Veteran playback singer Vani Jairam passes away at 78 in Chennai

Padma Bhushan awardee Vani Jairam was found dead at her residence in Chennai on February 4. She was 78. The singer was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India ahead of Republic Day 2023. The news of her sudden demise sent shockwaves across the country. She was known for recording over 10,000 songs in her career. More details regarding her last rites are awaited.

On January 25, the Government of India honoured Vani Jairam with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award. Fans took to social media to congratulate the veteran singer.

On February 4, Vani Jairam was found dead at her house



in Nungambakkam, in Chennai. The cause of her death is still unknown. Her husband, Jairam, breathed his last in 2018.

Born as a Kalivani, Vani Jairam hailed from a family of classically trained musicians. She was born to Duraisamy Iyengar and Padmavathi. She became a playback singer in 1971 and went on to sing for over five decades. She sang in over 19 languages and won National Film Awards and state government awards.

Vani Jairam's big break came with Guddi in 1971. She worked with many legendary composers, including MS Vishwanathan, KV Mahadevan, Chakravarthy, Ilaiyaraaja, and Sathyam, among others.