Playback singer MS Rajeswari dies at 87

Noted playback singer M S Rajeswari, popular among thousands of music lovers in Tamil Nadu, died of old age-related ailments in Chennai on Wednesday. She was 87 years old.

After making her debut in AVM Studio’s Nam iruvar way back in 1947, and following it up the next year with another film from the production house, Vedhala Ulagam, Rajeswari went on to lend her voice to more than 500 songs in various south Indian languages. Thenaali Raamaa Nee from the film Sivarathiri in 1993 was the last song she sung.

In the intervening decades, she has performed with the top names of south Indian film music, including doyens like TM Soundarrajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, AM Rajah, KJ Yesudas and SP Balasubramanyam, with whom she sung a wide range of memorable songs that are popular among the masses even today. She was chosen by the icons including KV Mahadevan, MS Vishwanathan, composer duo Shankar-Ganesh and Ilaiyaraaja among others.

The song Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye from Kamal Haasan’s Kalathur Kannama is widely considered to be one of the best songs Rajeswari ever sang. Other noted songs include O Rasikkum Seemane in the cult film Parasakthi starring Shivaji Ganesan, and Naan Sirithaal Deepavali from –Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan team’s film Nayagan.

However, despite making a mark with these songs, she is more popular for lending her voice to child artists. Popular among them are Sundalikum Sundalikum Thirumanamam (KaidhiKanaiyiram) and Chittu Kuruvi Chittu Kuruvi Sedhi Theriyuma (Town Bus). Even when she became old, directors continued to choose Rajeswari in the 1990s, finding her voice suited for the then popular child actors like ‘Baby’ Shamili among others.

She was one of the veteran artistes who were felicitated by the government during the event held to honour some of the senior-most members of the film fraternity in 2013.

After news about her death came out on Wednesday evening, many noted film personalities expressed shock and offered condolences. Her mortal remains would be kept at Chrompet to pay respect. The funeral would be held at her home on Thursday.