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Kalyani Menon

かりあに・めのん

Kalyani Menon

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1941-07-05 （Kerala, Ernakulam District, British Raj）
Died
2021-08-02 age 80
Nationality
India
Languages
English, Malayalam, Tamil
Residence History
Kerala → Chennai (formerly Madras)

Career

Occupations
Playback singer, Singer, Classical vocalist
Active Years
1968-2021
Influenced By
M. R. Sivaraman Nair

Awards

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award
2008
Category: Classical Music
Organization: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
Result: Winner
Kalaimamani Award
2010
Organization: Government of Tamil Nadu
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Kuluvalile (Muthu)

1995 Film song

Popular song from the film Muthu, composed by A. R. Rahman.

Traditional musicFilm

Alaipayuthey

2000 Film song

Title track from the film Alaipayuthey, composed by A. R. Rahman.

LoveMelody

Omana Penne

2010 Film song

Song from Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, composed by A. R. Rahman, co-lyricist.

LoveYouth

Bibliography

  • Sevvaaname Ponmegame (Nallathoru Kudumbam, 1979)
  • Nee Varuvaaiyena (Sujatha, 1980)
  • Kuluvalile (Muthu, 1995)
  • Alaipayuthey (Alaipayuthey, 2000)
  • Omana Penne (Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, 2010)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Classical vocal styleEmotionally rich vocals
Recurring Motifs
Traditional Indian musicFilm soundtracks

Legacy

Renowned playback singer in the Indian film industry, particularly in Malayalam and Tamil cinema, known for collaborations with A. R. Rahman.

In Popular Culture

  • Her son Rajiv Menon is a noted cinematographer and director.

Trivia

  • Widowed at 37 after husband's heart attack in 1978.
  • One son is Rajiv Menon, filmmaker; another is Karun Menon, IRAS officer.
  • Featured in A. R. Rahman's Vande Mataram album.