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Born
1935
1935
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India
India
Journey
P. Susheela, born Pulapaka Susheela in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, is an Indian playback singer whose career spans more than seven decades of South Indian cinema. Raised in a family with a strong appreciation for music, she received Carnatic training from an early age and later studied at the Government Music College in Vizianagaram, where she completed her music diploma with distinction.
Susheela entered the film industry in 1952, beginning a recording career that would place her among the most prominent female voices in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Her first recorded film song was the duet “Edhukku Azhaithaai,” sung with A. M. Raja for "Petra Thaai."
Over the following decades, Susheela recorded extensively in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, while also singing in Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and other Indian languages. Her repertoire covered film songs across romantic, devotional, classical and dramatic settings. She worked with many of the leading composers and singers of her generation, contributing thousands of recordings to Indian cinema.
Her achievements include five National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, beginning with the inaugural award in 1969 for "Uyarndha Manithan." She later received the honour for "Savaale Samali" (1971), "Siri Siri Muvva" (1978), "Meghasandesam" (1982) and "M. L. A. Yedukondalu" (1983). She also received major state honours, including Tamil Nadu's Kalaimamani and Andhra Pradesh's Raghupathi Venkaiah Award.
In 2008, the Government of India awarded Susheela the Padma Bhushan for her contribution to music. She later received recognition associated with the Guinness World Records for her exceptionally large body of recorded songs. Her official records also list the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award South and several other lifetime honours.
Beyond her recording career, Susheela established a charitable trust intended to support emerging musicians and students while honouring distinguished figures in Indian music.
