‘Gana Kokila’ at 90: The legend, voice and legacy of P Susheela

Chennai: Legendary playback singer P Susheela, affectionately known as the “Gana Kokila” (South Indian Nightingale), celebrates her 90th birthday on Monday, November 13.

Born on November 13, 1935, in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, Pulapaka Susheela has been one of the most celebrated voices in Indian cinema, with a career spanning over seven decades. The Guinness Book of World Records and the Asia Book of Records recognise her as the singer who has performed in the largest number of Indian languages.

Having recorded over 50,000 songs in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi, Susheela remains one of the most prolific playback singers in the country. She made her debut in 1952 with the Tamil film “Petra Thaai’' and rose to fame with “Missamma” (1955), becoming one of South India’s most sought-after voices from the 1960s through the 1980s.

In Malayalam cinema, Susheela is fondly remembered as “Susheelamma”, whose soulful renditions enriched generations of film music. Her popular Malayalam songs include

"Pattupadi Urakkam Njan” (Seeta), "Ezhu Sundara Raathrikal" (Ashwamedham), and "Oonajala Oonjala" (Veendum Prabhatham) are some of her popular songs. She also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Poonthenaruvee” (Aadaminte Kathakal) and “Poovukku Punyakalam” (Chuvanna Sandhyakal).

Susheela has won five National Film Awards and numerous state honours, including the Tamil Nadu State Award for her iconic songs “Paal Polave” (Uyarndha Manithan, 1969) and “Chittukuruvikkenna” (Savaale Samaali, 1971). In 2008, she was conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours.

A trailblazer in every sense, Susheela also established a trust in 2008 to support struggling musicians and music students, offering pensions, scholarships, and financial aid.

As she turns 90, fans, musicians, and the film fraternity across India celebrate P Susheela’s unmatched contribution to Indian music, a golden voice that continues to resonate through the timeless melodies of South Indian cinema.