L. R. Eswari
Lourde-Mary Rajeswari, better known as L. R. Eswari, is an Indian playback singer who has sung many songs in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Tulu, and English.[1] She was awarded with the Kalaimamani, the highest civilian award for Arts and culture in Tamil Nadu, for her contributions to the film industry.
L. R. Eswari | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Lourde-Mary Rajeswari |
Born | Madras,Madras Presidency, , British India | 8 December 1939
Genres | Playback singing, Carnatic music |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocalist |
Years active | 1950s–present |
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 "Udati Si Chidiya" from the film PISTOLWALI, 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 "Maayadari Sinnodu" from Amma Maata (1971), "Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo" from Devudu Chesina Manushulu (1973), "Bhale Bhale Magadivo" from Maro Charitra (1978), "Arey Emiti Lokam" from Anthuleni Katha (1976), "Malle Puvvulu Pillagaalulu" and "Theesko Coco Cola Esko Rammusoda" etc.
In Kannada language, Eswari 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", "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, the Telugu doyen in his own music direction in Telugu movie Pandava Vana Vaasam, and in K. V. Mahadevan's music direction in Prema 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.
She sung "Kanda kanmaniye ammana araginiye o raja" a Kannada song for movie 'Balanagamma' in early 1960s. Thousands and thousands of Kannada kids might have grown listening to this song from their mothers, grannies and others. L.R Eswari is perhaps one of the most versatile singers in the history of Indian cinema.
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 Bharadwaj. In 2020, she had sung a song for nayanthara movie "Mookuthi Amman" named aadi kuthu.
Notable songs
Tamil songs
Song | Movie |
---|---|
"Muthukulikka Vareegala" | Anubavi Raja Anubavi |
"Thagadu Thagadu" | Arya Surya |
"Kaveri Thanniyil Kulichavadi" | Aayiram Poi |
"Saaya Veeti" | Paava Mannippu |
"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[2]" | Karuppu Panam |
"Malarendra Mugam Indru" | Kaadhalikka Neramillai |
"Enthan Nenjam Yaarai" | Kathalithal Pothuma |
"Kathal Penney" | Kathalithal Pothuma |
"Maapillai Vanthan" | Kaveriyin Kanavan |
"Poottale Unnaiyum" | Lakshmi Kalyanam |
"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 |
"Naanoru Kaathal" | Thavapudhalavan |
"Pennai Parthum" | Shanthi Nilayam |
"Pushpa Raagam" | Thani Kudithanam |
Kulunga Kulunga | Kai Koduttha Dheivam |
Nenaithen unnai | Thangai |
Nurandu Kalam Vazhga | Pesum Dheivam |
Raja rajasri Rani | Ooty Varai Uravu |
Kadavul Thantha | Iru Malargal |
Engal Kalyanam | Galatta Kalyanam |
Uraviniel Fivety Fivety | Galatta Kalyanam |
Munthi Munthi Vinayaganeya | En Thambi |
Sakthi Thannadu | Thanga Surangam |
Nadhieya Madhuvanal | Thanga Surangam |
Muthamidum Neram | Sivandha Mann |
Pattathu rani | Sivandha Mann |
Pathu pathinaru | Anjal Petti 520 |
Adhi Manithan | Anjal Petti 520 |
Hei | Anbalippu |
"Kottai Mathir Mele" | Thirudan |
Ninaitha padi | Thirudan |
Soragam Pakkathil | Enga Mama |
Ithuthan eanathu | Vilaiyaattu Pillai |
My ledy kad body | Vietnam Veedu |
Unga Nalla manasukku | Ethiroli |
Kalyanama Kalyanam | Ethiroli |
Hello miss | Engirundho Vandhaal |
Nalu kalu sir | Sorgam |
"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 |
"Pondamalli" | Thadaiyara Thaakka |
"Kalasala Kalasala" | Osthe |
"Ranipettai Rani" | Tamilselvanum Kalaiselviyum |
"Elantha Palam" | Panama Pasama |
"Aadi Kuththu" | Mookuthi Amman |
Telugu songs
Year | Telugu film | Song |
---|---|---|
1965 | Pandava Vanavasam | "Mogali Rekula Sigadaana" |
1967 | Ummadi Kutumbam | "Jigi Jigi Jigelumannadi Chinnadi" |
1968 | Bandipotu Dongalu | "Gandara Ganda Soggadivanta" |
1970 | Kathanayika Molla | "Naane Cheluve Kannadiki" |
1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | "Andala Bommanu Nenu Chelikada" |
1971 | Prema Nagar | "Le Le Le Naa Raaja" |
1971 | Amma Maata | "Mayadari Sinnodu" |
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 Charitra | "Bhale Bhale Magadivoi Bangaru Naasaamivoi" |
1978 | Pranam Khareedu | "Bandameeda Undi Gundodi Debba" |
1979 | Andamaina Anubhavam | "Ananda Thandavame Adenuga Aa Sivudu" |
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" |
1974 | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai-D | "Edi Enthedi" |
She had sung in around 200 Malayalam Films
Kannada songs
Year | film | Song |
---|---|---|
1958 | Anna Thangi | "Bandaane Ava Bandaane" |
1964 | Chandavalliya Thota | "Suma Baaleya" |
1962 | Thayi Karulu | "Dooradinda Bandavare" |
1964 | Veera Sankalpa | " Sittyako Sidukyako" |
1965 | Mahasathi Anasuya | "Aa Deva Ee Deva" |
1968 | Hannele Chiguridaga | "Ide Hudugi" |
1970 | Bhoopathi Ranga | "Rasika Rasika" |
1970 | Paropakari | "Jokey" |
1970 | Boregowda Bangalorige Banda | "Malagova Maavina" |
1970 | Mahadiya Mane | "Rambe Ennuvalu" |
1970 | Anugraha | "Boraiah Basavaiah" |
1971 | Samshaya Phala | "Dooradinda Bandantha" |
1972 | Sipayi Ramu | "Kokorekoko" |
1974 | Professor Huchuraya | "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" "Hello My Boy" |
Onscreen appearances
- Thillalangadi (2010) as herself
- Mookuthi Amman (2020) as herself
References
- "Singer L.R. Eswari felicitated". The Hindu. 10 December 2007. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
- "Aadavaralaam Aada Varalaam,389'th track by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan". RedMux. Retrieved 31 July 2004.