Overview
P. Susheela (Pulapaka Susheela) is an Indian playback singer best known for her work in South Indian cinema, particularly in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. With a career spanning more than six decades beginning in the early 1950s, she is widely regarded as one of the most influential female playback voices in Indian film music. She is celebrated for her crystalline tonal quality, clear diction, and ability to render classical, folk, and light film compositions with equal facility.
Key facts
| Full name | Pulapaka Susheela |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 November 1935, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh |
| Profession | Playback singer |
| Languages | Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and others |
| Years active | 1950s onwards |
| Notable honours | Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, multiple National Film Awards, several state Nandi and Filmfare South awards |
| Spouse | Dr. Mohan Rao |
Background and early life
Susheela was born into a Telugu-speaking family in Vizianagaram, in the northern part of present-day Andhra Pradesh. Her father, Mukunda Rao, was a lawyer and an admirer of classical music, and he encouraged her early musical training. She received formal training in Carnatic music and later studied at the Maharaja's Music College in Vijayanagaram, where her grounding in classical raga and kriti shaped the precision of her later film work.
Career
Entry into cinema
Susheela was introduced to the film industry by composer Pendyala Nageswara Rao, and she made her Telugu and Tamil playback debut in the early 1950s. Her early Tamil break came through composer R. Sudarsanam in the film Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam, while her Telugu career took shape with films produced by banners such as Vijaya Vauhini Studios.
Collaborations
She formed enduring musical partnerships with leading South Indian composers, including Ghantasala, S. Rajeswara Rao, K. V. Mahadevan, M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, Salil Chowdhury, Ilaiyaraaja, and Pendyala. Her duets with Ghantasala in Telugu cinema and with T. M. Soundararajan in Tamil cinema are considered defining works of the era. She also recorded extensively with P. B. Sreenivas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and K. J. Yesudas.
Range of work
She has recorded songs for nearly every major South Indian heroine of her time, including Savitri, B. Saroja Devi, Jamuna, Vyjayanthimala, K. R. Vijaya, and J. Jayalalithaa. Her output covers devotional songs, classical-based compositions, lullabies, folk-flavoured numbers, and modern light music. She has also lent her voice to private devotional albums and stage concerts across India and abroad.
Awards and recognition
- National Film Awards: Multiple wins for Best Female Playback Singer, including for Telugu and Tamil films.
- Padma Shri: Conferred by the Government of India for her contribution to the arts.
- Padma Bhushan: Conferred subsequently in recognition of her sustained contribution to Indian music.
- Nandi Awards: Conferred by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
- Filmfare Awards South: Awarded across multiple language categories.
- Guinness World Records and Asia Book of Records: Recognised for the large number of film songs recorded by a female playback singer.
P. Susheela Trust
Susheela established the P. Susheela Trust, which presents annual awards honouring veteran musicians and supports charitable initiatives connected to music education and the welfare of artistes.
Significance
P. Susheela's voice defined the golden era of South Indian film music from the 1950s through the 1980s. Her diction across multiple languages, her adherence to classical purity, and her stylistic restraint set a benchmark for later generations of female playback singers in the southern industries. She is frequently grouped with S. Janaki as one of the two most prominent female voices of South Indian cinema during the latter half of the twentieth century.
Personal life
She is married to Dr. Mohan Rao, and the family is based in Chennai, where she has lived for most of her professional career.