Uma Ramanan (1954/1955 – 1 May 2024) was an Indian playback singer, predominantly in the Tamil language. She was also a live stage performer who appeared in more than 6,000 concerts spanning 35 years. Ramanan came from the Tamil Nadu state of India.

Personal life and background Whilst studying, Ramanan went through classical music training under Pazhani Vijayalakshmi. She participated in many inter-collegiate competitions and won several rewards and accolades. Later, she met A. V. Ramanan, a television host, performer and actor, who was on the look out for fresh voices for his stage concerts. From then, Uma and Ramanan became duo stage performers.

Uma Ramanan was also a dancer trained under Padma Subrahmanyam. She died in Chennai on 1 May 2024, at the age of 72.

Career

Playback singing During Uma's engagement with Ramanan's stage shows, noted producer — cameraman, Janakiraman offered both of them a duet in his 1976 released Hindi film Play Boy. The same pair got an offer to sing for the Tamil film Shri Krishna Leela in 1977 directed by A. P. Nagarajan and one of the last assignments of composer S. V. Venkatraman. In 1980, she sang for the A. V. Ramanan composed film Neerottam. However, it was "Poongathave Thaal Thirava" song for the film Nizhalgal released in the same year and composed by Ilayaraja that brought her to the front running singers list. It gave her a big career break and she went on to record more than 100 songs with Ilayaraja alone. She has also sung for other music directors namely Vidyasagar, Deva and Mani Sharma.

Professional rapport with Ilayaraja Uma Ramanan along with some of her contemporaries is considered to be one of the rare finds of Ilayaraja in his career. She has recorded some of her career best songs under the music composition of Ilayaraja.

Some of her major hits with Ilayaraja include : 1980 – "Poongathave Thaal Thirava" (Nizhalgal) 1980 – "Aasai Raaja Aariroe" (Moodu Pani) 1981 – "Aanada Raagam" (Panneer Pushpangal) 1981 – "Manjal Veyyil" (Nandu) 1981 – "Amudhae Thamizhae" (Kovil Pura) 1981 – "Vaanamae Mazhai Maegamae" (Madhu Malar) 1981 – "Daaham Edukira Naeram" (Enakaaga Kaathiru) 1981 – "Palli Araikkul" (Baala Naagammaa) 1982 – "Bhoopalam Isaikkum" (Thooral Ninnu Pochchu) 1983 – "Sevvandhi Pookalil" (Mella Paesungal) 1983 – "Sevvarrali Thotathilae" (Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate) 1983 – "Aathaadi Adhisayam" (Manavi Sollae Mandhiram) 1984 – "Kasthuri Maane" (Pudhumai Penn) 1984 – "Kaadhil Kaetadhu Oru Paatu" (Anbae Odi Vaa) 1984 – "Maegham Karukkayilae" (Vaidehi Kaathirunthaal) 1985 – "Kanmani Nee Vara" (Thendrale Ennai Thodu) 1985 – "Ponn Maanae" (Oru Kaidhiyin Diary) 1986 – "Yaar Thoorigai" (Paaru Paaru Pattinam Paaru) 1990 – "Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Kanne" (Keladi Kanmani) 1990 – "Aagaya Vennilave" (Arangetra Velai) 1990 – "Unna Paartha Nerathula" (Mallu Vetti Minor) 1994 – "Ooradangum Samathile" (Pudhupatti Ponnuthayi) 1995 – "Nil Nil Nil Badhil Sol" (Pattu Paadava) 1995 – "Velli Nilave" ("Nandhavana Theru") 1995 – "Poochudum punnivaname" ("Aanazhagan")

