Bombay Sisters – Wikipedia

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Indian Carnatic music singing duo

Bombay Sisters
Bombay Sisters.jpg
Born
  • C. Saroja
  • (1936-12-07) 7 December 1936 (age 86)
  • Trichur, British India
  • C. Lalitha
  • (1938-08-26)26 August 1938
  • Trichur, British India
Died
  • C. Lalitha
  • 31 January 2023(2023-01-31) (aged 84)
Genres Carnatic music
Education S.I.E.S Matunga
Alma mater Delhi University
Awards Padma Shri (2020)

Musical artist

The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja (born 7 December 1936) and C. Lalitha (26 August 1938 – 31 January 2023), were an Indian Carnatic music singing duo.[1] They received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, in 2020.

Early life[edit]

The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja and C. Lalitha, were born in Trichur, in what is today Kerala, to Mukthambal and N. Chidambaram Iyer. The sisters were brought up in Bombay. Saroja and Lalitha had their education in the S.I.E.S Matunga, passed their intermediate privately from Bhopal, M.P. and completed their graduation from Delhi University. They had their musical training with H. A. S. Mani, Musiri Subramania Iyer and T. K. Govinda Rao. T. K. Govinda Rao played major role in training the nuances of Carnatic music, How to enhance the raga and its bhava while singing sangatis in a kriti[2][3][4]

After they were groomed in Carnatic music in Mumbai, the sisters moved to Chennai when the elder sister, Saroja, first received a fellowship at the Central College of Music in Madras (now Chennai). The younger sister, Lalitha, also later received a fellowship at the same college.[5] The duo got their name when Mouna Swamigal of Ambattur addressed them as ‘Bombay Sahodarigal’ (transl. Bombay Sisters) and the name stuck.[5][6]

As part of the trend of duo singing in Carnatic music, which started in the 1950s, with performers like Radha Jayalakshmi, and Soolamangalam Sisters,[7] Bombay Sisters began singing in 1963 when they started with light classical music, subsequently progressing to classical Carnatic music.[8] Their first major concert in Madras was at the Sai Baba temple in Mylapore, where they were bumped to the prime-time slot because of the unavailability of Madurai Mani Iyer.[9]

The duo sang in multiple languages including Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi.[10] They stayed away from singing for film-songs through their career.[9] They were also known for promoting young musicians through endowments and scholarships.[8] They received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, in 2020.[11]

  • Padmashri, 2020; awarded by the Government of India[12][13]
  • Isai Peraringar Award, 2006; awarded by the Tamil Isai Sangam[14]
  • Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, 2006; awarded by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai[15]
  • Kalaimamani for contributions to Carnatic music; awarded by the Government of Tamilnadu[16]
  • First women to be conferred the status of Asthana Vidushi by the Kanchi matha[17]
  • Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award, 2010; awarded by the Madras Music Academy[18]
  • Sangeetha Choodamani Award, 1991; awarded by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha[19]
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 2004; awarded by the Government of India[11]
  • S V Narayanaswamy Rao Award, 2018; awarded by the Sree Rama Seva Mandali, Bangalore[20]
  • Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Memorial Award, 2013[21]
  • Sangeetha Kala Nipuna, 1994; awarded by Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Madras[22]
  • M S Subbulakshmi Award 2019; awarded by the Government of Tamilnadu[22]

Personal life[edit]

Lalitha was married to N. R. Chandran, former Advocate-General of Madras. She died on 31 January 2023, aged 84, in Chennai. She was suffering from cancer.[5]

Saroja is married to Rajaram, former chief secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi.[6]

Discography[edit]

Source(s):[23][24][25][26]

Sanskrit[edit]

