Playback singer Uma Ramanan passes away

Uma Ramanan

Playback singer Uma Ramanan passed away on Wednesday. She has sung any memorable songs through her glorious career. Ramanan was 72 and is survived by her husband A.V. Ramanan and her son Vignesh Ramanan. A.V Ramanan founded a light music troupe Musiciano.

Uma Ramanan's claim to fame was with the song 'Poongathave Thalthiravai' which was composed by Ilaiyaraaja in the film 'Nizhalgal'. It gave her a big career break and she went on to record more than 100 songs with Ilayaraja alone. She has also sung for other music directors namely Vidyasagar, Deva and Mani Sharma.

Before that, she sang in a few films with her husband. Raman studied classical music under Pazhani Vijayalakshmi. She met her husband AV Ramanan who was a television host, performer and actor when he was looking for fresh talents for stage concerts. They performed on stage together and eventually got married. Their son, Vignesh is also a musician.

Uma Ramanan has predominantly sung in Tamil language. Be it the high-pitch Simmendramathymam-based 'Anantha Ragam Ketkum Kalam' composed by Ilaiyaraaja in the film 'Panneer Pushpangal', 'Aahaya Vennilave Tharimeethu Vanthatheno' in Darbari Kanada, a folk-based 'Sevvaraly Thottathile Unnai Nenachen' or a fine duet Bhoopalam Isaikkum Poomagal Oorvalam, she excelled in them all.

She is also known for songs like 'Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Kanne' in raga Chakravagam, 'Kanmani Nee Vara Kathirunthen' in raga Malayamarutam, 'Manjal Veyyil' in the film 'Nandu' and 'Pon Maane Kopam' in 'Oru Kaithiyin Dairy'.

She was also a live stage performer who appeared in more than 6,000 concerts spanning 35 years. Uma Ramanan was also a dancer trained under Padma Subrahmanyam.