Bhavatharini Raja (23 July 1976 – 25 January 2024) was an Indian playback singer and composer. She was the only daughter of noted composer Ilaiyaraaja and sister of Yuvan Shankar Raja and Karthik Raja. Starting her career in the 1990s, she mostly sang songs under the direction of her father and brothers. She was awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2000 for her rendition of the song "Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu" from the film Bharathi, composed by her father.
Career
Bhavatharini Raja made her debut as a playback singer for My Dear Kuttichathan. From then onwards, she mostly sang on albums composed by her father and brothers.
In 2001, she won the National Award for the song "Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu" in the movie Bharathi (the music director was her father).2
Bhavatharini turned as a composer for the 2002 film Mitr, My Friend, directed by Revathi, starring Shobhana.3 She then forayed into the Telugu film industry with Avuna (2003).4 She also composed music for Phir Milenge, also directed by Revathi, starring Shilpa Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan.5 In June 2012, she was roped in to score the tunes for Vellachi, a village-based project.6
Personal life and death
Bhavatharani studied at Rosary Matric School in Chennai. This was followed by higher secondary school in Adarsh Vidyalaya, Peters Road, Chennai. Bhavatharini was married to an advertising executive, R. Sabariraj, son of S.N. Ramachandran.7 Ramachandran is a former journalist who went into publishing and started Kannan Advertising.8 The couple did not have children.
Bhavatharini died from cancer on 25 January 2024, at the age of 47, while being treated for the disease in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 9101112 Her body was taken to her father's home in Chennai, and later to her ancestral village, where she was cremated.
Discography
As playback singer
Tamil
List of Bhavatharini Tamil film credits as playback singer| Year | Album | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | En Bommukutty Ammavuku | "Kuyile Kuyile" | Ilaiyaraaja | K. S. Chithra | |
| 1989 | Thendral Sudum | "Dhoori Dhoori" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | ||
| 1990 | Anjali | "Something Something" | Karthik Raja | Along with Yuvan Shankar Raja, Venkat Prabhu, Premgi Amaren, Bala, Parthi Bhaskar, Hari Bhaskar | |
| "Iravu Nilavu" | S Janaki | ||||
| "Anjali Anjali" | Sathya, Vaishnavi | ||||
| "Vaanam Namakku" | Karthik Raja | ||||
| "Motta Maadi" | |||||
| 1994 | Sethupathi IPS | "Anadhai Endru" | |||
| 1995 | Raasaiyya | "Masthana Masthana" | Arunmozhi, S.N Surendhar | Debut as solo playback singer | |
| Chandralekha | "Anal Thanil Vaadidum" | ||||
| 1996 | Irattai Roja | "Unnai Vidamaaten" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | ||
| Katta Panchayathu | "Oru Chinna Mani" | Jolly Abraham | |||
| Karuvelam Pookkal | "Pallakku Vanthirukku" | ||||
| Alexander | "Alexander" | Karthik Raja | Anupama, Mahanadhi Shobana, Yuvan Shankar Raja, S. P. B. Charan | ||
| "Nadhiyoram" | P. Unnikrishnan | ||||
| Enakkoru Magan Pirappan | "Chum Chum" | Karthik Raja | |||
| Manikkam | "Sundararae Muzhu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |||
| "Santhanam Theychachi" | |||||
| "Thottu Sel Idam" | |||||
| 1997 | Aravindhan | "All The Best" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Hariharan | |
| Ullaasam | "Mutthey Mutthamma" | Karthik Raja | Kamal Haasan, Swarnalatha | ||
| "Yaaro Yaaryaro" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||||
| Thedinen Vanthathu | "Aalps Malaikkaattru" | Sirpy | Hariharan | ||
