) | "Aada Janmaku" | Ilaiyaraaja | Rajasri | ||
| 1993 | Padmavyuham(D) | "Kannulaku Choopandam" (Female) | A. R. Rahman | Rajasri | |
| 1995 | Kunti putrudu | "Gummalu Thommidi" (Female) | Ilaiyaraaja |
References[edit]
- ^Naig, Udhav (29 March 2016)."P. Susheela enters Guinness World Records".The Hindu.Retrieved4 May2020.
- ^"Happy Birthday PSusheela".IndiaGlitz.13 November 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.
- ^"About".The Southern Nightingale.
- ^Amanda Weidman."South Asian Popular Culture Voices of Meenakumari: Sound, meaning, and self-fashioning in performances of an item number".
- ^"Voice defying age".The Hindu.14 April 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2014.
- ^"A well composed tribute to a veteran singer".The Hindu.17 March 2009.
- ^"Accent is on novelty".The Hindu.18 May 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2015.
- ^"Melody Queen P. Susheela - Interviews".psusheela.org.
- ^Dore, Shalini (19 July 2013)."Tamil Songwriter Vaali Dies at 83".Variety.
- ^"Sixteenth National Awards For Films"(PDF).13 February 1970. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 February 2012.
- ^Times of India, Entertainment."National Awards Winners 1968: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1968".timesofindia.indiatimes.Archived fromthe originalon 11 May 2021.Retrieved11 August2021.
- ^abcd"Melody Queen P. Susheela - About Smt. P. Susheela".psusheela.org.
- ^"Untitled Document".psusheela.org.
- ^Sunayana Suresh (26 February 2017)."P. Susheela enters the Guinness world records".The Times of India.Retrieved1 August2022.
- ^"Melody Queen P. Susheela".psusheela.org.
- ^"Legendary singer, P Susheela, sings for Amala Paul's Aadai".Cinema Express.
- ^"All for the noble cause of music".14 May 2012.
- ^"Singer P Susheela enters Guinness World Records".@businessline.29 March 2016.
- ^"Melody Queen P. Susheela - Kannada Page".psusheela.org.
- ^"Melody Still Rules Kannada Music, Says SPB".The New Indian Express.6 August 2014.
- ^"Melody Queen P. Susheela - Malayalam Page".psusheela.org.
- ^"Melody Queen P. Susheela - Hindi".psusheela.org.
- ^"Filmfare Awards presented".Telugucinema.Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2009.Retrieved5 August2009.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1935 births
- Living people
- Telugu playback singers
- Indian women playback singers
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
- Kannada playback singers
- Kerala State Film Award winners
- Malayalam playback singers
- Hindi-language singers
- Tamil playback singers
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
- Andhra University alumni
- 20th-century Indian singers
- 20th-century Indian women singers
- Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh
- Singers from Andhra Pradesh
- 21st-century Indian singers
- 21st-century Indian women singers
- Best Female Playback Singer National Film Award winners
- People from Vizianagaram district
- People from Uttarandhra
- South Indian International Movie Awards winners
- People from Vizianagaram
- Women musicians from Andhra Pradesh
- Indian women musicians
- Filmfare Awards South winners
- Nandi Award winners