L. R. Eswari
| L. R. Eswari | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 December ,1939 (age 76) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Playback singing, Carnatic music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1950s-current |
Lourde-Mary Rajeswari Eswari (L. R. Eswari) is a veteran playback singer of the Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema and Kannada cinema industries. She also sang in other languages like Hindi, Tulu, and English.[1] She has won Kalaimamani, the Tamil Nadu's state award, for her contributions to the film industry.
Early life
She was born in Chennai into a Roman Catholic family to Anthony Devraj and Regina Mary Nirmala. Her ancestors were from Paramakudi near Madurai. Her full name is Lourde-Mary Rajeshwari. The 78 RPM vinyl record containing her songs in her debut film Nalla Idathu Sammanthan shows her name as D. L. Rajeswari.[2] Since there was already another established singer with the name of M.S.Rajeshwari her name was abbreviated into L.R.Eshwari. She did not have any formal training in singing. Her mother was a chorus singer in films. Eshwari used to accompany her mother to the studios and soon began singing in the chorus herself, but quickly got a break to lend her voice as lead-singer.
Her first song as a playback singer was Inba Naalidhe in the film Manohara as a chorus singer with Jikki. Music was scored by S. V. Venkatraman.[3]
Her first break came from Thiru. K.V.Mahadevan in 1958 in the movie Nalla Idaththu Sammandham, her first solo song recorded in this movie was "Ivarey Thaan Avarey". But major recognition came from the song "Vaarai En Thozhi Vaaraayo" from the movie Paasa Malar (1961) sung under the baton of Viswanathan-Ramamurthy, which composers explored and exploited her vocal abilities to the maximum extent possible over the next 20 years.
Career
She sang under the direction of famous composers like M.S.Viswanathan, T.K.Ramamoorthy, K. V. Mahadevan, Veda, V.Kumar, Shankar-Ganesh, G. K. Venkatesh and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. Her unique voice was considered to be suited for peppy numbers in the movies, be it a dance tune, folk song or a devotional track. Her song "Vaarayo Thozhi" from Paasa Malar was a popular choice for wedding music.
She has also recorded many devotional albums in praise of the Goddess Amman which were hugely popular among the Tamil community and were played in many temples. Her "Chellatha" and "Karpoora Nayagi" numbers has won her a lot of fame among devotees. She sang Christmas songs "Varuvai Varuvai" and " Deivam Thantha Divya Kumaaran" composed by Dr Anand Chellappa. She has won the Kalaimamani Award and other states awards. Her Hindi song "Uduthi Hi Chidiya" from the film Pistonwali, music by Satyam shows her ability. She sang romantic songs filmed on heroines as well as cabarets filmed on dance-artistes and also folk songs.
She made her everlasting impression in Telugu film industry with her husky and peppy numbers. Till date most of her songs are very popular among the Telugu audience. Her notable hits include "Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo" from Devudu Chesina Manushulu, "Maayadari Sinnodu" from Ammamaata, "Bhale Bhale Magadivo" from Marocharitra, "Arey Yemiti Lokam" from Anthulenikatha, "Le Le Le Naa Raaja" from Premnagar, "Malle Puvvulu Pillagaalulu" and "Theesko Coco Cola Esko Rammusoda" etc.
In Kannada language, Eshwari has sung so many super hits songs. Her fun-filled songs like "Dooradinda Bandantha", "Rasika Rasika", "Joke Nanu Balliya", "O Geleya", "Yaavurayya E Mukka", "Sityako Sidukyako",[4] "Sumabaleya Premada Siriye", "Bangara Nota", "Kanda Kanmaniye" made her name household in Karnataka.
P.Susheela and She sang many popular duets in their times – Unadhu Malar, Chiththira Poovizhi, Ninaithaal Sirippu, Thoodhu Sella etc.. She sang a popular duet "Gudilona Naa Swamy Koluvai Unnadu" with S. Janaki in a Telugu movie Idalokam, music by Chakravarthy, which remains a top hit till date. She rendered several duets with S. Janaki in Kannada movies as well.
