Radha Jayalakshmi

Radha and Jayalakshmi, popularly known as Radha Jayalakshmi (Tamil: ராதா ஜெயலட்சுமி), were Indian Carnatic music vocalist duo as well as playback singers in films in the 1940s and 1950s, before they became music teachers. The person who does the playback singing is Jayalakshmi but was named as Radha Jayalakshmi in the cine field. Actually, Radha was her cousin and singing partner on the stage performances. They were early singers in the trend of duo singing in Carnatic music, which started in the 1950s, with performers like Soolamangalam Sisters, and later continued by Bombay Sisters, Ranjani-Gayatri and Priya Sisters.^[1]

The duo was awarded the 1981 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Carnatic Music – Vocal, given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama^[2] Vidushi Jayalakshmi died in Chennai on 27 May 2014.^[3]

Early life and training

Radha and Jayalakshmi were from G. N. Balasubramaniam school, where they learned classical vocal music from the noted vocalist and teacher himself.^[4]

Career

She had rendered her 'ringing' trained, cultured sweet voice in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada movies from the late 1940s till the end of the 1950s.

On rare occasion she had movies in her credit in the 1960s and 1970s.

In Deivam, Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan had Radha and Jayalakshmi to render Thiruchendooril Por Purindhu, the song set in Thiruthani. This is perhaps the only film song to be sung by Radha of the duo.

Now they have stopped giving performances. But they are good teachers. They have performed throughout India. Shanmukhapriya and Haripriya, popularly known as the Priya Sisters, were their students.^[5]

Music composers she sang for

In the 50s, many music directors gave her memorable songs, including K. V. Mahadevan, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, G. Govindarajulu Naidu, T. G. Lingappa, G. Ramanathan, Vedha, C. N. Pandurangan, S. Balachander, S. V. Venkatraman, Chittor V. Nagaiah, H. R. Pathmanaba Sastiri, Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, M. S. Gnanamani, Adepalli Rama Rao, G. K. Venkatesh, G. Devarajan and Shankar-Ganesh.

Playback singers she sang with

She sang immemorable duets mostly with T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan and A. M. Rajah. Others are T. A. Mothi, Ghantasala, S. Balachander, Thiruchi Loganathan, K. R. Ramaswamy and Pithapuram Nageswara Rao.

She also sang duets with female singers with most notably with P. Leela and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi. Others are M. L. Vasanthakumari, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, T. V. Rathinam, K. Rani, S. Varalakshmi and Jikki.

Death

Jayalakshmi, one of the duo, died, aged 82, in Chennai on 26 May 2014.^[6]

Filmography

Playback singer

References

External links

• Radha Jayalakshmi at last.fm
• Radha Jayalakshmi songs
• Reliving Beautiful Moments with Vidushis Radha Jayalakshmi, 1962 on Friday, April 27, 2012