Bhavatharini Raja (23 July 1976 – 25 January 2024) was an Indian playback singer and composer. She was the only daughter of noted composer Ilaiyaraaja and sister of Yuvan Shankar Raja and Karthik Raja. Starting her career in the 1990s, she mostly sang songs under the direction of her father and brothers. She was awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2000 for her rendition of the song "Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu" from the film Bharathi, composed by her father.
Career Bhavatharini Raja made her debut as a playback singer for My Dear Kuttichathan. From then onwards, she mostly sang on albums composed by her father and brothers.
In 2001, she won the National Award for the song "Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu" in the movie Bharathi (the music director was her father).
Bhavatharini turned as a composer for the 2002 film Mitr, My Friend, directed by Revathi, starring Shobhana. She then forayed into the Telugu film industry with Avuna (2003). She also composed music for Phir Milenge, also directed by Revathi, starring Shilpa Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan. In June 2012, she was roped in to score the tunes for Vellachi, a village-based project.
Personal life and death
Bhavatharani studied at Rosary Matric School in Chennai. This was followed by higher secondary school in Adarsh Vidyalaya, Peters Road, Chennai. Bhavatharini was married to an advertising executive, R. Sabariraj, son of S.N. Ramachandran. Ramachandran is a former journalist who went into publishing and started Kannan Advertising. The couple did not have children.
Bhavatharini died from cancer on 25 January 2024, at the age of 47, while being treated for the disease in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her body was taken to her father's home in Chennai, and later to her ancestral village, where she was cremated.
Discography As playback singer Tamil + List of Bhavatharini Tamil film credits as playback singer Year Album Song Composer Co-singer(s) Notes1988En Bommukutty Ammavuku "Kuyile Kuyile"IlaiyaraajaK. S. Chithra1989Thendral Sudum"Dhoori Dhoori"Yuvan Shankar Raja1990Anjali "Something Something"Karthik Raja Along with Yuvan Shankar Raja, Venkat Prabhu, Premgi Amaren, Bala, Parthi Bhaskar, Hari Bhaskar"Iravu Nilavu"S Janaki"Anjali Anjali"Sathya, Vaishnavi"Vaanam Namakku"Karthik Raja"Motta Maadi"1994Sethupathi IPS "Anadhai Endru" 1995Raasaiyya"Masthana Masthana" Arunmozhi, S.N SurendharDebut as solo playback singer Chandralekha"Anal Thanil Vaadidum"1996Irattai Roja"Unnai Vidamaaten" S. P. BalasubrahmanyamKatta Panchayathu"Oru Chinna Mani"Jolly AbrahamKaruvelam Pookkal"Pallakku Vanthirukku"Alexander"Alexander"Karthik Raja Anupama, Mahanadhi Shobana, Yuvan Shankar Raja, S. P. B. Charan"Nadhiyoram"P. UnnikrishnanEnakkoru Magan Pirappan"Chum Chum"Karthik RajaManikkam"Sundararae Muzhu"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam"Santhanam Theychachi""Thottu Sel Idam"1997Aravindhan"All The Best"Yuvan Shankar RajaHariharanUllaasam"Mutthey Mutthamma"Karthik RajaKamal Haasan, Swarnalatha"Yaaro Yaar Yaaro"Ilaiyaraaja"Valibam Vaazha Sollum"Karthik Raja, Shruti Haasan, Prabhu Deva, Yuvan Shankar Raja, PremjiAdditional vocals onlyThedinen Vanthathu"Aalps Malaikkaattru"SirpyHariharanRaman Abdullah"En Veettu Jannal"IlaiyaraajaArunmozhiKadhalukku Mariyadhai"Ennai Thalaata" HariharanOnly humming"Idhu Sangeetha Thirunalo" "O Baby"VijayOnly humming Naanum Oru Indian"Un Kadhalan"Unnikrishnan The film was released as Desiya Paravai in 2006Kadavul"Aadi Sivan Tholil" Nerukku Ner"Thudikindra Kadhal (Evar Kandaar)"Deva Mano 1998 Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar"Nadanakalarani'"Karthik RajaYuvan Shankar Raja, Premji AmaranKaathala Kaathala"Madonna Paadala"Kamal Haasan, Hariharan "Laila Laila"Hariharan Kalyana Galatta"Adhaam Yevaal"Yuvan Shankar RajaVenkat PrabhuVelai"Oyvedu Nilave"P. UnnikrishnanKizhakkum Merkkum"Akka Nee Sirichcha"Ilaiyaraaja "Poongaatrae"Senthooram"Aalamaram"P. UnnikrishnanKannathal"Amman Pugazhai Paada" Poonthottam"New Year"Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Venkat Prabhu, Premji Amaran, Mano, Malaysia Vasudevan Kangalin Vaarthaigal"Nenjathin Geetham"P. Unnikrishnan"Indha Kadhal" Kaadhal Kavithai"Alai Meethu"Poonjolai"Un Perai Kettale"Yugendran"Gaana Kuyile"S. P. Balasubramaniam1999Ponnu Veetukkaran"Ilaya Nilave"SrinivasThodarum"Oru Thulir Onnu"P. UnnikrishnanTime"Thavikkiren Thavikkiren"Hariharan Rajasthan "Sorgathil Nikkah" Shankar MahadevanAnnan"Kanmanikku Vaazhthu" Manam Virumbuthe Unnai"Kutti Kuyilai"Hariharan "Ilavenirkaala Panjami" HariharanOnly hummingKummi Paattu"Chinna Manasu"IlayarajaPoovellam Kettuppar"Poothathu"Yuvan Shankar RajaCameo appearance; First on-screen appearance2000 Kadhal Rojavae'"Sirithale" Ilaiyaraaja Kakkai Siraginilae"Gayathiri Ketkum"P. UnnikrishnanBharathi "Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu"National Film Award for Best Female Playback SingerKarisakattu Poove"Mamarathula"P. UnnikrishnanKaruvelam Pookkal "Pallakku Vanthirukku" Ilaiyavan"Nilavil Amuthu"P. Unnikrishnan2001 Dheena"Nee Illai Endral" Yuvan Shankar RajaMurugan Friends"Thendral Varum" IlaiyaraajaHariharanVaanchinathan "Adi Rendu"Karthik RajaP. UnnikrishnanKanna Unnai Thedukiren"Vanji Kodi"IlaiyaraajaHariharanAandan Adimai"Enna Enna Paada" HariniManadhai Thirudivittai"Sadugudugudu Aadathey"Yuvan Shankar RajaHariharan2002 Azhagi"Oliyile Therivadhu Devadhaya"Ilaiyaraaja Karthik"Damakku Damakku Dum"En Mana Vaanil"Muthu Muthu" KarthikRamanaa"Vaanam Adhirave"P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana SargamSolla Marandha Kadhai"Yaedho Onnu"KarthikAlbum"Muttaikull"Karthik Raja 2003Puthiya Geethai"Mercury Poove"Yuvan Shankar RajaNideesh Gopalan, Bonnie ChakrabortyPunnagai PooveEno Uyirmele Pithamagan"Kodi Yethi Vaippom"IlaiyaraajaShanmugasundari, Periya Karuppa Thevar, Harish RaghavendraDhanush"Vellipaniyai"Vijay YesudasUnreleased filmKonji Pesalaam"Konji Pesalaam" Ragasiyamai"Kangalum Kangalum"Karthik RajaKKThree Roses"Anbal Unnai"Annupamaa, Febi Mani"Oh Oh Sexy"Rohini2004Vishwa Thulasi"Vishwa Thulasi"M. S. Viswanathan 2005 Oru Naal Oru Kanavu"Kaatril Varum Geethame I"Ilaiyaraaja Shreya Ghoshal, Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan"Kaatril Varum Geethame II"Shreya GhosalKaragattakkari"Kattukkili"Karthik Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam"Killi Thattu"JothiPon Megalai"Aalapanai"Sadhana SargamRightaa Thappaa"Thottuvidu"Karthik Raja2006 Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu"Kanavae Kalaigirathe"Yuvan Shankar RajaYuvan Shankar Raja"Elaiyudhir Kaalam"Yuvan Shankar Raja, Bobby, Reeta, Reshmi, Ranjith, Naveen MadhavThaamirabharani"Thaaliyae Thevaiyillai" HariharanKadhale En Kadhale"Maya"PrayogIlakkanam"Oorukku Nalladhu"Bhavatharini2007 Vasantham Vanthachu"Nenjam"Oviyan Naalaiya Pozhuthum Unnodu"Pesa Paraasa"Srikanth DevaKarthik2008Uliyin Osai"Kaalathai Vendra"IlaiyaraajaSriram ParthasarathyDhanam"Kannanukku Enna" Sriram Parthasarathy, Prasanna Chakkara Viyugam"Idhu Thaan Chakraviyugam"Karthik Raja 2009Azhagar Malai"Unnai Enakku"IlaiyaraajaRita