Jayalakshmi (of Radha Jayalakshmi Duo)

Jayalakshmi (of Radha Jayalakshmi Duo) Biography

Jayalakshmi was a Carnatic music vocalist as well as playback singers in films in the 1940s and 1950s. She along with another Carnatic vocalist Jaya formed the famous duo Carnatic singers of 20th century, Radha Jayalakshmi. Radha and Jayalakshmi were cousins who performed together, and also began the trend of duo sisters to perform Carnatic music together. The duo together performed in many Carnatic concerts of first half of 1900s, and later worked as music teachers. Jayalakshmi worked in films as a playback singer, yet her name was credited as Radha Jayalakshmi, and she sang many memorable songs in the 1940s and 1950s. Jayalakshmi died in Chennai on 27 May 2014.

The cousin sisters took formal learning in Carnatic music from G. N. Balasubramaniam school, where they directly learnt from their guru G. N. Balasubramaniam. After that they started performing together for concerts, and turned to be a trendsetter. Many south Indian vocalists followed the same trend; Bombay Sisters, Soolamangalam Sisters, Sickle Sisters, Ranjani-Gayatri, Priya Sisters and a few more.

As a playback singer, her career began in 1940s, when music in movies just started to flourish. She got opportunity to work with all leading music composers of her time, and she sang in all the four south Indian regional languages. Her 'ringing' trained, cultured sweet voice became immensely popular towards late 1940s, and she stayed active till 1950s. Yet quite a few songs were recorded in 1960s and 1970s also.

Radha sang aside Jayalakshmi for one film, Thiruchendooril Por Purindhu for the movie Deivam. For the rest films, Jayalakshmi worked as playback singer. They were honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Carnatic Music – Vocal by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1981. She passed away in 2014. Priya sisters are their students.

Published: July 23, 2018

Updated: July 23, 2018