Bhavatharini, singer and daughter of Ilayaraja, dies aged 47

CHENNAI: Singer and music director Bhavatharini Ilayaraja passed away on Thursday in Sri Lanka. She was 47. Bhavatharini is the daughter of legendary Tamil music director Ilayaraja. According to reports, Bhavatharini travelled from Chennai to Sri Lanka for treatment. She was suffering from cancer.

Bhavatharini made her singing debut in 2000 with the film Bharathi and won the National Award for Best Female Singer for the song in that film. It was a dream start for her musical career and in her later years she earned many laurels as a singer and music director.

In 2002, Bhavatharini wore the robe of music director for the first time in actress Revathy’s directorial "Mitr, My Friend". She last composed music for the Tamil film ‘Maayanadhi’, which was released in 2020.

Bhavatharini’s husband R. Sabariraj is also a music director. Prominent music directors Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja are her brothers.

Bhavatharini’s soothing voice has also appeared in many Malayalam movies. Kaliyoonjalu, Friends, Ponmudi Puzhayorathu and My Dear Kuttichathan are a few of the list of movies where Bhavatharini’s songs appeared.

Her song ‘Kalyaanappallakkil veli payyan’ from the movie Kaliyoonjaal (1997) found its place in the top charts during those times.