Latha Raju

Latha Raju
Latha Raju
Born	June 25, 1951 (age 72); Trichur, Kerala, India
Genres	Playback singing, Acting, Dubbing
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1962–1999
Labels	Audiotracs

Latha Raju (born 25 June 1951^{[citation needed]}) is an Indian film singer and actress in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s. Some of her popular Malayalam songs are "Pinchu Hridayam Devalayam" and "Manjakkilee Swarnakkilee Mayilppeelikkaattile Varnakkilee" from the film Sethubandhanam, "Ividuthe Chechikkinnale" (Azhakulla Saleena) and "Aaluvaappuzhakkakkareyoru Ponnambalam" (Aadyathe Kadha). She has also rendered songs in Tamil, Kannada and Tulu. She has dubbed for famous actresses like Suhasini, Shobhana, late Shobha and many other leading actresses in some of the landmark films in Malayalam.^[1] She has won Kerala Film Critics Award in 2003 for lifetime achievement. The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi awarded her the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2009 for contributions to Malayalam light music.^[2] In 2019 Kerala Government honoured her for her outstanding contributions to Malayalam cinema and music.

She worked in All India Radio / Dooradarshan in various capacities for 34 years. Was the Station Director of Chennai and Trivandrum Stations for many years and retired as Director of Marketing.

Personal life[edit]

Latha Raju born on 25.06.1951 is the only child of singer Santha P. Nair and K. Padmanabhan Nair, who was a writer, film director, radio dramatist and All India Radio Station Director. Her first song was in the 1962 Malayalam film Snehadeepam. She post graduated in Master of Arts. She retired as director of marketing in Akashvani, Doordarshan, Chennai in 2011 and continued in the same post as a consultant till 2016. Her husband, J. M. Raju, himself a playback singer, produces music albums. The couple have two children, Aalap Raju and Anupama.^[3] Her son Aalap Raju is also a musician and playback singer.^[4]

Filmography[edit]

As an actress[edit]

Moodupadam (1963)
Chemmeen (1965)
Pakalkkinavu (1966)
Ezhu Raathrikal (1968)

As a playback singer[edit]

Thaatheyyam Kaattile - Kannum Karalum (1962)
Onnaamtharam - Snehadeepam (1962)
Maanathulloru - Moodupadam (1963)
Poo Poocha Poochetti - Devaalayam (1964)
Kannaaram Pothi - Murappennu (1965)
Kannukalennal - Devatha (1965)
Janmabhoomi Bharatam - Devatha (1965)
Ponnaaram Chollaathe - Subaida (1965)
Ichirippoovalan - Inapraavukal (1965)
Paavakkutti - Kadathukaaran (1965)
Ambaadi Thannil - Kadathukaaran (1965)
Premaswapnathin - Chekuthaante Kotta (1967)
Paampine Pedichu - NGO (1967)
Kakkakkarumbikale - Ezhu Raathrikal (1968)
Makkathu Poyvarum - Ezhu Raathrikal (1968)
Ithuvare Pennoru - Kaliyalla Kalyaanam (1968)
Thaarunya Swapnangal - Kaliyalla Kalyaanam (1968)
Karayunna Nerathum - Velliyaazhcha (1969)
Kezhakku Kezhakkorana- Thriveni (1970)
Nammude Mathaavu - Abhayam (1970)
Thirumayilppeeli - Swapnangal (1970)
Kanninu Kannaaya - Priya (1970)
Villukettiya - Line Bus (1971)
Thallu Thallu - Aabhijaathyam (1971)
Aattin Manappurathu - Aabhijaathyam (1971)
Paappi Appacha - Mayilaadumkunnu (1972)
Umma Tharumo - Preethi (1972)
Aaluvaappuzhakkakare - Aadyathe Kadha (1972)
Va Mammy Va Mummy - Panitheeraatha Veedu (1973)
Kaattumozhukkum - Panitheeraatha Veedu (1973)
Ividathe Chechikku - Azhakulla Saleena (1973)
Pinchuhridayam - Sethubandhanam (1974)
Manjakkilee - Sethubandhanam (1974)
Padinjaroru Paalazhi - Chakravaakam (1974)
Paanante Veenakku - Thumbolaarcha (1974)
Atham Rohini - Thumbolaarcha (1974)
Polalli - Prayaanam (1975)
Maappilappaattile - Alibabayum 41 Kallanmaarum (1975)
Vallaathe Vishakkunnu - Ayodhya (1975)
Kandam Vechoru - Maanishaada (1975)
Kaathu Kaathu - Manassoru Mayil (1977)
Maanathoraaraattam - Manassoru Mayil (1977)
Hindolaraagathin - Thuruppugulaan (1977)
Ilaahi Nin Rehmath - Thuruppugulaan (1977)
Nanma Nerum Amma - Aparaadhi (1977)
Ammaykku Vendathu - Niraparayum Nilavilakkum (1977)
Chentheekkanal - Agninakshathram (1977)
Velutha vaavinte - Veedu Oru Swargam (1977)
Kalyaanaraathriyil - Samudram (1977)
Pankajaakshi - Sooryadaham (1980)
Thulaabharamallo - Kochu Kochu Thettukal (1980)
Achan sundara sooryan - Swarangal Swapnangal (1981)
Pottichirikkunna - Kadhayariyaathe (1981)
Nirangal Nirangal - Kadhayariyaathe (1981)
Aayilyam - Naagamadathu Thampuraatti (1982)
Punnarappenninte - Jambulingam (1982)
Maama maama karayalle - Thuranna Jail (1982)
Oorukaani malavazhiye - Aaroodham (1983)
Rithumathiyaay - Mazhanilaavu (1983)
Neelamalayude - Aa Penkutty Nee Aayirunnenkil (1985)
Ennaaliniyoru Kadha - Kochuthemmaadi (1986)
Aattavum Paattum - Kilippaattu (1987)
Porunnirikkum Choodil - Sarvakalashaala (1987)
Vaanil Vibhaatham - Chevalier Michael (1992)

References[edit]

^ "Veteran playback singer Latha Raju still going strong". 25 October 2013.
^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Light Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
^ "Mathrubhumi: Programs". mathrubhuminews.in. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014.
^ "There is no stopping for veteran playback singer Latha Raju". ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

External links[edit]

Latha Raju at IMDb
Latha Raju at MSI

[1] "Veteran playback singer Latha Raju still going strong". 25 October 2013.

[2] "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Light Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

[3] "Mathrubhumi: Programs". mathrubhuminews.in. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014.

[4] "There is no stopping for veteran playback singer Latha Raju". ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

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