  1. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham & Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam
  2. Sri Parthasarathy Suprabhatham & Pasurangal
  3. Sri Kamakshi Suprabhatham (2018)
  4. Sri Raghavendra Suprabhatham & Sthothras
  5. Sri Mookambika Suprabhatham
  6. Sri Sharada Suprabhatham & Other Sthothras
  7. Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham & Songs
  8. Sri Kalikambal Suprabhatham
  9. Siva Suprabhatham & Sthothras
  10. Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Stotram
  11. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Stotram (1991)
  12. Sri Lakshmi Sahasranamam
  13. Mooka Panchasathi Vol 01,Vol 02, Vol 03, Vol 04
  14. Gangalahari
  15. Sri Bilva Ashtothara Sathanamavali
  16. Devi Mahathmayam Vol 01,Vol 02, Vol 03
  17. Sowdaryalahari
  18. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam & Ashtothram
  19. Durga Sthothram
  20. Sree Mahishasuramardini Sthothram
  21. Sriman Narayaneeyam
  22. Sthothravali
  23. Sthothramala
  24. Sri Hanuman Chalisa & Other Hanumath Stothras (2008)
  25. Chinna Chinna Slogangal
  26. Krishna Karnamrutham
  27. Sivanandalahari
  28. Sri Vishnu Padadi Kesantha Sthothram
  29. AanandaLahari
  30. Dakshinamurthy Sthothram
  31. Adi Sankara SivasthuthiMala
  32. Aadithya Hridayam
  33. SriSthuthi Bhoosthuthi
  34. Padmanabha Sathakam
  35. Subrahmanyam (Kandarkalivemba)
  36. Sri Lalitha Trisathi and Other Devi Stothras
  37. Devi Sthothra Malika
  38. Devi Sthothra Mala
  39. Mahishasura Mardhini (Nadam Music)
  40. Ramaya Thubhyam Namah
  41. Valmiki Ramayanam
  42. Sri Dattathreya Sthothram
  43. Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham and Ashtakam
  44. Sri Pudukkottai Bhuvaneswari Suprabhatham and Songs

Malayalam[edit]

  1. Sapthaham (1991)
  2. Sundara Narayana Guruvayurappan Gananjali Vol. 8- CD 1
  3. Sundara Narayana Guruvayurappan Gananjali Vol. 8- CD 2

Tamil[edit]

  1. Sri Guruvayurappa Suprabhatham
  2. Kandar Sashti Kavacham (Sangeetha Music)
  3. Daivegathenisai
  4. Ganapathi Aayiram Namangal
  5. Enn Annai
  6. Divyaprabadham
  7. Jaya Jaya Kali
  8. Kandar Sashti Kavacham (KRV Music)
  9. Karumari Amman Andhadi
  10. Koil Mani Osai
  11. Maagadu Amman Aaruvara Padalgal
  12. Maduraimeenakshi
  13. Mahishasuramardhini (Symphony music)
  14. Narayana Leelanjali
  15. Navagraha Krithis
  16. Pallikkarannai Parasakthi
  17. PoornayogaVibhavam
  18. Ramanar Suprabhatham
  19. Sai Bhajan
  20. Sakthiye Sakthi
  21. Saravana Sangeetham
  22. Shanmukha Suprabhatham
  23. Kudavarasi Amman Padalgal
  24. Sivadarisanam
  25. Sri Bhuvaneswari Kavacham
  26. Sri Hanumanchalisa & Songs
  27. Sri Panchamukha Herambha Ganapathi Kavacham (1993)
  28. Prasanna Venkatachalapathi pukazhmalai
  29. Raghavedra Songs
  30. Raghavendra Suprabhatham
  31. Raghavendra Navarathnamalai
  32. Sri Saneeswara Bhagavan Sthothram
  33. Sri Thiruchedur Suprabhatham
  34. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham (Tamil)
  35. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam (Tamil)
  36. Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam (Tamil)
  37. Bhajagovindam & Mukundamala (1991)
  38. Aandal
  39. Vinayaka Agaval
  40. Thiruppugazh
  41. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham (symphony)
  42. Mahalakshmi Suprabhatham

Kannada[edit]

  1. Devi Geethanjali (1991).
  2. Ambe Mookambe (1991).
  3. Kailasagirivasa Sri Manjunatha
  4. Navagraha Bhakthimala
  5. Srinivasa Vaibhava
  6. Varamahalakshmi
  7. Venkateswara Suprabhatham (Kannada)
  8. Gorahanahalli Mahalakshmi Suprabhatham

References[edit]

External links[edit]