Lathika
Encyclopedia
Lathika is an Indian playback singer
whose voice held sway over the music charts in the late 1980s-early 1990s in the Malayalam Film Industry. She has lent her voice mainly for Malayalam and Tamil film songs for over 300 films. Some of her hit songs of that time are ‘Kathodu Kathoram…' and ‘Devadoothar Padi…'(‘Kathodu Kathoram
'), ‘Melle melle…' (‘Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
'), and ‘Tharum Thalirum…' (‘Chilambu
') etc.
for I. V. Sasi
's ‘Abhinandam' (1976). She sang the duet with K. J. Yesudas
, who, she says, has always been her mentor.
Over the years Lathika also has had the “good fortune” to sing in the debut films of some of the most famous composers in Malayalam including Ravindran Master (‘Choola'), Ouseppachan (‘Kathodu Kathoram') and S.P. Venkatesh (‘Rajavinte Makan').
Although Lathika, had earlier sung playback for a number of songs and was a star on the ganamela circuit in and around Kollam and Tamil Nadu, it wasn't until she was introduced to Bharathan that she began to be noticed in the music industry.
It was music director Raveendran
, who introduced her to film director Bharathan
. She sang the song ‘Varnangal Gandhangal...' in his ‘Chamaram' (1980), for which Raveendran Master
composed this one song [the others were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan
].Then her turn came for the music production of ‘Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove' (1984) when they needed a female artiste to hum a pallavi
. In those days S. Janaki
was the regining melody queen and such a senior artiste couldn't be brought in only to hum a few lines. That's when Raveendran
suggested her name. She was called for an audition and Bharathan
liked her voice so much that he gave her the song ‘Pon Pularoli…' to sing. Sure enough from that time onwards Bharathan ensured that Lathika got to sing in almost all his films, such as ‘Dum Dum Dum Dhundhubinatham…' (Vaishali
) and ‘Hridayaraga…' (‘Amaram
'), to name a few. Her last song for him was ‘Othiri Othiri Mohangal…' in ‘Vengalam
.'
Her last renditions(till now) for a movie was in 2000 for Thottam which featured 6 Traditional Folk songs, all rendered by Lathika.
.
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
whose voice held sway over the music charts in the late 1980s-early 1990s in the Malayalam Film Industry. She has lent her voice mainly for Malayalam and Tamil film songs for over 300 films. Some of her hit songs of that time are ‘Kathodu Kathoram…' and ‘Devadoothar Padi…'(‘Kathodu Kathoram
Kathodu Kathoram
Kaathodu Kaathoram is a 1985 Malayalam movie, made in India, by Bharathan and starring Mammootty and Saritha.-Plot:The movie is about a young man Louis who is taken in by the central woman protagonist Marykutty , who herself is a victim of a bad marriage.-Cast:*Mammootty ... Louis*Nedumudi Venu...
'), ‘Melle melle…' (‘Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam is a 1987 Malayalam drama film directed by Bharathan, written by John Paul and starring Nedumudi Venu, Sharada and Parvathy. The film is about an elderly teacher couple, who bring up a girl with devotion — only to lose her as well as her son...
'), and ‘Tharum Thalirum…' (‘Chilambu
Chilambu
Chilambu is a 1986 Malayalam film. Directed by Bharathan, this film is about the revenge by a young man against his uncle who grabbed his family properties by expelling his mom and father from the house. Rahman, Thilakan, Shobhana, Nedumudi Venu and Babu Antony appeared in leading roles. The script...
') etc.
Career
Lathika debuted at the age of 16 with the song "Pushpathalpathin.." composed by Kannur RajanKannur Rajan
Kannur Rajan was a notable music composer from Kerala, India. He died in the year 2000 at his home town in Kannur. Though his contributions are few, they are noted as nostalgic in the Malayalam film songs....
for I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...
's ‘Abhinandam' (1976). She sang the duet with K. J. Yesudas
K. J. Yesudas
Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,...
, who, she says, has always been her mentor.
Over the years Lathika also has had the “good fortune” to sing in the debut films of some of the most famous composers in Malayalam including Ravindran Master (‘Choola'), Ouseppachan (‘Kathodu Kathoram') and S.P. Venkatesh (‘Rajavinte Makan').
Although Lathika, had earlier sung playback for a number of songs and was a star on the ganamela circuit in and around Kollam and Tamil Nadu, it wasn't until she was introduced to Bharathan that she began to be noticed in the music industry.
It was music director Raveendran
Raveendran
M. Raveendran , fondly called as "Raveendran Master" was a popular South Indian music composer and Playback singer from Kerala. He was always referred to as the aristocratic music director of Malayalam who had a distinctive style of his own. He composed more than 150 films primarily for the...
, who introduced her to film director Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
. She sang the song ‘Varnangal Gandhangal...' in his ‘Chamaram' (1980), for which Raveendran Master
Raveendran
M. Raveendran , fondly called as "Raveendran Master" was a popular South Indian music composer and Playback singer from Kerala. He was always referred to as the aristocratic music director of Malayalam who had a distinctive style of his own. He composed more than 150 films primarily for the...
composed this one song [the others were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan was a senior music director and Carnatic vocalist from Kerala. He is highly regarded as one of the most successful light music and film music composer in Malayalam.- Personal life :M. G...
].Then her turn came for the music production of ‘Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove' (1984) when they needed a female artiste to hum a pallavi
Pallavi
In Carnatic music pallavi is the thematic line of a song. It is usually one cycle long and repeated twice in order to give the percussionist the idea of the chosen taalam...
. In those days S. Janaki
S. Janaki
S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35...
was the regining melody queen and such a senior artiste couldn't be brought in only to hum a few lines. That's when Raveendran
Raveendran
M. Raveendran , fondly called as "Raveendran Master" was a popular South Indian music composer and Playback singer from Kerala. He was always referred to as the aristocratic music director of Malayalam who had a distinctive style of his own. He composed more than 150 films primarily for the...
suggested her name. She was called for an audition and Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
liked her voice so much that he gave her the song ‘Pon Pularoli…' to sing. Sure enough from that time onwards Bharathan ensured that Lathika got to sing in almost all his films, such as ‘Dum Dum Dum Dhundhubinatham…' (Vaishali
Vaishali
Vaishali may refer to:* Vaishali , an ancient city located in current Vaishali District, Bihar, India* Vaishali district, a district in Bihar, India* Vaishali , a Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, India...
) and ‘Hridayaraga…' (‘Amaram
Amaram
Amaram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by Bharathan and written by A. K. Lohithadas, starring Mammootty, Murali, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Balan K. Nair, Ashokan, Chitra, and Kuthiravattam Pappu in the main roles. The film score is composed by Johnson while the songs are by Raveendran.The...
'), to name a few. Her last song for him was ‘Othiri Othiri Mohangal…' in ‘Vengalam
Vengalam
Vengalam is a town in Kerala, India, approximately 16 km from Kozhikode and very near Kappad Beach. The landmark is the Railway Overbridge inaugurated by Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan. This 433-metre bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs.4.59 crores and was a boon for the frequent travellers...
.'
Her last renditions(till now) for a movie was in 2000 for Thottam which featured 6 Traditional Folk songs, all rendered by Lathika.
Present Life
Currently she is serving as lecturer in music at the Swathi Thirunal College of Music, ThiruvananthapuramSwathi Thirunal College of Music
Swathi Thirunal College of Music is a music college in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It was founded in 1939. It was first named as "The Music Academy. The name was renamed as Swathi Thirunal College of Music in 1962. The founder of this institution was L. Muttayyah Bhagavathar.The primary...
.