Veteran singer and Padma Bhushan recipient Vani Jairam found dead at her Chennai residence

Chennai: Veteran playback singer Vani Jairam was found dead at her residence in Chennai, confirmed Tamil Nadu Police on Saturday. She was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award this year.

She was 77 and was living by herself at an apartment in Thousand Lights locality in the city. He husband had died a long ago and she did not have any children.

Jairam's maid turned up at her residence for work today but did not get any response from her despite repeatedly pressing the calling bell. She immediately alerted the singer's relatives, who later informed the police.

While speaking to media, Jairam's maid Malarkodi said, "I rang the bell five times at Vani Jairam's residence. But she didn't open the door. Even my husband called her up but she didn't receive the call. It's only she who stays at this residence."

The police swiftly reached her residence and broke open the apartment's door in front of her relatives and found her dead.

Vani's career started in 1971 and spanned over five decades. She did playback singing for over one thousand Indian movies recording over 10,000 songs. In addition, she recorded thousands of devotionals and private albums and also participated in numerous solo concerts in India and abroad.