Rajam Pushpavanam Biography 
Rajam Pushpavanam was an acclaimed Carnatic singer of modern era of Carnatic music. She hailed from Madhurai, and was one of the leading vocalists of first half of 20th century. She is the daughter of Madurai Pushpavanam, a leading Carnatic musician of late 1800s and early 1900s. Madurai Mani Iyer, a leading Carnatic musician was her cousin. Rajam Pushpavanam lived in Madhurai during the period, 1918–1991. Her singing career (1930–1943) was short spanned but glorious one. She gave up singing at the age of 25 following her son’s death of pneumonia.
She was born into a famed family of musicians as the daughter of Carnatic vocalist, Madurai Pushpavanam and his wife, Sundarathammal. She was born in 1918. She lost her father as a toddler, and was later raised by her mother. Music was in her blood stream, and she too followed the same path once travelled by her father. She had a natural flair of music, and later took music as her profession. Lost her father at the age of 2 or 3, she was raised by her mother and grandparents. She recorded an LP for the first time in 1930, with Columbia Records. She was only 12 years old then. She continued with her music concerts across Tamil Nadu, and earned recognition as a famed Carnatic singer of modern era.
By the age of 21, she purchased a bungalow and also bought land, thus earning by her owns means. She earned success quite at a young age, while many of her contemporaries took many years. She also led a luxurious life, with her own car and jewellery. She married S .R. Venkatraman at the age of 22 in 1940, and son was born in 1942. She lost him at a very young age at two in 1944. Completely broken, she retired from her singing profession by the age of 25. She had 5 children, for whom she spent her entire life, staying away from limelight. Later she took up to singing in the All India Radio for a while, after the death of her husband in 1950.
Published: July 23, 2018
Updated: July 28, 2018