| Raman Abdullah | "En Veettu Jannal" | Ilaiyaraaja | Arunmozhi | ||
| Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | "Ennai Thalaata" | Hariharan | Only humming | ||
| "Idhu Sangeetha Thirunalo" | |||||
| "O Baby" | Vijay | Only humming | |||
| Naanum Oru Indian | "Un Kadhalan" | Unnikrishnan | The film was released as Desiya Paravai in 2006 | ||
| Kadavul | "Aadi Sivan Tholil" | ||||
| Nerukku Ner | "Thudikindra Kadhal (Evar Kandaar)" | Deva | Mano | ||
| 1998 | Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar | "Nadanakalarani'" | Karthik Raja | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Premji Amaran | |
| Kaathala Kaathala | "Madonna Paadala" | Kamal Haasan, Hariharan | |||
| "Laila Laila" | Hariharan | ||||
| Kalyana Galatta | "Adhaam Yevaal" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Venkat Prabhu | ||
| Velai | "Oyvedu Nilave" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| Kizhakkum Merkkum | "Akka Nee Sirichcha" | Ilaiyaraaja | |||
| "Poongaatrae" | |||||
| Senthooram | "Aalamaram" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| Kannathal | "Amman Pugazhai Paada" | ||||
| Poonthottam | "New Year" | Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Venkat Prabhu, Premji Amaran, Mano, Malaysia Vasudevan | |||
| Kangalin Vaarthaigal | "Nenjathin Geetham" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| "Indha Kadhal" | |||||
| Kaadhal Kavithai | "Alai Meethu" | ||||
| Poonjolai | "Un Perai Kettale" | Yugendran | |||
| "Gaana Kuyile" | S. P. Balasubramaniam | ||||
| 1999 | Ponnu Veetukkaran | "Ilaya Nilave" | Srinivas | ||
| Thodarum | "Oru Thulir Onnu" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| Time | "Thavikkiren Thavikkiren" | Hariharan | |||
| Rajasthan | "Sorgathil Nikkah" | Shankar Mahadevan | |||
| Annan | "Kanmanikku Vaazhthu" | ||||
| Manam Virumbuthe Unnai | "Kutti Kuyilai" | Hariharan | |||
| "Ilavenirkaala Panjami" | Hariharan | Only humming | |||
| Kummi Paattu | "Chinna Manasu" | Ilayaraja | |||
| Poovellam Kettuppar | "Poothathu" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Cameo appearance; First on-screen appearance | ||
| 2000 | Kadhal Rojavae | '"Sirithale" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||
| Kakkai Siraginilae | "Gayathiri Ketkum" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| Bharathi | "Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu" | National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer | |||
| Karisakattu Poove | "Mamarathula" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| Karuvelam Pookkal | "Pallakku Vanthirukku" | ||||
| Ilaiyavan | "Nilavil Amuthu" | P. Unnikrishnan | |||
| 2001 | Dheena | "Nee Illai Endral" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Murugan | |
| Friends | "Thendral Varum" | Ilaiyaraaja | Hariharan | ||
| Vaanchinathan | "Adi Rendu" | Karthik Raja | P. Unnikrishnan | ||
| Kanna Unnai Thedukiren | "Vanji Kodi" | Ilaiyaraaja | Hariharan | ||
| Aandan Adimai | "Enna Enna Paada" | Harini | |||
| Manadhai Thirudivittai | "Sadugudugudu Aadathey" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Hariharan | ||
| 2002 | Azhagi | "Oliyile Therivadhu Devadhaya" | Ilaiyaraaja | Karthik | |
| "Damakku Damakku Dum" | |||||
| En Mana Vaanil | "Muthu Muthu" | Karthik | |||
| Ramanaa | "Vaanam Adhirave" | P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana Sargam | |||
| Solla Marandha Kadhai | "Yaedho Onnu" | Karthik | |||
| Album | "Muttaikull" | Karthik Raja | |||
| 2003 | Puthiya Geethai | "Mercury Poove" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Nideesh Gopalan, Bonnie Chakraborty | |
| Punnagai Poove | Eno Uyirmele | ||||
