Did you know Jayalalithaa, the trained vocalist?
Synopsis
The revolutionary leader of Tamil Nadu was trained in carnatic and western music She even recorded a devotional album MGR encouraged her to sing
Jayalalithaa ruled Tamil Nadu and silver screen for decades. But, not many are aware that the 'revolutionary leader' was also trained in classical and western music. Though Jayalalithaa couldn't use her singing talents in Tamil Films, she did sing for few films along with veteran playback singers like L R Eswari, P Susheela, S P Balasubrahmanyam and T M Soundararajan. It was MGR who encouraged her to use her singing talent. She even tried her hands on singing by recording a devotional album.
She sang for several films -- Amma Endraal Anbu in Adimai Penn (1969), Naan Endral Athu Naanum Avalum in Suryakanthi (1973) with S P Balasubramaniam, and Chithira Mandapathil in Anbai Thedi (1974) with T M Soundararajan.
A duet of Jayalalithaa and T M Soundararajan for Anbai Thedi
Another song in which Jayalalithaa performed along with her mentor MGR
Watch her singing 'Kehta Hai Dil Aur Machalta Hai Dil' from the Hindi movie Chori Chori (1956) during an interview.