She sang various duets with all the leading male singers also – Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, the Telugu doyen in his own music direction in Telugu movie Pandava Vana Vaasam, and in K. V. Mahadevan's music direction in Prem Nagar, T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, P. B. Sreenivas, S.P. Balasubramaniam, K. J. Yesudas, J. P. Chandrababu, C. S. Jayaraman, S. C. Krishnan, Thiruchi Loganathan, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan,Malaysia Vasudevan, & Jayachandran.
She also sang duets with female singers with most notably with P. Suseela, S. Janaki, Vani Jayaram, K. Jamuna Rani, M. S. Rajeswari and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi.
Re-entry
After a long break, she made her re-entry through a rocky peppy Tamil Song "Kalasala Kalasala " in the 2011 movie Osthe starring Silambarasan. Within a few days of this song release, it became a super hit and reached music box office top ratings. She sang the song "Naa Poondamallida" in the film Thadaiyara Thaakka the following year. She has also recently sang a Kannada song for the movie Victory, named "Yakka Nin Magalu Nanage" with Kailash Kher which also become super hit. In 2013, she sang a duet song called "Thagadu Thagadu" along with T. Rajendar in the movie Arya Surya. In 2014 she sang the song "Jaipuril Jaipuril" in the movie Athithi, music by Bharathwaj.
Notable songs
Tamil songs
| Song | Movie |
|---|---|
| "Muthukulikka Vareegala" | Anubavi Raja Anubavi |
| "Mappillai Ragasiyam" | Arangketram |
| "Adi Ennadi Ulagam " | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai |
| "Enna Solla Enna Solla" | Babu |
| "Kangalum Kavadi" | Enga Vittu Pillai |
| "Puthi Sigamani" | Iruvar Ullam |
| "Chithirai Poovizhi" | Ithayathil Nee |
| "Yenna Poruthamadi" | Kanavan |
| "Aadavaralaam Aada Varalaam" | Karuppu Panam |
| "Malarendra Mugam Indru" | Kaadhalikka Neramillai |
| "Enthan Nenjam Yaarai" | Kathalithal Pothuma |
| "Kathal Penney" | Kathalithal Pothuma |
| "Maapillai Vanthan" | Kaveriyin Kanavan |
| "Avala Ivala" | Mannathi Mannan |
| "Aval Oru Kathanayagi" | Moondru Mudichu |
| "Singapore Machan" | Naam Moovar |
| "Pirantha Idam Thedi" | Naan Aanaiyittal |
| "Dhukkaththilum" | Nalla Idathu Sammantham |
| "Oh Lakshmi" | Neela Vanam |
| "Nee Ninaithal" | Nilave Nee Satchi |
| "Inimai Niraintha Ulagam" | Ninaithale Inikkum |
| "Naam Oruvarai Oruvar" | Oruvar |
| "En Vaalibam Ennum Mahligaiyil" | Paalkudam |
| "Vaarayo Thozhi" | Paasa Malar |
| "Sonnathellam Nadanthiduma" | Padha Kaanikkai |
| "Ithazhai Virithathu Roja" | Pattanathil Bootham |
| "Kaalgal Nindrathu" | Poojaikku Vantha Malar |
| "Ithu Margazhi Matham" | Praptham |
| "Sala Sala Kathottam" | Praptham |
| "Raja Veetu Pennanalum" | Raja Veetu Pillai |
| "Manamagale Marumagale" | Saradha |
| "Lilli Lali Jimmy" | Selvam |
| "Vennila Mugam" | Selvamagal |
| "Pennai Parthum" | Shanthi Nilayam |
| "Pattaththu Rani" | Sivandha Mann |
| "Pushpa Raagam" | Thani Kudithanam |
