Theni Kunjarammal

Theni Kunjarammal Biography

Theni Kunjarammal is a character artist and playback singer associated with Tamil film industry. She has worked extensively with A. R. Rahman in the late 1990s, and early 2000s, and Rahman recorded many folk songs in her voice. Harris Jayaraj has also given some memorable songs to this veteran singer. Most known for folk and old lady voice in film songs, she got her first big break through "Pettai Rap" song of Rahman for the movie Kadhalan in 1994. She is also associated with politics as a member of AIADMK. She joined the party in 2012, in the presence of Jayalalithaa. As an actress, her role in Karuththamma (1994) was well noticed.

"Araro Ariraro" for Karuththamma, "Kokku Saiva Kokku" for Muthu, "Kummi Adi" for Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, "Adi Manjakelange" and "Kizhakke Nandavanam" for Taj Mahal are some of her noted songs composed by Rahman. "Maada Vilakkae" and "Magarasiyae Manna Vitu Poniyae" from Virumaandi composed by Ilaiyaraaja too were popular. "Ukkadathu" for Arul composed by Harris Jayaraj is yet another hit number.

Her real name is Kunjarammal. She was born in Theni of Tamil Nadu, and hence she is known as Theni Kunjarammal. As a film actress, she is best known for playing the role of a woman who feeds infanticide to baby girls in Karuthamma. Her song, "Araro Ariraro" from the same film composed by Rahman was also well received. Same is the case of a comedy sequence with Vivek for the film, Whistle. She has performed in around Tamil 150 movies, including `Vedam Pudhithu', Virumandi, `Pudhiya Padhai,' Thamizh Padam, Sivakasi, Bharathi Kannamma, Gopura Deepam,`Karuthamma' and `Kushi', and her career spanned to more than 25 years.

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Updated: June 20, 2018