Pulapaka Susheela (born 13 November 1935), popularly known as P. Susheela, is an Indian playback singer associated with the South Indian cinema primarily from Andhra Pradesh for over six decades. She is one of the greatest and best-known playback singers in India. She has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as well as by the Asia Book of Records for performing a record number of songs in different Indian languages.[1] She is also the recipient of five National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer and numerous state awards.[2][3] Susheela is widely acclaimed as a singer who defined feminism[4] in South Indian cinema and is well known for her mellifluous[5][6] vocal performances[7] for over 50,000 film songs[8] across South Indian languages.
The song "Paal Polave"[9] from Tamil film Uyarndha Manidhan brought her the first ever award at the 16th National Film Awards,[10][11] by winning her the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1969. Susheela became the first ever famale singer in the country to win the national award. She is
As verified on 28 January 2016, Susheela has reportedly recorded up to 17,695 solo, duet and chorus backed songs in over six Indian languages since the 1960s, not counting some lost early recordings. She has now been recognized by both the Guinness Book of World Records and Asia Book of Records for singing most songs in Indian languages.[17]
Susheela has sung more than 12000 songs in Telugu. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's first duet in Telugu was with P. Susheela. SPB sung his first song with me says the legendary P. Susheela and SPB recorded more than 3000 duets with P. Susheela. She has recorded more than 2000 songs in K.V.Mahadevans music. she has recorded more than 2000 songs in K.chakravarthys music also. She won three national awards for Telugu songs.
Main article: P. Susheela Tamil discography
She has sung more than 6000 songs in Tamil, including devotionals. She has sung around 1000 duets with T. M. Soundara Rajan. She also rendered more than 1500 Songs in MSV music. She won two national awards for Tamil songs.
Susheela has recorded more than 5000 songs in Kannada. She has performed numerous duets with Ghantasala and P. B. Srinivas, and also a few duets with legendary actor and singer Dr. Rajkumar. Her duets with P. B. Shrinivas are considered some of the evergreen songs of Kannada Film Industry. S. P. Balasubramaniam's first Kannada song Kanasido Nanasido from Nakkare Ade Swarga was a duet with Susheela.[18][19]
She has sung more than 1500 songs in Malayalam. The musician Devarajan gave her more than 300 songs (in all languages).[20]
Susheela has sung more than 300 songs in other languages, including 100 film songs in Hindi, 120 devotional songs in Sanskrit, and 9 film songs in Sinhalese.[21] she also Sang in Bengali. Punjabi, Tulu, Baduga and Oriya songs.
| Year | Award | Honouring Body |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Kalaimamani | Government of Tamil Nadu |
| 2004 | Raghupathi Venkaiah Award | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Gaana Saraswathi | Government of Karnataka | |
| 2008 | Padma Bhushan | Government of India |
| 2019 | J. Jayalalithaa Special Kalaimamani Award | Government of Tamil Nadu |
She was the first recipient of the national award for female playback singing in 1969.
| Year | Movie | Song | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Uyarntha Manithan | Naalai intha velai parthu | Tamil |
| 1971 | Savaale Samaali | Chittuk kuruvikkenna kattuppaadu | |
| 1978 | Siri Siri muvva | Jummandi naadham | Telugu |
| 1982 | Megha sandesam | Aakulo Aakunai | |
| 1983 | M.L.A.Edu kondalu | Entha Beeda Vade |
| Year | Award | Movie | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Tamil Nadu State Award | Uyarntha Manithan/Lakshmi Kalyanam | "Paal Polave Vaan" / "Brindavanathukku" |
| 1971 | Kerala State Award | Oru Penninte Katha | "Poonthen Aruvi Ponmudi Puzhayude" |
| 1975 | Kerala State Award | Chuvanna Sandyakal | "Poovukalku Punya Kaalam" |
| 1977 | Nandi Award | Daana Veera Soora Karna | "Kalagantino Swamy" |
