Overview
Sujatha Mohan is an Indian playback singer, primarily associated with Tamil and Malayalam cinema. Active in film music since the late 1970s, she has recorded songs in several Indian languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, and has worked with leading composers across South Indian film industries.
Key facts
| Name | Sujatha Mohan |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Sujatha |
| Profession | Playback singer |
| Languages | Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi |
| Years active | Late 1970s onwards |
| Notable collaborators | Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, Raveendran, Ouseppachan, Vidyasagar |
Background
Sujatha was born in Kerala and trained in Carnatic music from an early age. She began performing on stage as a child and entered playback singing while still young, moving from devotional and light music recordings into film work.
Career
Early career
Her playback debut came in Malayalam cinema, after which she steadily expanded into Tamil films. During the 1980s she sang under several leading South Indian composers, performing duets and solo numbers across a range of film genres.
Work with A. R. Rahman
Her career received renewed prominence from the early 1990s through her association with composer A. R. Rahman. She recorded a number of well-known songs for his Tamil and Hindi soundtracks, which contributed to her wider recognition outside Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Other film work
Alongside film playback, she has performed in stage concerts in India and abroad, and has recorded devotional and non-film albums in Malayalam and Tamil.
Style
Sujatha is known for a soft, melodic vocal timbre suited to romantic and lyrical compositions. Her Carnatic grounding is reflected in her handling of classical-based film songs, while her diction has allowed her to work fluently across multiple South Indian languages.
Recognition
She has received state and industry honours for her playback singing, including recognition in Kerala and Tamil Nadu film circles for her contributions to film music over several decades.