Homage to a singer with an intoxicating voice

 

   

     Female playback singers generally make a stronger impact of their voices, as great melody makers, high pitch deliverers of eternal numbers and at times, as titillating singers with an intoxicating appeal of sweetness and sensuous ecstasy. The last category of singers is special and even rare to come across. From the mid Nineteen forties till 2012, a voice of charm and stimulation, ruled Tamil film music, with an authentic sense of attraction. It was Jamuna Rani, who with her nasal voice frame and mesmerizing way of singing, conquered human ears with a challenging reach and force of clarity. Born as the daughter of the woman violinist Droupathy, Jamuna Rani perhaps genetically imbibed the power of music

    Though Jamuna Rani became a playback singer in 1944 in the Telugu film Tashildhar for which Padmanabha Sastri composed music, it was in 1952 her first two songs 'success success"and 'Onnu rendu moonu" came together in the film 'Kalyani' with the songs of the film going into the hands of S.Dakshinamurthi and  G.Ramanathan. With her mesmerizing voice, she began her singing career and continued to sing in all the four South Indian languages,besides in Sinhalese.

   So intoxicating were the songs like O Deva das(Devadas) ‘Aasaiyum En Nesamum’ [Gulebahavali], Aasai Anbellaam {Aasai}‘Ellai Meerudhe Manam Thulli Oduthe' {Karpu karasi}Kaalai Vayasu’,Thaaraa Thaaraa Thaaraa Vandhaa raa and Ivar Kaanaa Avar Paanaa { all from Dheiva Piravi}'Poovil Vandu Bodhai Kondu' {Anbu Enge}‘Maamaa maamaa mama' [Kumutham],Unakkaagavaa Naan Unakkaa gava {Selvam}'Paatonru Kettein Paravasmaanein'(Paasamalar)and the two songs 'Athikkai Kai Kai' and ‘Aadhi Manidhan Kadhalukkupin’ from Bale Pandia. 

    The other sensually exciting numbers were ‘Pakkathile Kanni Pen Irukku’, {Padikkadha Medhai}' Paalaatril Theinadudhu,' [Koduthu Vaithaval] 'Yaaradi Nee Mohini', {Uthama Puthiran }‘Kadhalai Sodhithu Paarkattuma,’.  [ Kaidhi Kannaayiram ]and 'Sollattuma Sollattuma' {Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum }. Excepting a few solo numbers,most of her songs were either duets, or with other singers. Her two notable songs with J.B.Chandrababu were Thadukkaathe Ennai Thadukkaadhe {Nadodi Mannan} Kunguma Poove Konjum Puraave{Maragatham} and Konjam Thallik kanum {Kadavulai Kandein}
    Jamuna Rani could also bring out the essence of deep sorrow through her voice magic, as it could be felt in the songs 'Kaavirithaaye Kaavirithaaye' from 'Mannaadhi Mannan', and ‘Chithirathil Pen Ezhudhi,Seerpaduthum Maanilame’ from 'Rani Samyuktha'. Jamuna Rani frequently joined A.L.Raghavan,S.C.Krishnan, J.B.Chandrababu and Sirkazhi Govindarajan for quite a few fascinating duet songs. However,it was her solo numbers that carried a special charming appeal. Among the songs for which she shared her voice with other female singers, the most remarkable and remembered song is 'Punnagai Mannan Poovizhikannan' that she sang with P.Suseela in 'Iru Kodugal'.

  Her last most intoxicating song in Tamil was the often heard,"Naan Sirithaal Deepavali" from Mani Rathnam's epoch-making film, Nayakan.Jamuna Rani was ruling the roost with her distinct voice attraction.She sang under avast galaxy of music composers like G.Ramanathan,Vedha,Viswanathan Rama murthi,K.V.Mahadevan,Kandasala, S.Dakshinamurthi,R.Sudarsanam  S.V.Venkat raman and Ilayaraja.

     Jamuna Rani, the exuberant singer in multiple languages lived the life of a spinster, and passed away,at the age of 88,on 30th July 2026.Her songs will continue to travel through the ears of music lovers,letting their hearts revel in ecstasy,and weave sorrowful strings with the soul sustaining belief that it is music that can make the lives of many people, lovable and worthy.Jamuna Rani's songs will keep on tickling and kindling the emotions of people living around the world. Her soul will now be enchanting the ears of God.

Note:-Also read 'The titillating voices of two Tamil playback singers.' in this blog.

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