P SUSHEELA

FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

 

 

 



P SUSHEELA

The Nightingale and Melody Queen

 of South India 

Born on 13 November 1935

 

 

The South Indian Nightingale and Melody Queen PULAPAKA SUSHEELA was born on 13th November 1935 in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh.

 

She remained the ace playback singer in the South Indian film industry singing mainly in Dravidian majors - Tamil, Telegu, Kannada and Malayalam - spanning over six decades - for generations of female artists especially heroines.

 

When she made her foray into the South Indian tinsel world as a playback singer, it was not a cakewalk on the feather-bed for her against the domination of the yesteryear popular singers like Dr ML Vasanthakumari, P Leela, Jamunarani,  and Jikki, among others.

 

Space will run short if an attempt is made here to mention the popular/hit songs sung by her as they are innumerable; so also the awards received by her - both national and international. The following are the highlights:

 

1991 -        Kalaimamani                          Government of Tamil Nadu

 

2004 -        Raghupathi Venkaiah            

                   Award                                   Government of Andhra Pradesh

 

2004 -        Gaana Saraswathi                   Government of Karnataka

 

2008 -        Padma Bhushan                     Government of India

 

2019 -        J Jayalalitha Special

                  Kalaimamani Award               Government of Tamil Nadu

 

She is also the holder of five National Film Awards (1969, 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1983).

  

On 28 January 2016, she entered the Guinness Book of World Records for singing (the highest number of) 17695 songs in 12 Indian languages. Thereafter, she added more thousands to her tally - a record to be etched in golden letters in the history of playback-singing in the celluloid world. The nectarous voice was the ‘shot in the arm’ for her long innings. 

 

Sharp singing acumen and talent and capacity for mellifluous presentation with a natural flair to sustain aural interest were the hallmarks of her career. Her unique voice made the listeners sit up and enjoy her songs differently. The notes she had within would flow out spontaneously from her heart and brain to match real-life experiences. The art of singing to enrapture people was ingrained in her. She improved and improvised her voice throughout to present different emotional feelings, providing the much-needed value addition(s) to her songs.

 

Needless to say, she is synonymous with melody. She proved William James’s saying “I don’t sing because I am happy; I am happy because I sing”, singing being an inseparable part of her life. Even when she sang in a language other than her mother-tongue, it would appear as though she was a native of that language and had profound knowledge in it. None could even imagine or believe that her mother-tongue was a different one.

 

She knew that the only thing better than singing is more singing. That is why she was constantly upgrading her singing skills much to the delight of crores of music-loving people. She had inspired generations of singers including new aspirants and continues to do so.

 

P Susheela had formed a trust in 2008 in her name to confer awards on high performers and help the needy students/artists in the music field. She said she had started the Trust because she wanted to give back something to the music world which had brought her to the position she is in now. Every year, the Trust gives awards to talented Indian male and female playback singers.

 

Long live Susheela-ji.         

         

 

R.SAMPATH

Comments

  1. Aravindan T21 December 2021 at 10:53

    I love P. Susheela's mesmerizing voice. She is all time great.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ramaa V21 December 2021 at 12:44

    Sir P. Susheela is appearing in an advertisement in recent times, and I am still mesmerized by the sweetness of her voice even when she speaks. The few words she utters is as though she is singing. Oh what a great voice and write up on her is also sweet Sir V. Ramaa

    ReplyDelete
  3. johny0721 December 2021 at 21:27

    At the outset I want to compliment you for writing a wonderful birthday presentation on my all time favorite singer.அருமையான பதிவு
    As u correctly said her nectarous voice was a God's gift to P. Suseela. In her interview with famous singer Mano in a TV Programe she informed she was lazy in her childhood days. Her father only encouraged her to sing Carnatic songs. He was so proud of her mellifluous voice. Some her songs are immortal . தமிழுக்கும் அழுதென்று பேர் , ஆலயமணி யின் ஓசையை நான் கேட்டேன் . The list is endless. During bed time if u hear her songs, u will have good sleep. The irony is her mother tongue is Telugu. Initially she was trained to pick up Tamil pronunciation at AVM Studio. And the rest is history. Some of her songs is etched in memory ever. Ravinarayanan

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shanthi Jayaraman22 December 2021 at 09:21

    Shanthi Jayaraman

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shanthi Jayaraman22 December 2021 at 09:23

    Sir yesterday I had posted a comment but i couldn't see it published in your blog. Couldn't understand what went wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shanthi Jayaraman22 December 2021 at 09:37

    I saw your Msg yesterday morning your write up about P. Suseelamma's birthday. Immediately i remembered her famous song Chittukuruvi...To my surprise while i was scrolling down i saw Swaminathan's post about Chittukuruvi in the terrace. I felt may be the Chittukuruvi came just bcoz Susheelamma was remembered by us. Anyhow, nice to remember the golden period of so many decades of good music flown with the contributionof Kannadasan, TMS,MSV,SPB, Janaki ma, Susheelamma, Vani Jayaram, Malaysia, Mano,Chitra....and many more of them. I what i liked most was her crystal clear voice, pronunciation, effortlessly singing even difficult tunes and her switching easily between high and low pitches. Great job. She's always smiling. Though from Andhra her Tamil pronunciation was as good as any other Tamil singers. I wish her a Long life with peace and good health.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Meena22 December 2021 at 15:06

    அருமையான பதிவு சம்பத்.சுசிலாம்மாவின் பாடல்கள் ஒவ்வொன்றும் முத்துக்கள். 'ஒன்றா இரண்டா'. எடுத்தச்சொல்ல.. தாய்மொழி வேறாக இருந்தாலும் அவரின் pronunciation அருமையாக இருக்கும்..எதை சொல்வது எதை விடுவது அவர் நீடூழி வாழவேண்டும்
    மீனா




    ReplyDelete
  8. Ganesh8 January 2022 at 17:04

    Nice article on Susheela

    ReplyDelete

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