Vani Jayaram, a tremendously talented singer, fondly referred to as the “Meera of Modern India,” started her career in 1971 and has spanned over five decades. Though Vani did not get her due in Hindi films, she found tremendous success in films of other Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, and Kannada. She did playback for over 1,000 movies, recording over 10,000 songs. She also has hundreds of devotional and private albums under her name and has been a part of thousands of concerts and live shows across the world.
Early Life
Vani Jairam was born as Kalaivani, on November 30, 1945, in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, into a Tamil Brahmin family deeply rooted in music. She was the fifth daughter among nine siblings—six girls and three boys—to parents Duraisamy Iyer and Padmavathi. Both parents were trained in classical music, with Padmavathi being a disciple of veena maestro Ranga Ramunaja Iyengar. This musical environment shaped Vani’s early years. Her father, believing in an astrologer’s prediction that she would become a renowned singer, moved the family to Madras (now Chennai) after Vani completed fourth grade to nurture her talent.
From a young age, Vani displayed an extraordinary aptitude for music. By the age of five, she could identify ragas, earning her the label of a child prodigy. Her formal training began under Ranga Ramunaja Iyengar, who taught her a few kritis by composer Muthuswami Dikshitar. She later studied Carnatic music under Kadalur Srinivas Iyengar, T.R. Balasubramanian, and R.S. Mani.. Her fascination with Hindi film songs, often heard on Radio Ceylon, sparked her interest in playback singing. Intrestingly her mother disapproved of her listening to film music. At eight, Vani performed publicly for the first time on All India Radio, Madras, showcasing her precocious talent.
Eaducation and Training
Vani completed her schooling at Lady Sivaswamy Ayyar Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Chennai. She then graduated with a degree in economics at Queen Mary’s College, Chennai. After graduating, she joined the State Bank of India (SBI) in Madras. In 1967, she was transferred to the Hyderabad branch of SBI. It was during her time in Hyderabad that she met her future husband, T. S. Jairam, whom she married in 1969.
Jairam, a sitar player and music enthusiast who was the Executive Secretary of the Indo-Belgium Chamber of Commerce. The couple relocated to Mumbai, where Jairam encouraged Vani to pursue her musical aspirations. At his urging, she trained in Hindustani classical music under Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan of the Patiala Gharana. In those days she dedicating up to 18 hours a day to her lessons. This rigorous training refined her vocal abilities, focusing on diction, ghamakams (ornamentations), and the sensual style characteristic of the Patiala Gharana. She also learnt the nuances of various vocal forms such as Thumri, Ghazal, and Bhajan.
Her first concert was also with Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan in 1969. She was spotted by the great Vasant Desai who was a friend of her guru, during a classical session. Desai decided use her voice in a Marathi drama, Dev Deenaghari Dhaavlaa. For the play, she sang the duet “Runanubandhachya” with the esteemed Hindustani vocalist Kumar Gandharva. Initially hesitant, Kumar Gandharva agreed to collaborate after hearing Vani’s voice.
Debut and Early Success
Although Vani Jayaram made a career primarily in South Indian films, she debuted as a playback singer in the Hindi film Guddi. Her mentor, Vasant Desai, gave all three songs “Bole Re Papihara,” “Hari Bin Kaise Jeeun,” & “Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena” in Guddi to her. Considering Lata Mangeshkar’s dominance at the time, this was a brave decision. With the songs of Guddi making waves, Vani Jayaram more than justified Vasant Desai’s faith in her.
“Bole Re Papihara,” based on “Raag Miyan Ki Malhar,” showcased her classical training and went on to win many awards, including the Tansen Samman (for best classical-based song in a Hindi film), the Lions International Best Promising Singer award, the All India Cinegoers Association award, and the All India Filmgoers Association award for Best Playback Singer in 1971. “Humko Mann Ki Shakti Dena,” became a popular school prayer across Indiia.
Great Naushad saab used her voice for a classical bandish “More Saajan Souten Ghar” for Meena kumari’s classic Pakeezah (1972). The song based on Raag Pahadi was used as the background score in the film. Naushad praised her as having one of the most classically trained voice in India.
Vani Jayaram – Meera of Modern India
Vani was chosen for the voice of Meera Bai in Gulzar‘s 1979 movie “Meera,” starring Hema Malini. The film has music of Pt. Ravi Shankar, and has beautiful Meera Bhajan’s like “Aeri Main To Prem Deewani,” “Jo Tum Todo Piya,” “Jaago Bansiwale” and “Main Sanware Ke Rang Rachi” among others. The song “Mere To Giridhar Gopal” from the film won her first Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award.
Some of her most memorable songs from this period include Zindagi Mein Aap Aaye (Chhalia), Bikhre Taar Mile Phir Man Ke (Grahan), Teri Jheel Si Gehri Aankhon Mein (Dhuen Ki Lakeer), Mitwa Mitwa More Man Mitwa (Parinay), Zulf Lahraai Toh Saawa Ka Mahina (Khoon Ka Badla Khoon), “Ae Ri Main Toh Prem Deewani,” “Jo Tum Todo Piya,” and “Mere Toh Giridhar Gopal” from “Meera” (1979) and Dheere Dheere Shaam Hui (Haisiyat).
