P. A. Periyanayaki (14 April 1927 – 1990) was an Indian playback singer and actress who worked mainly in Tamil-language films. She also performed stage concerts as a Carnatic singer.
Early life
She hails from Thiruvadhigai near Panruti.[1] Her mother Adhilakshmi was a singer and was fondly called "Panruti Ammal"
Periyanayaki is the youngest of Adhilakshmi's 3 children. Others are Balasubramanian and Rajamani.
Adhilakshmi went to Sri Lanka with her 3 children and was performing music concerts there. When her health deteriorated, she returned to India with her children and settled in Chennai.
Periyanayaki studied up to 7th Standard in the C. S. M. School at Thiruvallikeni.[2]
Film career
In 1940, Periyanayaki's sister P. A. Rajamani got a chance to act in a Tamil film Urvashiyin Kadhal. P. A. Periyanayaki also got the chance to act and sing in that film[1] as a heavenly maiden. So she had to leave the school and had to go to Salem with her mother.
Periyanayaki trained in Carnatic music from her mother and from Pathamadai Sundara Iyer. She performed stage concerts.
She had a captivating voice and singing talent. Therefore, she was able to enter the Tamil Cinema.
In 1941 AVM produced a full-length comedy film Sabapathy. Periyanayaki performs a stage Carnatic music concert as a scene in the film. Apart from that, she sang 2 songs in this film.
She lent voice to heroine Rukmini in Sri Valli in 1945 for the first time as a playback singer. She sang all the songs overnight and the technicians had to work round the clock to get them ready for the film.[1]
