Latha Raju (born 25 June 1951) is an Indian film singer and actress in

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam' ...

during the 1970s. Some of her popular Malayalam songs are "Pinchu Hridayam Devalayam" and "Manjakkilee Swarnakkilee Mayilppeelikkaattile Varnakkilee" from the film ''Sethubandhanam'', "Ividuthe Chechikkinnale" (''

Azhakulla Saleena ''Azhakulla Saleena'' ( ml, അഴകുള്ള സെലീന) is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film, based on the novel of the same name by Muttathu Varkey, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan and produced by K. S. R. Moorthy. The film st ...

'') and "Aaluvaappuzhakkakkareyoru Ponnambalam" ('' Aadyathe Kadha''). She has also rendered songs in Tamil, Kannada and Tulu. She has dubbed for famous actresses like Suhasini, Shobhana, late Shobha and many other leading actresses in some of the landmark films in Malayalam. She has won Kerala Film Critics Award in 2003 for lifetime achievement. Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy awarded her for contributions to Malayalam light music. In 2019 Kerala Government honoured her for her outstanding contributions to Malayalam cinema and music. She worked in All India Radio / Dooradarshan in various capacities for 34 years. Was the Station Director of Chennai and Trivandrum Stations for many years and retired as Director of Marketing.

Personal life

Latha Raju born on 25.06.1951 is the only child of singer

Santha P. Nair Shantha P. Nair (6 February 1929 – 26 July 2008) was a playback singer in Malayalam cinema. She was based in Thrissur, Kerala. Early life Born into the famous Ambady family in Thrissur, as one of the five children of Vasudeva Poduval and Lak ...

and K. Padmanabhan Nair, who was a writer, film director, radio dramatist and All India Radio Station Director. Her first song was in the 1962 Malayalam film ''Snehadeepam''. She post graduated in

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

. She retired as director of marketing in Akashvani, Doordarshan, Chennai in 2011 and continued in the same post as a consultant till 2016. Her husband, J. M. Raju, himself a playback singer, produces music albums. The couple have two children,

Aalap Raju Aalaap Raju (born 6 June 1979) is a playback singer and a bass player from Chennai, India. His rendition of Enamo Aedho from the movie '' Ko'' composed by Harris Jayaraj topped the music charts for several months in 2011 and won him the Filmfar ...

and Anupama. Her son

is also a musician and playback singer.

Filmography

As an actress

* ''

Moodupadam ''Moodupadam'' is a 1963 Malayalam language film directed by Ramu Kariat and scripted by K. T. Muhammed based on S. K. Pottekkatt's novel of the same name. Sathyan and Ambika play the lead roles. It is a social film about the relationship betw ...

'' (1963) * ''

Chemmeen ''Chemmeen'' () is a 1965 Indian Malayalam-language romance film, based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It was adapted into a screenplay by S. L. Puram Sadanandan, directed by Ramu Kariat, and produced by Babu Isma ...

'' (1965) * ''

Pakalkkinavu ''Pakalkkinavu'' is a 1966 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by S. S. Rajan and produced by N. R. Vaidyanadhan. The film stars Sathyan, Sharada, Adoor Bhasi and Nilambur Balan. Cast * Sathyan as Babu * Sharada as Malathi *Nellikode ...

'' (1966) * '' Ezhu Raathrikal'' (1968)