| Pithamagan | "Kodi Yethi Vaippom" | Ilaiyaraaja | Shanmugasundari, Periya Karuppa Thevar, Harish Raghavendra | ||
| Dhanush | "Vellipaniyai" | Vijay Yesudas | Unreleased film13[deprecated source] | ||
| Konji Pesalaam | "Konji Pesalaam" | ||||
| Ragasiyamai | "Kangalum Kangalum" | Karthik Raja | KK | ||
| Three Roses | "Anbal Unnai" | Annupamaa, Febi Mani | |||
| "Oh Oh Sexy" | Rohini | ||||
| 2004 | Vishwa Thulasi | "Vishwa Thulasi" | M. S. Viswanathan | ||
| 2005 | Oru Naal Oru Kanavu | "Kaatril Varum Geethame I" | Ilaiyaraaja | Shreya Ghoshal, Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan | |
| "Kaatril Varum Geethame II" | Shreya Ghosal | ||||
| Karagattakkari | "Kattukkili" | Karthik | |||
| Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | "Killi Thattu" | Jothi | |||
| Pon Megalai | "Aalapanai" | Sadhana Sargam | |||
| Rightaa Thappaa | "Thottuvidu" | Karthik Raja | |||
| 2006 | Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu | "Kanavae Kalaigirathe" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| "Elaiyudhir Kaalam" | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Bobby, Reeta, Reshmi, Ranjith, Naveen Madhav | ||||
| Thaamirabharani | "Thaaliyae Thevaiyillai" | Hariharan | |||
| Kadhale En Kadhale | "Maya" | Prayog | |||
| Ilakkanam | "Oorukku Nalladhu" | Bhavatharini | |||
| 2007 | Vasantham Vanthachu | "Nenjam" | Oviyan | ||
| Naalaiya Pozhuthum Unnodu | "Pesa Paraasa" | Srikanth Deva | Karthik | ||
| 2008 | Uliyin Osai | "Kaalathai Vendra" | Ilaiyaraaja | Sriram Parthasarathy | |
| Dhanam | "Kannanukku Enna" | Sriram Parthasarathy, Prasanna | |||
| Chakkara Viyugam | "Idhu Thaan Chakraviyugam" | Karthik Raja | |||
| 2009 | Azhagar Malai | "Unnai Enakku" | Ilaiyaraaja | Rita | |
| Kannukulle | "Paattu Ketka" | Tippu, Rahul Nambiar, Prasanna, Mukesh Mohamed, Velmurugan | |||
| 2010 | Avargalum Ivargalum | "Enna Thavam Senjiputten" | Srikanth Deva | ||
| Ochayee | "Kammangaatukulle" | Jeevaraja | Harish Raghavendra | ||
| Goa | "Yelelu Thalamuraikkum" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Karthik Raja, Venkat Prabhu, Premji Amaran, Yuvan Shankar Raja | ||
| 2011 | Mankatha | "Kannadi Nee" | S. P. B. Charan | ||
| 2012 | Aravaan | "Unna Kolla Poren" | Karthik | M. L. R. Karthikeyan | |
| Maranthen Mannithen (D) | "Alaiyodu Alaiyaga" | Ilaiyaraaja | |||
| Mayilu | "Yathe" | Sriram Parthasarathy | |||
| Ullam | Oh Iyarkaiyai | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |||
| 2013 | Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer | "Thappu Thanda" | Javed Ali | ||
| Biriyani | "Biriyani" | Tanvi Shah, Vilasini | |||
| 2014 | Anegan | "Aathadi Aathadi" | Harris Jayaraj | Tippu and Dhanush | |
| Irumbu Kuthirai | "Penne Penne" | G. V. Prakash Kumar | G. V. Prakash | ||
| 2019 | RK Nagar | "Adiye" | Premgi Amaren | Ranjith | |
| 2021 | Maanaadu | "Meherezylaa" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Rizwan | |
| 2022 | Maamanithan | "Pannapurathu" | Ilaiyaraaja, Yuvan Shankar Raja | Sriram Parthasarathy | Credited as Raja Bhavatharini |
| 2024 | Aariyamala | "Aththi Poovapola" | Selvanambi | ||
| The Greatest of All Time | "Chinna Chinna Kangal" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Vijay, Yuvan Shankar Raja | Posthumously released AI Generated Voice14 | |
| Credited as Raja Bhavatharini | |||||
| 2025 | Dhinasari | "Kadhalikka Poiya Solla" | Ilayaraja | Ranjith, Priya Jenson | 15 |
Malayalam
List of Bhavatharini Malayalam film credits as playback singer| Year | Album | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | My Dear Kuttichathan | "Thithithey Thaalam" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||
| 1997 | Kaliyoonjal | "Kalyaanappallakkil Velippayyan" | |||
