Santha P. Nair
Encyclopedia
Shantha P. Nair was a playback singer
in Malayalam cinema. She is based in Thrissur
, Kerala
.
, as one of the five children of Vasudeva Poduval and Lakshmi, Santha Poduval showed her potential at a very young age.She got her education From Queen Mary's College, Chennai.
in calicut before entering playback singing.She entered Malayalam films industry through Thiramala
in (1953),her first song 'Ammathan thankakudame' (by music director Vimal Kumar) was a lullaby.She sang in hundreds Malayalam films from 1951 to 1967 and immortalised many songs including 'Unarunaroo Unikkanna', 'Kadavathu Thoniyaduthappol', 'Poove nalla poove,' `Kuruvikalai uyaraam' and 'Kadavathu thoni aduthapol' with her mellifluous voice. She was equally proficient in Carnatic music and held many concerts, which she used to end with light music. And once in the absence of Salil Chowdhury
, she composed a tune for Ramu Kariat. Salilda after hearing it insisted that it be retained without changes in the final release. The song was Makkathu poi varum maanathe. She also did the chorus for Salilda later in the Chemmeen
songs.Her last song was in 1961 for V Chidambaranath’s film Murapennu Kadavathu thoni aduthapol along with S. Janaki
.Shanta Nair won the Sangeet Natak Academy award in1987.
before Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
for an event.
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
in Malayalam cinema. She is based in Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Early life
Born into the famous Ambady family in ThrissurThrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
, as one of the five children of Vasudeva Poduval and Lakshmi, Santha Poduval showed her potential at a very young age.She got her education From Queen Mary's College, Chennai.
Singing career
She was working in All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
in calicut before entering playback singing.She entered Malayalam films industry through Thiramala
Thiramala
Thiramala is a 1953 Malayalam film directed by Vimal Kumar and P.R.S. Pillai, starring Sathyan and Kumari Thangam. Acclaimed Director Ramu Kariat was an assistant director in this film. The film has a significant place in the history of Malayalam cinema.-Plot:The film was based on a short story...
in (1953),her first song 'Ammathan thankakudame' (by music director Vimal Kumar) was a lullaby.She sang in hundreds Malayalam films from 1951 to 1967 and immortalised many songs including 'Unarunaroo Unikkanna', 'Kadavathu Thoniyaduthappol', 'Poove nalla poove,' `Kuruvikalai uyaraam' and 'Kadavathu thoni aduthapol' with her mellifluous voice. She was equally proficient in Carnatic music and held many concerts, which she used to end with light music. And once in the absence of Salil Chowdhury
Salil Chowdhury
Salil Chowdhury was an Indian music composer. He mainly composed for Bengali, Hindi, and Malayalam films. He was also a poet and a playwright. He is affectionately called Salilda by all his admirers....
, she composed a tune for Ramu Kariat. Salilda after hearing it insisted that it be retained without changes in the final release. The song was Makkathu poi varum maanathe. She also did the chorus for Salilda later in the Chemmeen
Chemmeen
Chemmeen is a 1965 Malayalam romantic drama film based on the highly acclaimed novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and directed by Ramu Kariat from a screenplay by S. L...
songs.Her last song was in 1961 for V Chidambaranath’s film Murapennu Kadavathu thoni aduthapol along with S. Janaki
S. Janaki
S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35...
.Shanta Nair won the Sangeet Natak Academy award in1987.
Personal life
She was married to writer late Padmanabhan Nair. She died on 2008 at the age of 79, She is survived by her daughter.She got an opportunity to sing Vande MataramVande Mataram
Vande Mataram is a poem from the famed novel Anandamath which was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1882. It was written in Bengali and Sanskrit....
before Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
for an event.
Singing Highlights of her career
- Yesudas first duet (Attention penne, Kaalpadukal)
- Vayalar‘s first movie (Thumbi thumbi vaa vaa, Koodapirappu)
- Vayalar & Devarajan combination first movie (Janani, Chaturangam)
- Baburaj’s first compositon (Vaalittu Kannezhuthanam, Minnaminungu)
- Raghavan Master’s first (released) movie song(Unarunaroo, Neelakuyil)
- Her first song (Amma than thankakudame, Thiramala)
Selected Songs
- Unarunaru Unnikanna - Neelakuyil
- Nazhiyurippalukondu naadake kalyanam - Arichanenna Pouran
- Poove nalla Poove - Palattu Koman
- Kadavathu Thoniyaduthappol
- Kadavathu thoni aduthapol
- Poomuttathoru mulla virinju
- Makkathu Poivarum -(Music by Shanta - sung by Latha Raju)
links
- http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/27/stories/2008072754790400.htm
- http://oldmalayalamcinema.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/thiramala1953-naushad-shantha-p-nair-anokhi-ada-1948-and-a-paperboat/
- http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/displayProfile.php?category=singers&artist=Santha%20P%20Nair
- http://musicalavenues.blogspot.com/2010/10/shanta-p-nair-keralas-nightingale.html
- http://maddy06.blogspot.com/2008/11/shanta-p-nair-keralas-nightingale.html