Bombay Sisters


The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja and C. Lalitha, were an Indian Carnatic music singing duo. They received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, in 2020.

Filmography

  1. Yar Jambulingam
  2. Arunagirinathar

    Early life

The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja and C. Lalitha, were born in Trichur, in what is today Kerala, to Mukthambal and N. Chidambaram Iyer. The sisters were brought up in Bombay. Saroja and Lalitha had their education in the S.I.E.S Matunga, passed their intermediate privately from Bhopal, M.P. and completed their graduation from Delhi University. They had their musical training with H. A. S. Mani, Musiri Subramania Iyer and T. K. Govinda Rao. T. K. Govinda Rao played major role in training the nuances of Carnatic music, How to enhance the raga and its bhava while singing sangatis in a kriti

Career

After they were groomed in Carnatic music in Mumbai, the sisters moved to Chennai when the elder sister, Saroja, first received a fellowship at the Central College of Music in Madras. The younger sister, Lalitha, also later received a fellowship at the same college. The duo got their name when Mouna Swamigal of Ambattur addressed them as 'Bombay Sahodarigal' and the name stuck.
As part of the trend of duo singing in Carnatic music, which started in the 1950s, with performers like Radha Jayalakshmi, and Soolamangalam Sisters, Bombay Sisters began singing in 1963 when they started with light classical music, subsequently progressing to classical Carnatic music. Their first major concert in Madras was at the Shirdi [Sai Baba Temple, Mylapore|Sai Baba temple] in Mylapore, where they were bumped to the prime-time slot because of the unavailability of Madurai Mani Iyer.
The duo sang in multiple languages including Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi. They stayed away from singing for film-songs through their career. They were also known for promoting young musicians through endowments and scholarships. They received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, in 2020.

Awards

Lalitha was married to N. R. Chandran, former Advocate-General of Madras. She died on 31 January 2023, aged 84, in Chennai. She was suffering from cancer.
Saroja is married to Rajaram, former chief secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi.

Discography

Source:

Sanskrit

  1. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham & Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam
  2. Sri Parthasarathy Suprabhatham & Pasurangal
  3. Sri Kamakshi Suprabhatham
  4. Sri Raghavendra Suprabhatham & Sthothras
  5. Sri Mookambika Suprabhatham
  6. Sri Sharada Suprabhatham & Other Sthothras
  7. Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham & Songs
  8. Sri Kalikambal Suprabhatham
  9. Siva Suprabhatham & Sthothras
  10. Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Stotram
  11. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Stotram
  12. Sri Lakshmi Sahasranamam
  13. Mooka Panchasathi Vol 01, Vol 02, Vol 03, Vol 04
  14. Gangalahari
  15. Sri Bilva Ashtothara Sathanamavali
  16. Devi Mahathmayam Vol 01, Vol 02, Vol 03
  17. Sowdaryalahari
  18. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam & Ashtothram
  19. Durga Sthothram
  20. Sree Mahishasuramardini Sthothram
  21. Sriman Narayaneeyam
  22. Sthothravali
  23. Sthothramala
  24. Sri Hanuman Chalisa & Other Hanumath Stothras
  25. Chinna Chinna Slogangal
  26. Krishna Karnamrutham
  27. Sivanandalahari
  28. Sri Vishnu Padadi Kesantha Sthothram
  29. AanandaLahari
  30. Sri Guru Stotram
  31. Sri Dakshinamurthi Manthra Mathruka Sthavam
  32. Sri Dakshinamurthi Navarathnamala Stotram
  33. Sri Dakshinamurthi Pancharatna Stotram
  34. Sri Dakshinamurthi Ashtakam
  35. Sri Guru Paduka Panchakam
  36. Sri Dakshinamurthi Astothara Sathanama Stotram
  37. Dakshinamurthy Sthothram
  38. Sri Dattatreya Astothara Sathanaama Stotram
  39. Sri Dattatreya Suprabhatham
  40. Sri Datta Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram
  41. Sri Dattatreya Stotram
  42. Sri Datta Stotram
  43. Dattastahavarajaha
  44. Sri Dattatreya Prarthana Chathuskam
  45. Sri Datta Navarathna Malika
  46. Sri Datta Naamavali
  47. Adi Sankara SivasthuthiMala
  48. Aadithya Hridayam
  49. SriSthuthi Bhoosthuthi
  50. Padmanabha Sathakam
  51. Subrahmanyam
  52. Sri Lalitha Trisathi and Other Devi Stothras
  53. Devi Sthothra Malika
  54. Devi Sthothra Mala
  55. Mahishasura Mardhini
  56. Ramaya Thubhyam Namah
  57. Valmiki Ramayanam
  58. Sri Dattathreya Sthothram
  59. Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham and Ashtakam
  60. Sri Pudukkottai Bhuvaneswari Suprabhatham and Songs
  61. Sri Yogabigai Suprabhatham
  62. Sri Manik Prabhu Suprabhatham
  63. Sri Ganesa Sahasranamam

