Loss of a Musical Gem: Playback Singer Uma Ramanan’s Legacy Lives On
Uma Ramanan, a renowned playback singer known for her distinctive voice and unforgettable renditions of film songs, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 72. She leaves behind her husband, singer A.V. Ramanan, who established the light music ensemble Musiciano, and their son, Vignesh Ramanan.
While she collaborated with her husband on a few film tracks, it was her solo performance of “Poongathave Thalthiravai” in the movie Nizhalgal, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, that truly showcased her exceptional talent.
“In my opinion, maestro Ilaiyaraaja fully utilised her talents and gave her some of the exceptionally brilliant songs,” said writer and film director Suka.
From the high-pitched melodies like “Anantha Ragam Ketkum Kalam” from Panneer Pushpangal to the soulful rendition of “Aahaya Vennilave Tharimeethu Vanthatheno” in Darbari Kanada, Uma Ramanan showcased her versatility across various musical genres. Whether it was the folk-inspired “Sevvaraly Thottathile Unnai Nenachen” or the enchanting duet “Bhoopalam Isaikkum Poomagal Oorvalam,” she left an indelible mark in each performance.
Her repertoire includes timeless classics like “Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Kanne” in raga Chakravagam, the haunting “Kanmani Nee Vara Kathirunthen” in raga Malayamarutam, the nostalgic “Manjal Veyyil” from Nandu, and the poignant “Pon Maane Kopam” from Oru Kaithiyin Dairy. These songs continue to captivate and resonate with generations of film music aficionados.
“She is different because she struck a fine balance between her career as a playback singer who also performed well on the stage. Though she was versatile and had a sweet voice, she was not utilised by many music directors,” said Vamanan, an historian of Tamil film music.
“Her song, Kannanakku Radhai Nenjam Simmasanam, penned by Kannadasan in the music of M.S. Viswanathan is a song close to my heart,” he added.