As a playback singer

* Thaatheyyam Kaattile - ''Kannum Karalum'' (1962) * Onnaamtharam - ''Snehadeepam'' (1962) * Maanathulloru - ''Moodupadam'' (1963) * Poo Poocha Poochetti - ''Devaalayam'' (1964) * Kannaaram Pothi - ''Murappennu'' (1965) * Kannukalennal - ''Devatha'' (1965) * Janmabhoomi Bharatam - ''Devatha'' (1965) * Ponnaaram Chollaathe - ''Subaida'' (1965) * Ichirippoovalan - ''Inapraavukal'' (1965) * Paavakkutti - ''Kadathukaaran'' (1965) * Ambaadi Thannil - ''Kadathukaaran'' (1965) * Premaswapnathin - ''Chekuthaante Kotta'' (1967) * Paampine Pedichu - ''NGO'' (1967) * Kakkakkarumbikale - ''Ezhu Raathrikal'' (1968) * Makkathu Poyvarum - ''Ezhu Raathrikal'' (1968) * Ithuvare Pennoru - ''Kaliyalla Kalyaanam'' (1968) * Thaarunya Swapnangal - ''Kaliyalla Kalyaanam'' (1968) * Karayunna Nerathum - ''Velliyaazhcha'' (1969) * Kezhakku Kezhakkorana- ''Thriveni'' (1970) * Nammude Mathaavu - ''Abhayam'' (1970) * Thirumayilppeeli - ''Swapnangal'' (1970) * Kanninu Kannaaya - ''Priya'' (1970) * Villukettiya - ''Line Bus'' (1971) * Thallu Thallu - ''Aabhijaathyam'' (1971) * Aattin Manappurathu - ''Aabhijaathyam'' (1971) * Paappi Appacha - ''Mayilaadumkunnu'' (1972) * Umma Tharumo - ''Preethi'' (1972) * Aaluvaappuzhakkakare - ''Aadyathe Kadha'' (1972) * Va Mammy Va Mummy - ''Panitheeraatha Veedu'' (1973) * Kaattumozhukkum - ''Panitheeraatha Veedu'' (1973) * Ividathe Chechikku - ''Azhakulla Saleena'' (1973) * Pinchuhridayam - ''Sethubandhanam'' (1974) * Manjakkilee - ''Sethubandhanam'' (1974) * Padinjaroru Paalazhi - ''Chakravaakam'' (1974) * Paanante Veenakku - ''Thumbolaarcha'' (1974) * Atham Rohini - ''Thumbolaarcha'' (1974) * Polalli - ''Prayaanam'' (1975) * Maappilappaattile - ''Alibabayum 41 Kallanmaarum'' (1975) * Vallaathe Vishakkunnu - ''Ayodhya'' (1975) * Kandam Vechoru - ''Maanishaada'' (1975) * Kaathu Kaathu - ''Manassoru Mayil'' (1977) * Maanathoraaraattam - ''Manassoru Mayil'' (1977) * Hindolaraagathin - ''Thuruppugulaan'' (1977) * Ilaahi Nin Rehmath - ''Thuruppugulaan'' (1977) * Nanma Nerum Amma - ''Aparaadhi'' (1977) * Ammaykku Vendathu - ''Niraparayum Nilavilakkum'' (1977) * Chentheekkanal - ''Agninakshathram'' (1977) * Velutha vaavinte - ''Veedu Oru Swargam'' (1977) * Kalyaanaraathriyil - ''Samudram'' (1977) * Pankajaakshi - ''Sooryadaham'' (1980) * Thulaabharamallo - ''Kochu Kochu Thettukal'' (1980) * Achan sundara sooryan - ''Swarangal Swapnangal'' (1981) * Pottichirikkunna - ''Kadhayariyaathe'' (1981) * Nirangal Nirangal - ''Kadhayariyaathe'' (1981) * Aayilyam - ''Naagamadathu Thampuraatti'' (1982) * Punnarappenninte - ''Jambulingam'' (1982) * Maama maama karayalle - ''Thuranna Jail'' (1982) * Oorukaani malavazhiye - ''Aaroodham'' (1983) * Rithumathiyaay - ''Mazhanilaavu'' (1983) * Neelamalayude - ''Aa Penkutty Nee Aayirunnenkil'' (1985) * Ennaaliniyoru Kadha - ''Kochuthemmaadi'' (1986) * Aattavum Paattum - ''Kilippaattu'' (1987) * Porunnirikkum Choodil - ''Sarvakalashaala'' (1987) * Vaanil Vibhaatham - ''Chevalier Michael'' (1992)

References

External links

*
Latha Raju at MSI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raju, Latha Malayalam playback singers Film musicians from Kerala Indian women playback singers Actresses in Malayalam cinema Indian film actresses Actresses from Kochi Singers from Kochi 1951 births Living people 20th-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian actresses 20th-century Indian women singers Women musicians from Kerala