Swarnalatha (born April 29, 1973 in Kerala, India), is an Indian playback singer. Growing up in a musical family, Swarnalatha was trained on harmonium and in singing from an early age, performing both Carnatic and Hindustani music. After moving to Chennai with her family, Swarnalatha was offered the opportunity to perform the duet "Chinnachiru Kiliye" with K.J Yesudas from the film Neethikku Thandanai, attracting attention of several well-known music directors and musicians. In 1995, she recorded the hit Hindi track “Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua” with Indian playback singer Hariharan, and several Telugu songs, most notably Raamma Chilakamma, Osey Ramulamma and Nizam Babulu. Known as “Swarangalin Arasi” (Queen of Tones or the Humming Queen), Swarnalatha was employed by prominent Indian composer and producer A.R. Rahman in 1993, becoming the first female playback singer to be awarded the National Film Award for the song "Porale Ponnuthayi" from the film Karuththamma. Swarnalatha also worked with Indian arranger and musician Ilaiyaraaja, collaborating on close to 200 tracks, including acclaimed hit songs “Nee Yengae Enn Anbae” and “Povomaa Oorkolam” from the film Chinnathambi. From 2001 to 2004, Swarnalatha was invited perform and judge on reality television music shows including Jaya TV’s Ragamalika and after battling Idiopathic lung disease for over a year, she died on September 12, 2010 at the age of 37.