| "Shaaradendu Paadi" | K. J. Yesudas, Ilaiyaraaja | ||||
| 2000 | Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal | "Palappoomazha" | |||
| 2005 | Ponmudipuzhayorathu | "Naadaswaram Ketto" | Asha G. Menon | ||
| 2007 | Ajantha | "Aarum Thodatha Poovil" | Madhu Balakrishnan |
Kannada
List of Bhavatharini Kannada film credits as playback singer| Year | Album | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Usire | "Preethisuve Preethisuve" | Ilaiyaraaja | K. J. Yesudas | |
| Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya | "Belli Chandiranu" | Karthik Raja | Madhu Balakrishnan | ||
| 2006 | Geeya Geeya | "Hrudayadi Kadana" | Bhavatharini | ||
| 2007 | Ajantha | "Yaaru Hogada Jaaga" | Ilaiyaraaja | Vijay Yesudas |
Telugu
List of Bhavatharini Telugu film credits as playback singer| Year | Album | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dumm Dumm Dumm | "Nee Pere Inthandham" | Karthik Raja | Harish Raghavendra | |
| 2002 | Malli Malli Chudali | "Vennelalo" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | P. Unnikrishnan | |
| 2007 | Anumanaspadam | "Rela Rela Rela" | Ilaiyaraaja | Tippu | |
| 2013 | Gundello Godari | "Nanu Neetho" |
Hindi
List of Bhavatharini Hindi film credits as playback singer| Year | Album | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Paa | "Gumm Summ Gumm" | Ilaiyaraaja | Shravan |
Non-film songs
| Year | Album | Song | Language | Composer | Co-singer(s) | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Thiruvasakam in Symphony | "Pooerukonum Purantharanum" | Tamil | Ilaiyaraaja | Ilaiyaraaja | The first Indian oratorio ever | 1617 |
Television
| Year | Serial | Song | Language | Composer | Television | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Suryavamsam | "Keladi Penne" | Tamil | Mani Sharma | Sun TV | Produced by Radaan |
As composer
| Year | Title | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mitr, My Friend | HindiTamil | credited as Bhavatharini Ilayaraaja | |
| 2003 | Avuna | Telugu | 18 | |
| 2004 | Phir Milenge | Hindi | credited as Bhavatha Rajaadditional composer and BGM | 19 |
| 2006 | Amirtham | Tamil | ||
| Ilakkanam | ||||
| Geeya Geeya | Kannada | credited as Bhavatharini Ilayaraaja | ||
| 2012 | Vellachi | Tamil | 20 | |
| Porida Pazhagu | Film unreleased | |||
| 2018 | Kalvargal | |||
| 2019 | Maayanadhi | |||
| 2024 | Puyalil Oru Thoni | Tamil | Film unreleased; song released posthumously | 21 |
Filmography
Onscreen appearances
| Year | Film | Role | Language(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Poovellam Kettuppar | Herself | Tamil |
| 2010 | Goa |
External links
- Bhavatharini R. at IMDb
- Bhavatharini discography at Discogs
References
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Kumar, S. R. Ashok (18 December 2012). "Rural rhapsody". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020. https://archive.today/20200217035239/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/rural-rhapsody/article4213495.ece ↩
"Ilayaraja's daughter gets engaged". The Hindu. 4 August 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161201022339/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/04/stories/2005080413000200.htm ↩
"Ilayaraja's daughter gets engaged". The Hindu. 4 August 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161201022339/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/04/stories/2005080413000200.htm ↩
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"பவதாரணியின் கடைசிப் பாடல் வெளியானது!". Dinamani (in Tamil). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024. https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2024/Oct/31/bhavatharini-last-song ↩