| "Naanoru Kaathal" | Thavapputhalvan |
| "Kottai Mathir Mele" | Thirudan |
| "Ivalavuthan Ulagam" | Ulagam Ivalavuthan |
| "Ada Sarithan Podi" | Uyira Maanama |
| "Savale Samali" | Uyira Maanama |
| "Enge Enge En Manathu" | Vaaliba Virunthu |
| "Ammamma Kannathil Kannam" | Vallavan Oruvan |
| "Palinginal Oru Mahligai" | Vallavan Oruvan |
| "Kathodhuthan Naan" | Velli Vizha |
| "Allipanthal Kaalgal" | Vennira Aadai |
| "Nee Emppathenna" | Vennira Aadai |
| "Pattathu Rani" | Sivandha Mann |
| "Pondamalli" | Thadaiyara Thaakka |
| "Kalasala Kalasala" | Osthe |
| "Ranipettai Rani" | Tamilselvanum Kalaiselviyum |
| "Elantha palam" | Panama Pasama |
Telugu songs
| Year | Telugu film | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Pandava Vanavasam | "Mogali Rekula Sigadaana" |
| 1967 | Ummadi Kutumbam | "Jigi Jigi Jigelumannadi Chinnadi" |
| 1968 | Bandipotu Dongalu | "Gandara Ganda Shoggadivanta" |
| 1970 | Kathanayika Molla | "Naane Cheluve Kannadiki" |
| 1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | "Andala Bommanu Nenu Chelikada" |
| 1971 | Prem Nagar | "Le Le Le Naa Raaja" |
| 1972 | Tata Manavadu | "Nookalammani Nene Nee Peekani Nokkettane" |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | "Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo" |
| 1973 | Jeevana Tarangalu | "Nandamaya Garuda Nandamaya" |
| 1974 | Nippulanti Manishi | "Welcome Swagatam Chesta Ninne Paravasam" |
| 1976 | Anthuleni Katha | "Are Emiti Lokam" |
| 1978 | Maro Charithra | "Bhale Bhale Magadivoi Bangaru Naasaamivoi" |
| 1978 | Pranam Khareedu | "Bandameeda Undi Gundodi Debba" |
| 1979 | Andamaina Anubhavam | "Ananda Thandavame Adenuga Aa Shivudu" |
Malayalam songs
| Year | Malayalam film | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Althaara | "Onathumpee vannaatte" |
| 1964 | Bharthavu | "Kaakkakuyile Cholloo" |
| 1964 | Kuttikkuppayam | "Oru Kotta" |
| 1965 | Rosi | "Kannilenthaanu " |
| 1965 | Subaidha | "Oru Kudukka " |
| 1966 | Anarkali | "Chakravarthikumaaraa" |
| 1966 | Archana | "Ethra Kandaalum" |
| 1968 | Hotel High Range | "Puthiya raagam puthiya thaalam " |
| 1968 | Velutha Kathreena | "Kannil Kaamabanam " |
| 1970 | Dathuputhran | "Wine Glass" |
| 1970 | Nizhalattam | "Devadaasiyalla Njan" |
| 1971 | Lankadahanam | "Kilukile Chirikkum" |
| 1973 | Jesus | "Ente Munthirichaarino" |
| 1973 | Panitheeratha Veedu | "Maaril syamanthakarathnam chaarthi" |
| 1974 | Devi Kanyakumari | "Madhuchashakam" |
| 1974 | Night Duty | "Innu Ninte Youvanathinezhazhaku" |
References
- ↑ "Singer L.R. Eswari felicitated". The Hindu. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
- ↑ Singer D. L. Rajeswari
- ↑ "எஸ்.வி. வெங்கட்ராமன் -12" (in Tamil). thamizhstudio.com. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
- ↑ http://mr-jatt.com/album/kannada/l-r-eswari-veera-sankalpa-lsvv.html
External links
- L. R. Eswari at the Internet Movie Database
- The Titillating Voices of Two Tamil Playback Singers in Movie minutes