(This article is authored by Alar)
The film industry and music lovers are mourning the loss of Bhavatharini, a talented singer and the daughter of legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja. Bhavatharini, who was diagnosed with cancer, breathed her last on January 25 at a private hospital in Sri Lanka, where she was undergoing treatment. She was 46 years old.
Bhavatharini’s mortal remains were brought to Chennai on January 27, where her family and friends paid their last respects. Among them was her cousin brother and director Venkat Prabhu, who shared an emotional post on his Instagram page. He took there ad posted his last picture with couple of snaps with Bhavatharini, taken during a family gathering, and wrote, “Bavatha, our last picture together.”
Bhavatharini made her debut as a playback singer in 1984 with Malayalam movie My Dear Kuttichaathan, composed by her father, and debuted in Tamil film En Bommukutty Ammavukku. She went on to sing many memorable songs for her father Ilaiyaraaja, such as in ‘Oru Naal Oru Kanavu’ from ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’, and ‘Kaatril Varum Geethame’ from ‘Oru Naal Oru Kanavu’.
She also composed music for a few films, such as ‘Mitr, My Friend’ and ‘Phir Milenge’. She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2000 for the song ‘Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu’ from the film ‘Bharathi’. Her last work was settled with the song Pannapurathu from Mamanithan, starring Vijay Sethupathi, directed by Seenu Ramasamy, and released in 2022.
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