Discography Year Film Song title Music director Co-singer 1977 Sri Krishna Leela Mohana Kannan Murali S. V. Venkatraman A. V. Ramanan 1980 Nizhalgal Poongathave Thaal Thirava Ilaiyaraaja Deepan Chakravarthy 1980 Neerottam Aasai Irukkuthu Nenjukkulle A. V. Ramanan A. V. Ramanan 1980 Moodu Pani Aasai Raaja Aariroe Ilaiyaraaja 1981 Bala Nagamma Palli Araikkul Ilaiyaraaja 1981 Enakaaga Kaathiru Daagam Edukira Naeram Ilaiyaraaja 1981 Garjanai Enna Sugamana Ulagam Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan 1981 Kudumbam Oru Kadambam Kalviyil Saraswati M. S. Viswanathan Vani Jairam, S. P. Sailaja & B. S. Sasirekha 1981 Madhu Malar Vaanamae Mazhai Maegamae Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1981 Nandu Manjal Veyyil Maalai Ilaiyaraaja 1981 Panneer Pushpangal Aaanadha Raagam Ilaiyaraaja 1981 Kovil Pura Amudhe Tamizhe Ilaiyaraaja P. Susheela 1982 Kanne Radha Kulunga Kulunga Ilamai Sirikkudhu Ilaiyaraaja 1982 Kavithai Malar Alaigale Vaa Avarudan Vaa Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1982 Nambinal Nambungal Disco Sangeetham Than Gangai Amaren Deepan Chakravarthy 1982 Thooral Ninnu Pochchu Bhoopalam Isaikkum Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1983 Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate Sevvarrali Thotathilae Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja 1983 Indru Nee Naalai Naan Thaazham Poove Kannurangu Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & S. Janaki 1983 Manaivi Solle Manthiram Aathaadi Adhisayam Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1983 Mella Paesungal Koovina Poogkuyil.... Sevvanthi Pookkalil Seidha Veedu Ilaiyaraaja Deepan Chakravarthy 1984 Anbe Odi Vaa Kaadhil Kaetadhu Oru Paatu Ilaiyaraaja 1984 Kadamai Shankar–Ganesh 1984 Vaidehi Kathirunthal Maegham Karukkayilae Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja 1985 Ketti Melam Dhaagame Undaanathe Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1984 Naalai Unathu Naal Alai Alaiyaai Pala Aasaigale Ilaiyaraaja 1985 Oru Kaidhiyin Diary Ponn Maanae Kovam Eno Ilaiyaraaja Unni Menon 1984 Pudhumai Penn Kasthoori Maane Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1985 Thiramai Indha Azhagu Deepam Shankar–Ganesh Malaysia Vasudevan 1985 Thendrale Ennai Thodu Kanmani Nee Vara Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1986 Kodai Mazhai Pala Pala Pala Kuruvi Ilaiyaraaja Devie Neithiyar 1986 Mounam Kalaikirathu Maalai Neram Shankar–Ganesh Ramesh 1986 Muthal Vasantham Aarum Athu Aazhamilla Ilaiyaraaja 1986 Paru Paru Pattanam Paru Yaar Thoorigai Thandha Oviyam Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam1986 Thazhuvatha Kaigal Kudumbathai Uruvakka Sonnaal Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Sailaja, B. S. Sasirekha & Saibaba Naanoru Chinnapaathaan B. S. Sasirekha 1987 Aayusu Nooru Brahma Devan Avan T. Rajendar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1987 Oru Thayin Sabhatham Raakoli Koovaiyile T. Rajendar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1987 Veeran Veluthambi Adi Kattazahagu Maane S. A. Rajkumar Mano 1988 Atthanaiperum Uttharmarthana Pudhu Rosa Allu Kannan Latha Latha Kannan 1988 Poovukkul Boogambam Naal Varudhu Naal Varudhu Sangeetha Rajan 1989 En Thangai Madhuvin Mayakam S. A. Rajkumar Kalyan 1989 Manasukketha Maharasa Manjakulikira Pinju Kuruvikku Deva 1989 Oru Ponnu Nenacha Uthayame Uyire Nilave S. A. Rajkumar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1989 Paandi Nattu Thangam Elalam Kuyiley Elemara Veyiley Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1989 Ponmana Selvan Inimela Nalla Neramthaan Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan 1989 Thendral Sudum Aatthaadi Allikodi Ilaiyaraaja 1989 Vaai Kozhuppu Chandrabose 1988 Veedu Manaivi Makkal Sengallai Thookara