Swarnalatha

The song was composed by A. Rahman, under whose musical direction she recorded many memorable songs. She was also the first female playback singer to receive a National Award in A.

• Name — Swarnalatha • Alias — Humming Queen • Born — 29 April 1973 • Birthplace — Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, India • Died — 12 September 2010 • Place of death — Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India • Genre — Cinema Playback singing, Carnatic music, Hindustani Music, Ghazal • Occupation — Singer • Instrument — Vocals • Years Active — 1987–2010

She was born to K. C. Cherukutty and mother Kalyani. Swarnalatha was trained to play harmonium and keyboard. Swarnalatha's family later moved to Bhadravathi in Shivamogga District, Karnataka where she grew up and had her education. She started singing at the age of 3. Surrounded by a family of musicians and music lovers, Swarnalatha was trained in Carnatic and Hindustani music. Her sister Saroja was her first music teacher.

Swarnalatha's family moved to Chennai to seek opportunities in the film industry for her singing talent. The first opportunity came from M. S. Viswanathan in 1987 when she recorded a duet with K. J. Yesudas, "Chinnachiru Kiliye" in the film Neethikku Thandanai. Subsequently, she recorded songs for many other music directors. She also had the opportunity to work with the director P. Venu. She was frequently collaborated with musicians like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman. She also recorded a few Hindi songs, the most notable one being "Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua" from the film Rangeela with singer Hariharan. In Telugu, she recorded more songs under the music direction of Mani Sharma, Ramana Gogula, Raj–Koti, and Vandemataram Srinivas. They include top-rated songs like Raamma Chilakamma, Osey Ramulamma, and Nizam Babulu. A. R. Rahman employed Swarnalatha for many of his songs. She was one of the most versatile singers of her times, as she was able to sing melodies like "Maalayil Yaaro Manathodu Pesa" from Sathriyan or "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuthamma as well as Rahman's experimental songs like "Mukkabla" from Kaadhalan or "Mottu Vittadha" from Pavithra. In Kannada, her first song, "Saradara Baa Baalina Sindhoora" was a duet with actor-singer Dr. Rajkumar for the film Parashuram in 1989. Swarnalatha was the first female playback singer to fetch the National Award under A. R. Rahman's music direction. She received the award for the song "Porale Ponnuthayi". She recorded many songs with music directors Deva, Vidyasagar, Harris Jayaraj, Anu Malik, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Raj–Koti, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Mani Sharma, Hamsalekha and many others. She recorded all the songs initially rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum for the Tamil movie Anarkali (the dubbed version of the Hindi movie Mughal-e-Azam) and was praised by the Bollywood music director Naushad Ali, which she considered the best moment in her career. Television Swarnalatha appeared as a judge in many television singing competitions, notably in the 2001 Vijay TV reality show and in the 2004 Jaya TV Ragamalika.

Swarnalatha died at Malar Hospitals Ltd Adayar, Chennai at the age of 37, on 12 September 2010. She had Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Ilaiyaraja Swarnalatha has sung multiple songs for Ilayaraja and marked as one of the noted combinations in 90's. 'Povomaa Oorkolam' and 'Nee Yengae Enn Anbae' from the film Chinnathambi were hits. Government of Tamil Nadu honoured her with the award of Best Singer for the song "Povomaa Oorkolam". The song 'Raakkamma Kayyathattu' from the film Thalapathi figured in BBC's Hits List of World Songs. She had sung several experimental songs for Ilayaraja such as "Sollividu VelliNilave', "Kanne Indru Kalyana Kathai" and "Ennai Thottu Allikonda". • A. R. Rahman A. R. Rahman and Swarnalatha association started from the year 1993. Their Combination is known for the magical songs such as "Mukkala Mukkabala", "Hai Rama yeh kya hua", which are the hit songs of 90's. She was the first female singer to receive National Award under Rahman's Music for the song "Porale ponnuthayi" from Karuthamma released in the year 1994. The last song she recorded with Rahman was "Kummi Adi" from the film Sillunu Oru Kadhal (2006). • Deva Swarnalatha sang for Deva from the year 1990. The song "Kanne Karisal" from Vaigasi Poranthachu marked their first association. The songs sung by her from the films Senthoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Baashha (1995), Vishnu (1995), Maanbumigu Maanavan (1996), Kadhal Kottai (1996), Arunachalam (1997), Anantha Poongatre (1999), Mugavaree (2000) and Chokka Thangam (2003) have been popular.

The authorities additionally record the headings Other names or Nicknames, Humming Queen of india, Queen of Tones, Humming Kokila of India and Swarna Kuyil.

Swarnalatha is recorded as having received Filmfare Awards South.