While the shocking demise of legendary singer Vani Jairam was being probed as an unnatural death, the Chennai police have now revealed that there is no foul play in her death. Vani Jairam was a doyen in the Indian cinema and with her versatile voice, she has etched a legacy, that was instrumental in advancing the art of singing. 

On Saturday, she was found dead at her residence in Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. She was 78 and she breathed her last days after she was made a recipient of Padma Bhushan Award, which is one of India's highest civilian honours. As she was found dead after suffering an injury on her forehead, the police launched a probe into her death after sending her body to the Government Royapettah Hospital to perform an autopsy. 

Police had registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC - Unnatural death. Now, the police have revealed that there is neither four play nor any suspicious events were found in her death. A preliminary autopsy report had suggested that the singer had died of an accidental fall at her residence. The police said that the singer was alone at the time of her death and her door was locked from inside. 

It has been reported that the police have checked CCTV footage near her house and found nothing suspicious and there were no signs of any forced entry into her house. Vani Jairam's body was handed over to her family members on Saturday and the late rites were held with state honours. The news of her demise had dismayed millions of fans and fraternities across and beyond the borders. 

The police said that the singer was alone at her home and when her maid Malarkodi came to the residence on Saturday morning, the latter came to know that the house was locked from inside. When Malarkodi rang the doorbell, there were no responses from Vani Jairam. The maid went to the neighbour's house after which the singer's sister Uma, who was residing in Alwarpet, and alerted the police. 

The reports say that the police officials from Thousand Lights reached her house and opened the door using an extra key from Uma. The police said that Vani Jairam had fallen and hit her head on a table. There was a slight injury mark on her forehead. Speaking to reporters, Vani's maid Malarkodi said, "I came to the residence as my routine. When I rang the doorbell for the first time, there was no response and rang it for four to five times, but no response. I asked my husband to call her (Vani Jairam) and he wasn't able to reach her." 

Malarkodi further said, "The neighbours were informed and later, the police were alerted. Vani Jairam's sister Uma was informed and she came with an extra key with which the door was opened. When we searched, Vani Jairam was found lying on the floor. She had an injury on her forehead." "I would come at 10 am and leave by 12 pm. I had been working with her for ten years. She had no health-related issues. Several people were calling her to wish her for being nominated for the Padma Awards. She was like a mother to me", Malarkodi added. 

Vani Jairam was born in 1945 in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district. She started her career in Tamil cinema in 1974 by singing the Malligai En Mannan Mayangum song in a Tamil movie 'Dheerga Sumangali'. The song was written by poet Vali while the music was composed by MS Viswanathan. She was honoured with state awards from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat. 

Vani was also a recipient of three national awards. In 1975, she received the National Award for Best female playback singer for Apoorva Raagangal movie. 1980, she was conferred with her second National Award for best female playback singer for her songs in the Telugu movie, Sankarabharanam. The third National Award came to her from the song 'Anathineeyara Hara' from the Telugu movie Swathi Kiranam.