Shankar–Ganesh Malaysia Vasudevan 1990 60 Naal 60 Nimidam 6 Undhan Kannukul KannanLatha Mano 1990 Arangetra Velai Aagaya Vennilave Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas1990 Ethir Kaatru Raja Illa Ilaiyaraaja Arunmozhi Ingu Irukkum 1990 Keladi Kanmani Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Kanne Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas Thanniyila Nananja (not picturized in the movie) 1990 Mallu Vetti Minor Unna Paartha Nerathula laiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan Adi Matthalam Malaysia Vasudevan & K. S. Chithra Chinna Mani K. J. Yesudas & K. S. Chithra 1990 Palaivana Paravaigal Muthu Sambaa Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan 1990 Pulan Visaranai Kuyiley Kuyiley Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1991 Anbu Sangili Mandhira Punnagai Ilaiyaraaja 1991 Ennarukil Nee Irunthal Oh Unaale Naan Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1991 Kumbakarai Thangaiah Poothu Poothu Kulunguthadi Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1991 Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum Pottu Vachcha Poove Ilayagangai S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Gogulanan 1991 Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu Aei Marikolunthu Ennammaa Krishnaveni Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra 1991 Thanthu Vitten Ennai Muthamma Muthu Muthu Ilaiyaraaja Arunmozhi 1991 En Mamanukku Nalla Manasu Megam Mazhai Thooral Sirpy S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1992 Puthiya Swarangal Oh Vaanamulla Kaalam Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas 1992 Thambi Pondatti Kannan Vanthathaale Ilaiyaraaja 1993 Chinna Mapillai Kanmanikkul Chinna Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Minmini 1993 Enga Thambi Ithu Maanodu Mayilaadum Kaadu Ilaiyaraaja Arunmozhi1993 Manikuyil Thaneerilea Mugam Paarkkum Ilaiyaraaja Mano Kaadhal Nilaavey Arunmozhi 1993 Pon Vilangu Sandana Kumba Udambula Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1993 Walter Vetrivel Poongaatru Inge Vandhu Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1994 Mahanadhi Sri Ranga Ranganathanin Ilaiyaraaja S P Balasubrahmanyam & Mahanadhi Shobana 1994 Mettupatti Mirasu Mangalam Mangalame M. S. Sriraj K. J. Yesudas & K. S. Chithra 1994 Periya Marudhu Singaarama Nalla Ilaiyaraaja 1994 Pudhupatti Ponnuthayi Ooradangum Samathile Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha 1994 Sevatha Ponnu Chittiraiyil Thirumanam Deva S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1994 Sevvanthi Vasa Malli Pooovu Ilaiyaraaja 1994 Thendral Varum Theru Amma Pillaiya Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1995 Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari Ethanai Naalaa Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1995 Aanazhagan Poo Choodum Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha 1995 Chinna Vathiyar Atha Maga Rathiname Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan 1995 Paattu Padava Nil Nil Nil Badhil Sol Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja 1995 Pullakuttikaran Pothum Eduththa Jenmamae Deva Arunmozhi 1995 Nandhavana Theru Velli Nilave Velli Nilave Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1997 Abhimanyu Thai Unakku Deva 1997 Arasiyal Vaa Sagi Vaa Sagi Vidyasagar Harish Raghavendra 1997 Pudhayal Ochamma Ochamma Vidyasagar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Unni Menon 1997 Sishya Yaro Azhaithadhu Deva Hariharan 2000 Karuvelam Pookkal Ei Poothathadi Saathi Malli Poovu Ilaiyaraaja 2005 Sivakasi Edhu Enna Srikanth Deva Harish Raghavendra 2005 Thirupaachi Kannum Kannumthan Kalanthachu Mani Sharma Harish Raghavendra & Premji Amaren

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