The Queen of South Cinema
In the South, Vani became a leading playback singer. Her Tamil debut was with “Ponmayana Kaalam” for the unreleased film Thayum Seiyum (1973) under the music direction of S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. but her first released Tamil song was “Malligai En Mannan Mayangum” from Dheerkasumangali (1974), which became a massive hit. She gained acclaim for her work in K. Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal (1975), with songs like “Ezhu Swarangalukkul” and “Kelviyin Nayagane,” earning her first National Film Award. Other Tamil hits include “Nitham Nitham” (Mullum Malarum, 1978), “Nee Kettaal Naan Maatten” (Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu,1978), and “Kavidhai Kelungal” (Punnagai Mannan, 1986), all composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
In Telugu cinema, Vani’s breakthrough came with Pooja (1975), where songs like “Poojalu Cheya” and “Ennenno Janmala Bandham” became household favorites. Her work in K. Viswanath’s Sankarabharanam (1979), including “Manasa Sancharare,” earned her a second National Film Award and the Andhra Pradesh government’s Nandi Award. She also sang “Anathineeyaraa” in Swathi Kiranam (1991), securing her third National Award.
In Malayalam, Vani debuted with “Sourayudhathil Vidarnnoru” for Swapnam (1973), composed by Salil Chowdhury, which gained her widespread recognition. She recorded over 600 songs in Malayalam, including “Aashada Maasam” (Yudhabhoomi, 1976) and “Olanjali Kuruvi” (1983, 2014). In Kannada, songs like “Ee Shatamanada Madari Hennu” and “Besuge Besuge” with Dr. Rajkumar became classics. Some of her other Kannada songs include “Nagu Nee Nagu” (Kesarina Kamala, 1973); “Madhumasa Chandrama” (Vijaya Vani, 1976); “Teredide Mane O Baa Athithi” (Hosa Belaku, 1982); – “Bhaavavemba Hoovu Arali ” (Upasane, 1974) and many more.
Collaborations
Her collaboration with legendary composers like Vasant Desai, R. D. Burman, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal, resulted in numerous hit songs that are still cherished by music lovers today. In the South, her frequent collaborators included K.V. Mahadevan, M.S. Viswanathan, and Ilaiyaraaja. Her partnership with director K. Viswanath in Telugu cinema was particularly fruitful, yielding National Awards for Sankarabharanam and Swathi Kiranam. In Malayalam, she worked with Salil Chowdhury, M.K. Arjunan, and Raveendran, among others.
She sang duets with prominent singers like K.J. Yesudas (“Kanana Poikayil Kalabham”), S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, P.B. Srinivas, and Dr. Rajkumar in Kannada cinema. Her collaboration with S. Janaki produced notable female duets like “Madhumasa Chandrama” (Vijaya Vani, 1976). Vani also had a connection with A.R. Rahman, having sung for his father, R.K. Shekhar, in Malayalam films. She later inaugurated Rahman’s boy band and recorded a duet with S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, “Sugam Sugam Athu,” for Vandicholai Chinnarasu (1994), composed by Rahman.
Awards and Accolades
Vani is the youngest artist who gets the “Sangeet Peeth Samman.” She has won the National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer three times and also has won State Government awards from the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
In 2012, she gets the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (South). She was honoured with the Best Female Singer award at the NAFA (2017) event in New York City. In 2023, she was gets the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, just days before her passing.
Other accolades include the Nandi Award (1979), Tamil Nadu State Film Award (1979), Gujarat State Film Award (1975), Odisha State Film Award (1982), and the NAFA Best Female Singer Award in New York (2017). She was honored with the Pride of Indian Music Award (2014) and the Kalaimamani Award by Tamil Nadu in 2021, In 2014, the P. Suseela Trust awarded her a citation and a purse of one lakh rupees.
Personal Life and Later Days
Vani married Jairam in 1969, a union that significantly shaped her career. Jairam, a music lover, gave up his job to manage Vani’s musical pursuits, supporting her through her rise in the industry. The couple did not have children. Vani’s mother-in-law, Padma Swaminathan, was the daughter of Carnatic vocalist F.G. Natesa Iyer. Her sister-in-law, N. Rajam, was also a noted musician.
After Jairam’s death in 2018, Vani lived alone in her Chennai apartment. She remained active in her later years, recording songs like “Olanjali Kuruvi” for the Malayalam film 1983 in 2014 and performing at concerts. At 70, during an interview with The Hindu, she sang a few lines of “Nee Kettaal Naan Maatten” from Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu (1978), her voice retaining its youthful sweetness. Her death in 2023 marked the end of an era, but her songs continue to resonate with audiences.
Vani’s passing on February 4, 2023, was a tragic incident. She was found dead at her Chennai residence on Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, with a head injury sustained from a fall. Her maid called her younger sister Uma, who lived in Alwarpet, and the police were called. The 77-year-old singer’s death came less than two weeks after she got the Padma Bhushan, a bittersweet moment for her legacy.
Vani Jayaram on IMDB
