VANI JAIRAM

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

  

VANI JAIRAM

(30 November 1945 - 4 February 2023)

On 4^th February 2023, the mellifluous and honey-dropping voice of the veteran, multi-lingual, and versatile VANI JAIRAM (Kalaivani) became silent - suddenly and eternally. 

She was born in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Her singing career spanned over 50 years. Her voice and versatility had a perfect sync complementing and enriching each other.

She had sung over 10000 songs in 19 languages, mostly in South Indian languages.  They included film songs and Carnatic-based devotional numbers as well as Hindustani-classical-based Bhajans, Thumri, and Ghazal, among others.

 

Music has a universal appeal transcending all natural differences and man-made barriers. Music or singing is a powerful unifying force that inspires individuals to action and even initiates the process of healing in times of personal tragedy, societal estrangement, or national crises. Musicians/singers are special emissaries of the divine art capable of entertaining, enthralling, and assuaging disturbed and dejected minds. Vani Jairam was one such great singer.

 

If one gets hit by an object he gets pain; contrarily, if music hits, you will feel no pain but pleasure, delight, and amusement. Needless to say, if one listens to the euphonious voice of Vani Jairam, who is synonymous with and epitomizes tuneful, sweet, and well-pitched singing, he/she will be transported to a mesmerizing plane and acme of delight.

 

Since childhood, she had a propensity and proclivity towards music especially vocal, and took classical Carnatic training. Although she had a placement in the State Bank of India, she soon started feeling that the job was not her cup of tea and plate of food to satiate her real appetite given the reality that she was one fully packed with the penchant, aptitude, and flair for entry into the music world. While so, a good opportunity greeted her.

 

Yes, her big break and bang in the film music world came with the Hindi movie 'Guddi' in 1971, in which she sang three songs for the great composer Vasant Desai. Her rendition of the songs in that film ‘Bol Re Papi Hara’ and ‘Hum ko mann ki shakthi dena’ in her dulcet tone and notes, was hailed over the years. Later, she made her foray into Tamil films as well with her song ‘Malligai En Mannan Mayangum’ from the 1974 film ‘Dheerkasumangali’ that proved to be a huge hit. Since then, there was no look-back but only progressive advancements for her by leaps and bounds, and singing opportunities in other languages too came her way in which also she churned out many popular numbers. She continued to scale new peaks of glory in singing till she quit.

 

To the question raised in her popular Tamil hit “EZHU SWARANGALUKKUL ETHANAI PAADAL” (ஏழு ஸ்வரங்களுக்குள் எத்தனை பாடல்? - How many songs could be there within the seven ‘Ragas’?), her reply was ‘countless’ and she proved it by singing many melodies.

 

Vani Jairam worked with many music maestros including Ilaiyaraaja, Shankar-Ganesh, MS Viswanathan, RD Burman, Madan Mohan, Kalyanji Anandji, Jaidev, and Laxmikant Pyarelal, among others.

 

Here it is too difficult to neither particularize her hit songs nor list the awards received by her.

 

In a nutshell, she had received many National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, State awards, and other awards besides titles like KAMUKARA (2004) and SOUTH INDIAN MEERA (2007).

 

In January 2023, she was honoured with PADMA BHUSHAN by the Government of India. But it is unfortunate that she has been snatched away from our midst even before she could receive the national award in person.

Her mortal remains were consigned to flames in Chennai with Police honours of the State Government of Tamil Nadu.

The immortal fine tenor voice this nonpareil singer sang with an abiding love for music and her popular numbers would surely continue to inspire generations of singers to come.

 

  

(R.SAMPATH)

8/2/2023