Bombay Jayashri

Bombay Jayashri
Birth name Jayashri
Born India
Genres Carnatic music
Occupations Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1982–present

Bombay Jayashri Ramnath is an Indian Carnatic music vocalist. She has also recorded songs as a playback singer in South Indian films. She has many albums to her credit, released as cassettes and CDs.

In 1989, she enrolled herself as a disciple of Lalgudi G Jayaraman. Since 1989, she has been under the guidance and tutelage of the renowned violin maestro. She is also a student of veena, under G N Dhandapani Iyer.[1]

Contents

Profile

Born into a family of musicians with a rich lineage, Bombay Jayashri began her musical journey as a child under the guidance of her parents Smt Seetha and Sri N.N. Subramaniam. Smt T. R. Balamani was her next teacher. She was groomed in Hindustani music by Sri Mahavir Jaipurvale and Sri Ajay Pohankar for over six years and also possesses a Diploma in Music from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. She evolved to her present style under the guidance and mentorship of her Guru, the legendary violin maestro Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman. At the same time she has learnt the veena from Sri Dandapani Iyer.

Jayashri began her concert career in 1982. She has had a vast performing experience presenting concerts all over India and in over twenty different countries around the globe. Jayashri has the rare privilege of being the first Carnatic vocal performer in the Royal Opera House, Durban and the Russian Opera House at Helsinki, Finland. She was also the sole representative of the Carnatic Music tradition at Lausanne, Switzerland; Porto, Portugal and Santiago, Spain, and is the only artiste who has been featured twice at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Besides her musical performances, she continues to deliver workshops all over the world on the subject of World Music.

Jayashri has composed and arranged music for several albums, dance operas and even a tele-film. Her Jugalbandhis with Sri Ronu Majumdar and Smt Shubha Mudgal are very popular both at home and overseas. She has dialogued with artistes in dance like Kum Leela Samson and has lent her voice for Sri Abdul Kalam’s audio autobiography - Wings of Fire. Her quest to interact and experiment with various forms of Music has resulted in collaborations with various eminent artistes from around the world, and she has sung with Egyptian singer Hisham Abbas and Senegalese singer Thione Seck. She was part of an Indo-Finnish venture ‘Rain and Red Earth’, where she sang Kurunthogai (ancient poems from the Sangam literature) with Avanti, a Philharmonic Orchestra from Finland.

She is much sought after as a playback singer and her limited foray into film music has won her the Flimfare award for the popular 'Vaseegara' drawing a new class of listeners into the world of classical music.

Jayashri has been the recipient of several awards and accolades from many prestigious institutions, including the Kalaimamani award from the Govt. of Tamil Nadu and she has been conferred a Doctorate by the Mother Theresa Women’s University.

In addition to her musical achievements, she has co-authored the book ‘Voices Within’, and created history by being featured in the first full length Carnatic music film ‘Margazhi Ragam’ along with Sri TM Krishna. She is actively involved in SVANUBHAVA - a six-day Music Festival, exclusively for the students of Music conducted annually, and is passionate about reaching music to people of all backgrounds and ages. She is to be lauded for her contribution and involvement in several social causes through the medium of her music.

She is a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba (http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=hub070511WHY.asp).

Awards & Accolades

•Received the SANGEETHA KALASARATHY award from the Vanamamalai Mutt pontiff Kalian Ramanuja Swamigal on behalf of Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Chennai, 2007.

•Received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for BEST PLAYBACK SINGER 2005 from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, 2007

•Was conferred the KALAIMAMANI VIRUDHU by the Government of Tamil Nadu, 2007.

•Honoured SHANMUKHA SANGEETHA SHIROMANI by Shanmukhananda Sabha, Bombay. Conferred by S M Krishna, Governor of Maharashtra, 2006.

•Awarded M S SUBBALAKSHMI PURASKAR by Vishaka Music Academy, Vishakapatnam. Conferred By Shri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, 2006.

•Received the prestigious SANGEETHA CHOODAMANI AWARD from Dr. A C Muthiah from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in the presence of her Guru Shri. Lalgudi G Jayaraman, 2005.

•Was conferred the title of ATMA VANISHRI from Poojya Shri Shantananda Swami of the Temple of Fine Arts at Varanasi, in the presence Tabla Maestro, Pt. Kishan Maharaj, 2003

•MANI MAKUDAM by Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Coimbatore, 2002.• Received the KALKI AWARD from Cine Director K Balachander, on behalf of the Kalki Krishnamoorthy Trust, 2002.