| 1978 | Nandi Award | Naalaaga Endaro | "Kalyanini Kanulunna Manusuku Kanipinchu" |
| 1981 | Tamil Nadu State Award | Anbulla Athaan | "Aazhakkadal Neenthi Vanthen" |
| 1982 | Nandi Award | Meghasandesam | "Aakulo Aakunai" |
| 1984 | Nandi Award | Sangeetha Samrat | "Entha Sogasugaade" |
| 1987 | Nandi Award | Viswanatha Nayakudu | "Kavi Jana Samaaja Bhoja" |
| 1989 | Nandi Award | Godavari Pongindi | "Eppatla Godavari Pravahistondi" |
| 1989 | Tamil Nadu State Award | Varam | "Magane Magane Kannurangu" |
| 2002 | Nandi Award | Many movies | Many songs |
| bharathi daasan award by Tamil Nadu Govt - |
| KalaimaamaNi award by Tamil Nadu Govt- 1991 |
| Raghupati Venkaiah Award award by Andhra Pradesh Govt. -2004 |
| kamukara award by kerala Govt. |
| Screen -videocon lifetime achievement award -1996 |
| LifeTime Achievement Award by American Telugu Association - 10 July 2004 at Chicago, USA. |
| Sangeetha Kala bharathi by Detroit Telugu Association (1979) |
| Telugu Association of North America – 1995 |
| Awards for Excellence by IAAFA in 1993 |
| Telugu Association of Southern California – 1995 |
| AVM ’50 award – 1997 |
| North American Alumini Association |
| DTA – 1989 |
| Madhura Gaana Madhuri Award |
| Award by Telugu Association of Greater Chicago |
| K.B.Sundaramabal Award |
| K.V.Rao Jyothi Rao award -1999 |
| Ghantasala Award for 2003 (11/22/2003) |
| Tamilnadu MGR Cine Cultural Academy Award -1994 |
| Subbaraami reddy award -1996 |
| Award by Indian Performing Rights Society |
| Award Presented at Andhra Pradesh Rashtra Yuva Janostav |
| Bharath kalachar -2001 (gaana kala bharathi) |
| Kala Saagar Award |
| Award – Tribute To Shivaji -2003 |
| Jayshree International – Life Time Achievement Award – Kalabushan ( presented by Smt Jayachitra) |
| Thyagaraja Ganasabha – Only singer to be presented this award by Thyagraja Ganasabha Andhra Pradesh. |
| Krishna Pushkara Award |
| Yesudas Award |
| Kamukara – Lifetime Achievement Award |
| Gaana Saraswathi by Sangeeth Melody Orchestra |
| Aasthana Gayini in Shri Kalahasthi Shiva Temple |
| Madras film fans association award - 26 times |
| Dr. Rajkumar Award-2020 by Raghavendra Chitravani Foundation |
Main article: List of songs recorded by P. Susheela
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | "Chandana Charchita Nila Kalebara", "Thennavan Thaai Nattu Singaarame" | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | A. Maruthakasi, K. S. Gopalakrishnan | |
| 1958 | Uthama Puthiran | "Mullai Malar Mele", "Anbe Amudhey", "Unnazhagai Kanniyargal" | G. Ramanathan | A. Maruthakasi, K. S. Gopalakrishnan | |
| 1958 | Sabaash Meena | "Aanaaga Pirandhadhellam", "Kaanaa Inbam Kannidhadheno", "Erungammaa Summaa Erungammaa" | T. G. Lingappa | K. Jamuna Rani, T. A. Mothi, J. P. Chandrababu, T. G. Lingappa |
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Kaavalkaaran | "Ninaithen Vanthai", "Mellappo Mellappo", "Kattazhagu Thangamagal" | M. S. Viswanathan | Vaali, Alangudi Somu | |
| 1969 | Deiva Magan | "Kaathalikka Katrukollungal", "Koottathileya Yarthan" | M. S. Viswanathan | Kannadasan |
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Swati Mutyam | "Laali Laali" | Ilaiyaraaja | C. Narayana Reddy | |
| 1988 | Swarnakamalam | "Ghallu Ghallu" | Ilaiyaraaja | Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| "Shiva Poojaku" | |||||
| "Koluvai Vunnade" |
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Coolie No. 1 | "Kalaya Nijama" | Ilaiyaraaja | Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Dalapathi (D) | "Aada Janmaku" | Ilaiyaraaja | Rajasri | ||
| 1993 | Padmavyuham (D) | "Kannulaku Choopandam"(Female) | A. R. Rahman | Rajasri | |
| 1995 | Kunti putrudu | "Gummalu Thommidi"(Female) | Ilaiyaraaja |
also considered one of the rich voiced singers whose pronunciation of the syllables are to be very clear and precise in any of the languages she sang.[12] In a career spanning more than six decades, she has recorded nearly 50,000 songs in various Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu and Badaga. She has also sung for Sinhalese films. Her mother tongue is Telugu. She can also speak Tamil fluently, with a little Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada.