The daughter of Sadhavisan Bhagavatham and Nalini, Lathika teacher is a highly reputed playback singer whose voice hit the music charts in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s in the South Indian film industry. She lent her voice particularly for Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu songs for over 300 films. She also sang the humming’s of many super hit Malayalam films of those times, (Chitram, Vandanam, etc.). She debuted at the age of 16 through the song ‘Pushpathalpathil…’ in the 1976 film ‘Abhinandanam’ directed by I.V. Sasi composed by Kannur Rajan. She sang the duet with K.J. Yesudas, who, she says has always been her mentor.
She was in Kuwait recently to attend ‘Samanvayam’ by Kerala Art Lovers Association (KALA).
Avanija: At what age did you realise your passion for music?
Lathika: I realized that I was able to perform in stages from the age of five, but I started singing at the age of two.
A: As you sang most of your songs in Bharathan Sir’s films, can you share some memories of him?
L: Bharathan Sir was a great mentor and a huge inspiration to me. I was very close to him and Lalitha ma’am (KPAC Lalitha). Working with Bharathan Sir was an incredible experience. He is a genius as he understood all the nuances of cinema and had genuine appreciation for the art form. The fact that he decided that I was good enough to sing in his films itself is a huge compliment.
A: How did your family members encourage you?
L: My parents loved to sing and they were very good singers. It was more of an inborn talent for me and that’s the reason why I started singing at an early age. My parents weren’t very interested in me going to the music field. Nowadays, everything is valued and parents want their children to be all-rounders. But, back in those days, the art field wasn’t very much valued. Artists were viewed in a different perspective in those days. So, my parents were not very interested. But still, I started to sing. God decided that. Then my parents, siblings and my other family members encouraged and supported me to sing.
A: Who inspired you to sing?
L: It was my parents, especially my mother. She inspired me to sing and gave me all the support and encouragement. She gave me moral support and helped refine my personality.
A: Who introduced you to the music field?
L: It was Ravindran master who introduced me to Bharathan master. I sang the song ‘Varnangal Gandhangal….’ In his movie ‘Chamaram’ (1980). Then for the music production of ‘Ithire Poove Chuvanna Poove’ (1984), Ravindran master suggested my name to hum a ‘pallavi’. I was called for an audition and Bharathan Sir liked my voice so much that he gave me the song, ‘Pon Pularoli…’ to sing.
A: Is this your first visit to Kuwait?
L: No, this is my second visit. I had visited Kuwait in 1976.
A: What are your recent activities?
L: I recently wrote a book ‘Ragatharangini’ about music elements which was published in 2014. I also retired last year. I used to be a lecturer in music at the Swati Tirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram.
A: If you were not a singer, what other profession would you pursue?
L: Music has always been my passion. I would only pursue a profession related to music.
A: Which is your most recent song?
L: My last performances were for the movie ‘Thottam’ in 2000 in which I rendered six folk songs.
A: Who inspired you to teach music in a college?
L: It was K.J. Yesudas who was always my mentor. He inspired me to learn music. This enabled me to apply to a college to teach music. If that had not happened, I would be the kind of singer who would only be able to perform on stages and to sing songs in a movie.
A: Can you share your experience as a teacher in a music college?
L: Music is a blessing, and sharing my knowledge as a teacher to the students is another blessing. I had a lot of experience teaching very talented students in my long teaching profession. Teaching the inborn talented students was an amazing experience, as they are not bound to the subject oriented learning.
A: What is your post retirement plan?
L: I am working on a book currently. This music based book will be a help for music students. Further, getting calls from well-wishers from Middle East and Far East to organize music academies.
A: What is your advice to the youngsters?
L: Children of these times, have more facilities to grow and flourish their talent and getting great support from parents. Utilizing these facilities were only a dream of the children of my times. Practice will deepen your love for music. Likewise in our Indian culture, children should treat the teachers as God. A teacher’s (Guru’s) mind blessing will always be an additional blessing to them.