•Was conferred the title of NAADABHOOSHANAM by Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, New Delhi, 2001.

•Was declared as ASTHANA VIDHUSHI of the Shringeri Mutt by the Mahasannidhanam, 2001.

•Was conferred the title of ISAI PEROLI by Dr. P Chidambaram, Union Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Karthik Fine Arts, in the presence of Music Maestro Balamurali Krishna, 1997.

•Title of YUVA KALA BHARATI conferred by Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, 1992.

Film Playback Singing

Jayashri has sung several film songs for movies in different languages and predominantly in Tamil. Her first song in films was for Ilayaraja. However she shot to fame after singing the classical duet song "Narumughaye" for the film Iruvar along with Unnikrishnan and composed by A. R. Rahman. Her other playback career highlighting song was "Vaseegara" for the film Minnale in 2001. The song was composed by Harris Jayaraj and went on to become the biggest hit songs of the year. Since then, Harris - Jayashri combination has been a noteworthy composer-singer duo combinations of Tamil Cinema industry.

Some of Jayashri's memorable film playbacks:

Song Title Film Title Music Director
"Pemmaane" Aayirathil Oruvan G. V. Prakash Kumar
"Kana Ondrai Kandean" Anthony Yaar? Dhina
"Ninnai charan" Bharathi Ilayaraja
"Saghiye" Dhaam Dhoom Harris Jayaraj
"Uyir Ezhuthae" Dhik Dhik D. Imman
"Orumurai Nee Parthal" Eesaa Haran
"Suttum Vizhi" Ghajini Harris Jayaraj
"Kanna Nee Ennai" Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam G. V. Prakash
"Naramughaiye Naramughaiye" Iruvar A. R. Rahman
"Thithi Thidavae" Jana Dhina
"Ondra Renda" Kaakha Kaakha Harris Jayaraj
"Uppu Kallu" Karuppusamy Kuththagaithaarar Dhinna
"Venpaniye" Ko (film) Harris Jayaraj
"Mudhal Kanave" Majunu Harris Jayaraj
"Vaseegara" Minnale Harris Jeyaraj
"Pudichirukku Pudichirukku" Nenjirukkum Varai Srikanth Deva
"Priya Idhu Sitout" Nepali Srikanth Deva
"Unakkul Naane" Pachaikili Muthucharam Harris Jayaraj
"Minnalgal Koothadum" Pollathavan G. V. Prakash
"Unnai Thedum" Pon Megalai Ilayaraja
"Malargale" Pudhukottayilirundhu Saravanan Yuvan Shankar Raja
"Vizhigalilae" Renigunta Ganesh Ragavedran
"Chellame Chellame" Sathyam Harris Jayaraj
"Uyire En Uyire" Thotti Jaya Harris Jayaraj
"Theenda Theenda" Thulluvadho Ilamai Yuvan Shankar Raja
"Abinayam Kaatugindra" Uyilin Osai Ilayaraja
"Nilai Varumaa" Unnai Pol Oruvan Shruthi Haasan
"Neenda" Vedigundu Murugesan Dhina
"Pranaya Sandhyayoru" Ore Kadal Ouseppachan
"Nenjikulle" Thittakudi Selva Nambi
"Paartha Mudhal" Vettaiyadu Vilayadu Harris Jayaraj
"Kaiyil Veenai Yendhum" Vietnam Colony Ilayaraja
"Zara Zara" Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein Harris Jayaraj, Aadesh Shrivastava
"Enna Matramo" Ennai Theriyuma Achu
"Chahoo Bhi To" FORCE 2011 Harris Jayaraj
"Mausams Theme Music" Mausams - The Movie[2] B. Prasanna[3]

In Kannada also she has sung few songs which include:

Jothe Jotheyali - Summane Summane Iddaru Summane - V. Harikrishna

Excuse Me - Preethse Antha Prana Thinno - R. P. Patnaik

She has also given a fusion of the Classical song "Kuzhaloodhi manamellaam" for the title track of the film Mitr, My Friend under the music of Bhavatharini.

She has worked with the music Maestro M.S. Viswanathan in a devotional album called "Arul tharum Abirami".

Discography

WindSong - Classical Jugalbandi by Pandit Ronu Majumdar & Bombay Jayashree - 2010

MADRASIL MARGAZHI 2006 BY RAJALAKSHMI - 2007

AZHAGA BY RAJALAKSHMI - 2006

TRAYI BY RAJALAKSHMI - 2006

References

External links