    Malayalam

  64. Sapthaham
  65. Sundara Narayana Guruvayurappan Gananjali Vol. 8- CD 1
  66. Sundara Narayana Guruvayurappan Gananjali Vol. 8- CD 2

    Tamil

  67. Sri Abirami Andhadhi
  68. Sri Guruvayurappa Suprabhatham
  69. Kandar Sashti Kavacham
  70. Daivegathenisai
  71. Ganapathi Aayiram Namangal
  72. Enn Annai
  73. Divyaprabadham
  74. Jaya Jaya Kali
  75. Kandar Sashti Kavacham
  76. Karumari Amman Andhadi
  77. Koil Mani Osai
  78. Maagadu Amman Aaruvara Padalgal
  79. Maduraimeenakshi
  80. Mahishasuramardhini
  81. Narayana Leelanjali
  82. Navagraha Krithis
  83. Pallikkarannai Parasakthi
  84. PoornayogaVibhavam
  85. Ramanar Suprabhatham
  86. Sai Bhajan
  87. Sakthiye Sakthi
  88. Saravana Sangeetham
  89. Shanmukha Suprabhatham
  90. Kudavarasi Amman Padalgal
  91. Sivadarisanam
  92. Sri Bhuvaneswari Kavacham
  93. Sri Hanumanchalisa & Songs
  94. Sri Panchamukha Herambha Ganapathi Kavacham
  95. Prasanna Venkatachalapathi pukazhmalai
  96. Raghavedra Songs
  97. Raghavendra Suprabhatham
  98. Raghavendra Navarathnamalai
  99. Sri Saneeswara Bhagavan Sthothram
  100. Sri Thiruchedur Suprabhatham
  101. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham
  102. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam
  103. Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam
  104. Bhajagovindam & Mukundamala
  105. Aandal
  106. Vinayaka Agaval
  107. Thiruppugazh
  108. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham
  109. Mahalakshmi Suprabhatham

    Kannada

  110. Daasara Padagalu.
  111. Devi Geethanjali.
  112. Ambe Mookambe.
  113. Kailasagirivasa Sri Manjunatha
  114. Navagraha Bhakthimala
  115. Srinivasa Vaibhava
  116. Varamahalakshmi
  117. Venkateswara Suprabhatha
  118. Goravanahalli Mahalakshmi Suprabhatha

    Carnatic Vocal

  119. Popular Composition of Arunachala Kavirayar
  120. Popular Varnams
  121. Swathithirunal Devi Krithis
  122. Popular Melodies
  123. Sri Thygaraja Pancharathna Krithis
  124. Sri Annamayya Krithis
  125. Thiruvayyaru Kshethra Krithis Vol 1&2
  126. Sri Muthuswami Dishithar Navagraha Krithis
  127. Kovur Pancharathna Krithis
  128. Thiruvoytiyur Pancharathna Krithis
  129. Sri Thyagaraja's Lalgudi Pancharatna Krithis
  130. Srirangam Pancharathna Krithis
  131. Ragam Tanam Pallavi
  132. Popular Thillanas
  133. Enticing Melodies
  134. Classical Vocal - Bombay Sisters
  135. Periyasami Thooran Songs
  136. Panchalinga Krithis