Bhavatharini, daughter of musician Ilaiyaraaja, no more

Bhavatharini, daughter of music director Ilaiyaraaja, dies at 47 in Sri Lanka after battling cancer.

Bhavatharini, the daughter of music director Ilaiyaraaja, who rendered some memorable songs, including ‘Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu’ in Bharathi and ‘Oliyile Therivathu Thevathaya’ in Azhagi, died in Sri Lanka on Thursday.

She was 47, and is survived by her husband and her brothers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja. She won the national award for the song ‘Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu’.

Sources in Colombo said Bhavatharini, who was suffering from cancer, was in Sri Lanka with her husband for Ayurvedic treatment.

Ilaiyaraaja was scheduled to perform with his troupe at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo, on January 27 and 28.

Though she had rendered the chorus for the song Anjali Anjali in the film Anjali, she made her debut as a playback singer in the film Rasaya.

Growing up in a house filled with music and in the company of Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja, who later became music directors, she cut her teeth as a singer by singing tracks for her brothers.

She had a unique voice with a rustic charm and the song Masthana Masthana, in the music of Ilaiyaraaja, became an instant hit.