Vani Jairam, a great playback singer who won National Awards and was recently confirmed to receive the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, has gone away. The renowned vocalist reportedly suffered a forehead injury when she passed away at her home in Chennai’s Nungambakkam neighbourhood on Haddows Road. Age-wise, she was 78.
Vani Jairam produced timeless chart-toppers in partnership with some of the best composers from a variety of sectors. Numerous songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tulu, and Oriya have been recorded by the great vocalist. She has given several performances both domestically and abroad. She has received three National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, it should be emphasised. Additionally, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, and Odisha have all given her state prizes.
A professional vocalist for 50 years, Vani Jairam has more than 10,000 songs on record. She has collaborated with eminent composers like Madan Mohan, RD Burman, KV Mahadevan, MS Ilaiyaraaja, and OP Nayyar, among others.
About Vani Jayaram
On November 30, 1945, Kalaivani became Vani Jairam. An Indian vocalist by the name of Vani Jayaram (died on February 4, 2023). She is primarily known in South Indian film as a playback vocalist. Vani’s career began in 1971 and has lasted for more than 50 years. She recorded approximately 10,000 songs for playback in over a thousand Indian movies. She also took part in several solo performances both in India and abroad, as well as hundreds of devotionals and private records.
Vani Jayaram Awards
National Honours
- 2023 – Padma Bhushan Award, Government of India
National Film Awards
- 1975 – Best Female Playback Singer Tamil– Various songs (Apoorva Raagangal)
- 1980 – Best Female Playback Singer Telugu– Various songs (Sankarabharanam)
- 1991 – Best Female Playback Singer Telugu – “Anathineeyara Hara” (Swathi Kiranam)
Filmfare Award
- 2015- Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer Malayalam – “Olanajali Kuruvi” – 1983 (2014 Malayalam Film)
- 2013– The 60th South Indian Filmfare Award for Lifetime Achievements
- 1980 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Mere Toh Giridhar Gopal” (Meera)
State awards
- 1972 – Gujarat State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Ghoongat
- 1979 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback – Azhagae Unnai Aradhikkiren
- 1979 – Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Sankarabharanam
- 1982 – Odisha State Film Award for Best Singer – Debjani
Other awards
- 1972 – Mian Tansen Award Best Film Playback Singer of ‘Classical Song’ in Films for “Bol Re Papi Hara” given by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai.
- 1979 – Her songs in the Pandit Ravi Shankar scored film Meera brought her the Film World (1979) Cine Herald (1979) for “Mere To Giridhar Gopal”.
- 1991 – Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu State for her contribution to Tamil film music.
- 1992 – The youngest artist to be awarded the “Sangeet Peet Samman”
- 2004 – M.K. Thyagarajar Bhagavathar – Life Time Achievement Award from Tamil Nadu Government
- 2005 – Kamukara Award for her outstanding contribution to film music in general and in all the four South Indian languages in particular.* 2006 – Mudhra Award of Excellence from Mudhra Academy, Chennai.
- 2012 – Subramanya Bharathi award for her contribution to music.
- 2014 – Life Time Achievement Award of Radio Mirchi given at Hyderabad on 16 August 2014
- 2014 – Asiavision Awards – Best Playback Singer Award for the song ‘Olanjali Kuruvi’ from the Film “1983′
- 2014 – Kannadasan Award by Kannadasan Kazagam, Coimbatore
- 2015 – Life Time Achievement Award from Raindropss on Women Achievers Award Ceremony Chennai.
- 2016 – Red fm Music awards 2016 for Best Duet with Yesudas
- 2017 – Vanitha Film Awards -Best singer
- 2017 – Ghantasala National Award
- 2017 – North American Film Awards – New York- 22 July 2017 – Best Female Playback Singer – Malayalam
- 2018 – M.S. Subbulakshmi Award given by Sankara Nethralya – Chennai – 27 January 2018
- 2018 – Pravasi Express Awards Singapore, Life Time Achievement Award – 14 July 2018.
Other titles
- 2004: Kamukara Award
- 2007: South Indian Meera
