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Sujatha Mohan

Indian playback singer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sujatha Mohan
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Sujatha Mohan is a renowned Indian playback singer known for her contributions to a wide range of Indian film industries, particularly in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. Over her decades-long career, she has also recorded songs in other languages including Kannada, Badaga, Hindi, and Marathi, among others. As of 2025, she had sung more than 18,000 songs.[3] Sujatha is affectionately called Bhava Gayika in Kerala for her emotive singing, and Innisai Kuyil (Nightingale of Music) in Tamil Nadu, reflecting her sweet and expressive vocal style.[4] She has worked with a wide array of prominent music composers such as A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja, M. M. Keeravani, Koti, Vidyasagar, S. A. Rajkumar, and Mani Sharma, and has frequently performed duets with legendary playback singers including K. J. Yesudas, Hariharan, and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.[3] Her voice often described as husky yet melodious along with her ability to adapt to musical styles, has earned her a following.

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Personal life

Sujatha Mohan is the granddaughter of Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai, the first Chief Minister of the erstwhile State of Travancore–Cochin after India gained Independence. Her father, the late Dr. Vijayendran died when she was two years old. She completed her graduation in Economics from the St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam.[5] She married Dr. V. Krishna Mohan on 9 May 1981.[6] Her only daughter, Shweta Mohan, is also a singer. Radhika Thilak and G. Venugopal are her cousins.

Vocal struggles

Sujatha Mohan experienced severe vocal issues for three years in the late 2010s. She struggled even to speak, making it impossible for her to take up singing assignments.

Though she was unable to perform, she worked extensively to regain her voice and eventually resumed singing, including recording songs again.[7]

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Career

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Mohan shot to fame in the seventies as Baby Sujatha, the schoolgirl who regularly used to sing with K. J. Yesudas in his stage shows all over the world. She recorded her first song, "Kannezhuthy Pottuthottu" when she was in the sixth standard. The song was composed by M. K. Arjunan for the 1975 Malayalam movie Tourist Bungalow. She recorded songs for Shyam in Kamam Krodham Moham and Salil Chowdhury in Aparadhi. Around this time, composer M. G. Radhakrishnan got her to record many non-film songs; the biggest hit among them was "Odakkuzhal Vili".

She debuted in Tamil through the song "Kaadhal Oviyam Kandein" from Kavikuyil (1977), tuned in Hameer Kalyani raga by Illayaraja, but it was not included in the film. Her first released song in Tamil was "Kalai Paniyil" from the Tamil film Gaayathri (1977), starring Sridevi and Rajinikanth with music by Ilaiyaraja. She sang for Ilaiyaraaja in Johnny, Kavikuyil and Ilamai Kolangal. After her marriage in 1981, she took a sabbatical from playback singing. She made a successful comeback in 1988 through Kadathanadan Ambadi, followed by the hit Chithram.

She used to sing ad jingles in the late 1980s for A. R. Rahman (such as the Premiere Cooker ad and the Tilda Rice ad). Then Rahman got her to sing "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" from Mani Ratnam's 1992 film Roja, which became one of the biggest hit songs in India. The backing vocals for the song "Kadhal Roja" were also performed by Sujatha. She has had other hit songs, most of them with Rahman from films including Pudhiya Mugam (1992), Gentleman (1993), Jeans and Minsaara Kanavu (1997). She has also recorded some songs in Hindi, including "Dil Hai Sanam" (the Hindi version of "Thee Thee") from Chor Chor (Thiruda Thiruda), "Ishq Bina" from Taal, "Hai Jaana" from Pukar and "Ishwar Allah" from Earth, and provided backing vocals for the song "Tum Ho Meri Nigahom" from Kabhi Na Kabhi, all of them composed by A. R. Rahman. She has had many of her notable and successful songs under the musical direction of Rahman.

She made a strong comeback in the Malayalam film industry in the mid-1990s and most of her notable Malayalam songs were composed by Vidyasagar. Most of her hit songs from Telugu are composed by Mani Sharma.

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Discography

Main article: List of songs recorded by Sujatha Mohan

Awards

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Mohan has received several awards and recognitions for her work in the South Indian film musical world. In 2021, she was awarded the Kalaimamani award by the Government of Indian state Tamil Nadu for the year 2019. She has also received Kerala and Tamil Nadu state awards.

Kerala State Film Awards

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Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

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Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

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South Indian International Movie Awards

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Other prominent awards and nominations

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Malayalam album songs

  • "Maathey" - (2025)
  • "Ilamyel Kondu Njaan" – Ithal (2016)
  • "Maayumee thaazvarayooram" – Album (2015)
  • "Vaadyaghosham" – Kerala Piravi Day (2014)
  • "Kanna Neeyengupoi" – Nandagopalam (2013)
  • "Kayalthirakalil Kanneeralakalil" – Kulirmazhayai (2011)
  • "Athramel Athramel" – Danaha (2011)
  • "Ravereyayittum" – Pranayamarmaram (2009)
  • "Ee Manjil" – Spandanam (2010)
  • "Ennennum" – (2010)
  • "Manju Peyyume" – Purple (2009)
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TV shows

Mohan has judged popular reality shows over South Indian television across Malayalam and Tamil languages.

As judge
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References

External links

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