Nithyasree Mahadevan: No one can sing Yezhu Swarangalukkul effectively like Vani Jairam

Paying tribute to Vani Jairam, Carnatic singer Dr Nithyasree Mahadevan shares a warm anecdote about interacting with the veteran.

Speaking to us, Nithyasree said that she had known Vani Jairam since she was a child. "She was a family friend who admired my grandmother and the legendary singer DK Pattammal. She used to visit my grandmother on auspicious days. I have had several opportunities to interact with her. She is such a loving and kind person. As a Carnatic singer, one of my favourite songs of Vani ma'am is Yezhu Swarangalukkul from Apoorva Ragangal. Even while singing in high shruti, her voice would never shriek. She did it effortlessly with utmost clarity and depth. I don't think anyone else, apart from her, could do this effectively."

Nithyasree stated that Vani Jairam is known for her versatility and proficiency in several languages. She further noted that she had heard from music directors that Vani Jairam's pronunciations and diction were perfect and that she would grasp the briefings quickly.  "In one of our interactions, she told me she had recorded nearly 20 songs in a day. The endurance and skill required to pull this off are incredible. She's a true legend," she added.

Vani Jairam was 78. She passed away at her residence in Chennai on Saturday. According to reports, she slipped down in her bedroom, which caused an injury on her forehead. The singer was recently conferred with the Padma Bhushan award.

It may be noted that Vani Jairam recently completed 50 years as a professional singer. She sang over 10,000 songs in 18 different Indian languages in her career. One of the most celebrated singers in India, Vani Jairam, won the National Award thrice for Apoorva Raagangal, Sankarabharanam, and Swathi Kiranam. She also received State awards from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Odisha.