Kannukulle"Paattu Ketka"Tippu, Rahul Nambiar, Prasanna, Mukesh Mohamed, Velmurugan2010Avargalum Ivargalum"Enna Thavam Senjiputten"Srikanth DevaOchayee "Kammangaatukulle" JeevarajaHarish Raghavendra Goa"Yelelu Thalamuraikkum"Yuvan Shankar RajaKarthik Raja, Venkat Prabhu, Premji Amaran, Yuvan Shankar Raja 2011Mankatha"Kannadi Nee"S. P. B. Charan2012Aravaan"Unna Kolla Poren"Karthik M. L. R. KarthikeyanMaranthen Mannithen (D) "Alaiyodu Alaiyaga"IlaiyaraajaMayilu"Yathe"Sriram ParthasarathyUllamOh IyarkaiyaiYuvan Shankar Raja 2013Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer"Thappu Thanda"Javed AliBiriyani"Biriyani"Tanvi Shah, Vilasini2014Anegan"Aathadi Aathadi"Harris JayarajTippu and Dhanush Irumbu Kuthirai"Penne Penne"G. V. Prakash KumarG. V. Prakash2019RK Nagar"Adiye"Premgi AmarenRanjith2021Maanaadu"Meherezylaa"Yuvan Shankar RajaYuvan Shankar Raja, Rizwan2022Maamanithan"Pannapurathu"Ilaiyaraaja, Yuvan Shankar RajaSriram ParthasarathyCredited as Raja Bhavatharini2024Aariyamala"Aththi Poovapola"SelvanambiThe Greatest of All Time "Chinna Chinna Kangal"Yuvan Shankar RajaVijay, Yuvan Shankar RajaPosthumously released AI Generated VoiceCredited as Raja Bhavatharini2025Dinasari"Kadhalikka Poiya Solla"IlayarajaRanjith, Priya Jenson
Malayalam + List of Bhavatharini Malayalam film credits as playback singer Year Album Song Composer Co-singer(s) Notes1984My Dear Kuttichathan "Thithithey Thaalam"Ilaiyaraaja1997Kaliyoonjal"Kalyaanappallakkil Velippayyan""Shaaradendu Paadi"K. J. Yesudas, Ilaiyaraaja2000Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal"Palappoomazha"2005Ponmudipuzhayorathu "Naadaswaram Ketto"Asha G. Menon2007Ajantha"Aarum Thodatha Poovil" Madhu Balakrishnan
Kannada + List of Bhavatharini Kannada film credits as playback singer Year Album Song Composer Co-singer(s) Notes2001Usire"Preethisuve Preethisuve"Ilaiyaraaja K. J. YesudasHoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya"Belli Chandiranu"Karthik RajaMadhu Balakrishnan2006Geeya Geeya"Hrudayadi Kadana"Bhavatharini2007 Ajantha"Yaaru Hogada Jaaga" IlaiyaraajaVijay Yesudas
Telugu + List of Bhavatharini Telugu film credits as playback singer Year Album Song Composer Co-singer(s) Notes1998Navvandi Lavvandi (D) "Madona I"Karthik Raja Kamal Haasan 2001Dumm Dumm Dumm (D)"Nee Pere Inthandham"Harish Raghavendra2002Malli Malli Chudali"Vennelalo"Yuvan Shankar RajaP. Unnikrishnan2007Anumanaspadam"Rela Rela Rela"IlaiyaraajaTippu2013Gundello Godari"Nanu Neetho"Biriyani (D)"Biriyani" Yuvan Shankar Raja Tanvi Shah, Vilasini
Hindi + List of Bhavatharini Hindi film credits as playback singer Year Album Song Composer Co-singer(s) Notes2009Paa"Gumm Summ Gumm"IlaiyaraajaShravan
Non-film songs Year Album Song Language Composer Co-singer(s) Notes 2005Thiruvasakam in Symphony"Pooerukonum Purantharanum"TamilIlaiyaraajaIlaiyaraajaThe first Indian oratorio ever
Television Year Serial Song Language Composer Television Notes2007Suryavamsam"Keladi Penne" TamilMani Sharma Sun TV Produced by Radaan
As composer Year Title Language Notes 2002 Mitr, My Friend HindiTamil credited as Bhavatharini Ilayaraaja 2003 Avuna Telugu 2004 Phir Milenge Hindi credited as Bhavatha Raja 2006 Amirtham Tamil Ilakkanam Geeya Geeya Kannada credited as Bhavatharini Ilayaraaja 2012 Vellachi Tamil Porida Pazhagu Unreleased 2018 Kalvargal 2019 Maayanadhi 2024 Puyalil Oru Thoni Tamil Unreleased; posthumous
Filmography Year Film Role Language(s)Notes 1999Poovellam Kettuppar HerselfTamilSpecial appearance in the song "Poothathu" 2010Goa
References
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