Jazzy Jamuna Rani.

Jazzy Jamuna Rani. K.Jamuna Rani. This name is nothing new to Music lovers but to this generation she is a stranger. Jamunarani had within her the POP’ish voice and was used more for the seduction style songs. Her voice was definitely unique though it didn’t possess the sweetness of Susheela or high octave like Susheela & Jikki but definitely had the nativity which suited well for Dance numbers or folkish type of songs. Jamuna rani started her career in 1944 with the movie “Seeta rama jananam” where she sang for a small girl but it was “Thyagayya” which made her famous. She was in contract with Modern theatre and slowly her career began to take off. It was susrala dakshinamurthy who encouraged her and gave her chances as well. During her tenure in the modern theatre Kannadasan heard her voice and when it mattered recommended her name to MSV-TKR. When Leela & Jikki were dominating the Music arena K.Jamuna rani definitely carved a niche for herself and was singing all the songs which came her way( mostly dance numbers, songs for second heroine) inspite of all these songs became hit and definitely her name popped out and got noticed. She sang songs in Tamil, telugu, kannada,malayalam and Sinhala. She is the singer who sang more songs in Sinhalese. When Susheela took over Leela-Jikki , Jamuna was still singing more songs but when L.R.Eswari came in with Vaarayo thozhi her chances faded with just one or 2 songs and after long gap V.Kumar made her sing in Iru kodugal, edhir neechal and then Illayaraja mader her sing in Nayagan. In her career she sang for all music directors. It was S.Dakshinamurthy, K.V.Mahadevan, S.P.Kodandapani who encouraged her a lot. She herself admitted that it was tough to sing MSV- TKR compositions. Nevertheless JAmunarani had a uniqe voice and definitely better than LRE(in my opinion) and though branded as seductive singer she sang so many varieties Let me list some of her songs .. First listing my favourites NAgamalli konalona (Bangaru thimmaraju music by S.P.Kodandapani. This is the movie KJY sang his first telugu song) Mukku meeda kopam ( Mooga manasulu – Praptham original) Aasayum Nesamum (Gulebagavali music MSV-TKR) Kamugar nenjinil needhi illai (MAhadevi – MSV-TKR). This is a fantastic song pathos number and Jamuna sang it so well. Yaaradi nee mohini (with TMS,Jikki, AP komala –G.Ramanthan’s music) .. tough one too Continuing her list Thadukkathe ennai thadukkathe with JPC. She was the best pair for JPChandrababu, both complimented each other Santhoshamethan sangeethamagum from Santhanam Athimathura anuraga from school master Next big hit was “Sethamizh then mozhiyaL” from Malai itta mangai. Her “Mele parakkuthu rocket” from Anbu enge was instant hit Santhu pottu thalathalakka with leela from Sivagangai seemai Kunguma poove konjum purave was runaway hit .. again with JPC Her songs in bhagyadevathai ( Music: Master Venu) were hits as well. Neeyo naano yaar nilave with Susheela,PBS in mannadhi mannan. Another solo in the same movie “Kaaviri thaaye” was very popular as well. Her songs in Deivapiravi (for M.N.Rajam) is popular even now. Yes “Thara thara vandhara” and “Kaalai Vayasu kattana sizeu” made youth go crazy at that time. Pakkathile kanni pen irukku with A.L.Raghavan was another popular number from PAdikkadha medhai Kuyil isayum kuzhalisayum from Sangili thevan a duet with A.M.Raja is a very nice song Next smash hit came in the form of “Paasamalar” . Paasa Malar saw the arrival of LRE but KJR had a superb song for M.N.Rajam again. Yes Paatondru ketten Paravasam aanen.. The way she has sung this song is absolutely brilliant. From the soft Paatondru ketten she sang the folkish dance number with TMS in Kumudam under KVM’s music. “Maama Maama Maama” and this became her signature song. In any show audience demand this song and she sings it with ease. Same song became super hit in Telugu as well. She had 2 beautiful songs in Bale pandiya.. Aadhi manidhan kadhalukku pin with PBS And the evergreen Athikkai kaai (kaviyarasar’s lyrics) with TMS,Susheela,PBS She sang the beautiful Chithirathil pen ezhuthi from Rani Samyuktha (music KVM) KAtti thanga rajavukku with L.R.Eswari in Mani osai Nenjinile un ninaivu mugam from Chitrangi was quite popular number as well(with TMS,Susheela) Enakkagava Naan unakkagava from Selvam was instant hit. The comic song Vazhaithandu pole udambu alek with ALRaghavan from panama pasama was also quite popular. Malai mudiyil pani azhagu from Delhi mappillai with p.susheela. Punnagai mannan poo vizhi kannan from iru kodugal with P.Susheela Naan sirithal deepavai with MSRajeswari in Nayagan This is just a small list, she has sung more songs especially in telugu , it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t hear her voice after 1969/70 . She was awarded kalaimamani in 1998, Aringar anna award in 2002. She was close friend of Jikki and helped her during her last days as well. I don’t get impressed with many voices & nothing goes into my ears except P.Susheela. Jikki, Jamunarani are exceptions and definitely they impress me. Rajesh Lavanya.