Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi passes away

Jayalakshmi, eldest of the Soolamangalam Sisters, passed away due to age related ailments. She was 80.  Jayalakshmi and her younger sister Rajalakshmi were the first Carnatic music sister-pair vocalists and musicians known for their devotional songs in Tamil. 

Family sources said she died due to age related illness at her residence in Thoraipakkam on Wednesday night. As per her last wish, the body was donated to a private hospital for medical research. Rajalakshmi had pre-deceased her by a few years. 

The duo were recipients of the State government’s Kalaimamani award. Born at Soolamangalam village near Ayyampettai in Thanjavur, the two sisters were the first to sing Carnatic music as a duo, starting a trend leading to the famous Bombay Sisters, Ranjani-Gayatri and others. 

Their devotional and spiritual songs were more popular compared to those of others, especially Kandashashti Kavasam, which created a record in sale at the global-level.