The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja (born 7 December 1936) and C. Lalitha (26 August 1938 – 31 January 2023), were an Indian Carnatic music singing duo. They received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, in 2020.
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 (now Chennai). 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 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
Padmashri, 2020; awarded by the Government of India
Isai Peraringar Award, 2006; awarded by the Tamil Isai Sangam
Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, 2006; awarded by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai
Kalaimamani for contributions to Carnatic music; awarded by the Government of Tamilnadu First women to be conferred the status of Asthana Vidushi by the Kanchi matha Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award, 2010; awarded by the Madras Music Academy Sangeetha Choodamani Award, 1991; awarded by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 2004; awarded by the Government of India S V Narayanaswamy Rao Award, 2018; awarded by the Sree Rama Seva Mandali, Bangalore Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Memorial Award, 2013 Sangeetha Kala Nipuna, 1994; awarded by Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Madras M S Subbulakshmi Award 2019; awarded by the Government of Tamilnadu
Personal life
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(s):
Sanskrit
Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham & Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam
Sri Parthasarathy Suprabhatham & Pasurangal
Sri Kamakshi Suprabhatham
Sri Raghavendra Suprabhatham & Sthothras
Sri Mookambika Suprabhatham
Sri Sharada Suprabhatham & Other Sthothras
Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham & Songs
Sri Kalikambal Suprabhatham
Siva Suprabhatham & Sthothras
Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Stotram
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Stotram (1991) Sri Lakshmi Sahasranamam Mooka Panchasathi Vol 01,Vol 02, Vol 03, Vol 04 Gangalahari Sri Bilva Ashtothara Sathanamavali Devi Mahathmayam Vol 01,Vol 02,Vol 03 Sowdaryalahari Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam & Ashtothram Durga Sthothram Sree Mahishasuramardini Sthothram Sriman Narayaneeyam Sthothravali Sthothramala Sri Hanuman Chalisa & Other Hanumath Stothras (2008) Chinna Chinna Slogangal Krishna Karnamrutham Sivanandalahari Sri Vishnu Padadi Kesantha Sthothram AanandaLahari Dakshinamurthy Sthothram Adi Sankara SivasthuthiMala Aadithya Hridayam SriSthuthi Bhoosthuthi Padmanabha Sathakam Subrahmanyam (Kandarkalivemba) Sri Lalitha Trisathi and Other Devi Stothras Devi Sthothra Malika Devi Sthothra Mala Mahishasura Mardhini (Nadam Music) Ramaya Thubhyam Namah Valmiki Ramayanam Sri Dattathreya Sthothram Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham and Ashtakam Sri Pudukkottai Bhuvaneswari Suprabhatham and Songs Sri Yogabigai Suprabhatham Sri Manik Prabhu Suprabhatham