P. A. Periyanayaki (14 April 1927 – 1990) was Tamil playback singer and actress who worked mainly in Tamil-language films. She also performed stage concerts as a Carnatic singer.

Early life She hailed from Thiruvadhigai near Panruti. Her mother Adhilakshmi was a singer and was fondly called "Panruti Ammal". Periyanayaki was the youngest of Adhilakshmi's three children. Others are Balasubramanian and Rajamani. Adhilakshmi went to Sri Lanka with her 3 children and performed music concerts there. When her health deteriorated, she returned to India with her children and settled in Chennai.

Periyanayaki studied up to 7th Standard in the C. S. M. School at Thiruvallikeni.

Film career In 1940, Periyanayaki's sister Rajamani got a chance to act in the Tamil film Urvashiyin Kadhal. Periyanayaki also got the chance to act and sing in that film as a heavenly maiden. So she had to leave the school and had to go to Salem with her mother.

Periyanayaki trained in Carnatic music from her mother and from Pathamadai Sundara Iyer. She performed stage concerts.

She had a voice and singing talent. Therefore, she was able to enter the Tamil Cinema.

In 1941 AVM produced a full-length comedy film Sabapathy. Periyanayaki performs a stage Carnatic music concert as a scene in the film. Apart from that, she sang 2 songs in this film.

She featured in Dharma Veeran (1941), En Manaivi (1942), Manonmani (1942), Panchamirtham (1942), Prabhavathi (1942), Sivalinga Satchi (1942), Mahamaya (1944), Vichitra Vanitha (1947), Vedhala Ulagam (1948), Geetha Gandhi (1949), Krishna Bakthi (1949) and Koondukili (1954).

She lent voice to heroine Rukmini in Sri Valli in 1945 for the first time as a playback singer. She sang all the songs overnight and the technicians had to work round the clock to get them ready for the film.

She featured as Narada in Rukmangadhan and as Satyabhama in Krishna Bakthi.

She featured as the heroine in Ekambavanan (1947).

Some of her songs Thiruvadi Malarale – Raga: Desh, Film: Prabhavathi Thirumaadhu Valar Ponnaadu, Vellimalaikedhiraai Vilangum Ezhumalaiyaan – Film: Prabhavathi Yen Manam Kavarndha – Film: Lavanya (1951) Music: S. V. Venkatraman Jeeviya Bhagyame, Vettunda Kaigal, Kanniye Maamari Thaaye, Arul Thaarum Deva Mathaave – Film: Gnana Soundari (1948), Music: S. V. Venkatraman Chinthai Arindhu Vaadi – Film: Sri Valli, Lyricist: Papanasam Sivan, Music: R. Sudarsanam Neeli Magan Nee Allavo – Raga: Karaharapriya, Film: Malaikkallan Jeeva Oliyaaga – Film: Paithiyakaran, (playback for T. A. Mathuram)

Filmography

As Singer/Actress Year Film Role Director Banner Remarks 1940 Urvashiyin Kadhal C. V. Raman Parimala PicturesModern Theatres First film 1940 Uthama Puthiran T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres 1941 Dharma Veeran B. Sampathkumar Modern Theatres 1942 En Manaivi Sundar Rao Nadkarni AVM Productions not credited in the film Manonmani T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres Panchamirtham Jithan Banerji Balaji-Eswar Films Sivalinga Satchi S. Nodani Modern Theatres 1944 Mahamaya T. R. Raghunath Jupiter Pictures Prabhavathi Kurathi T. R. Raghunath Krishna Pictures 1946 Sakata Yogam R. Padmanaban R. Padmanaban 1947 Ekambavanan B. N. Rao Saravanabhava Pictures Heroine against Kothamangalam Seenu 1947 Vichitra Vanitha K. Subramanyam Madras United Artists Corporation 1948 Vedhala Ulagam A. V. Meiyappan AVM Productions 1949 Geetha Gandhi Sarada K. Subramanyam Madras United Artists Corporation Krishna Bakthi Satyabhama R. S. Mani Krishna Pictures 1954 Koondukili T. R. Ramanna R. R. Pictures

As Playback singer Year Film Language Song Music Director Co-Singer 1940 Urvashiyin Kadhal Tamil Varuveer Magizhvudane G. Ramanathan Aaruyir Naathan Mananilai Maarida Aanandham Idhile Puruvarus 1942 Manonmani Tamil Koodik Kondaduvom T. A. Kalyanam P. G. Venkatesan1944 Prabhavathi Tamil Thirumaadhu Valar Ponnaadu Vellimalaikedhiraayi Vilangum 1945 Sri Valli Tamil Chinthai Arindhu Vaadi R. SudarsanamThuraiyur Rajagopala Sarma 1947 Paithiyakaaran Tamil Jeeva Oliyaaga M. S. Gnanamani 1948 Gnana Soundari Tamil Arul Thaarum Deva Maathaave S. V. Venkatraman Jikki Kaadhalitthaalum Inbam Melaam T. R. Mahalingam Mana Mohanane T. R. Mahalingam Jeeviya Bhagyame Vettunda Kaigal Kanniye Maamari Thaaye Enna Payan Adaindhene Kula Maamani 1948 Vedhala Ulagam Tamil Azhagumigum Pavalaratham Vaitthu R. Sudharsanam Ezhil Annam Vadivaagi Eduthheginen Saantham Kolvaai En Sagodhariye 1949 Inbavalli Tamil Jagadhaambaa G. Ramanathan P. Leela Anbe Perum Nidhiye T. R. Mahalingam Yaar Umai Polae Dheiva Sodhanai Thaano Innum Vara Kaanene 1949 Ratnakumar Tamil Nam Vaazhvenum Solaiyil G. Ramanathan & C. R. Subburaman P. U. Chinnappa Aaha Enadi Kiliye 1950 Beedala Patlu Telugu Chilukaraajaa Neeku Pelli S. M. Subbaiah Naidu & G. Aswathama Thiruchi Loganathan & M. L. Vasanthakumari Kanikaramadi Kaladeni 1950 Ezhai Padum Padu Tamil Oo Kiliye Aasai Kiliye S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Vaanamudhe Ondraai Thiruchi Loganathan & M. L. Vasanthakumari Kanivudan Thirumbiye Paarum 1950 Ithaya Geetham Tamil Juma Juma Jum Jum S. V. Venkatraman P. Leela Janani Sri Goweri Dhesam 1950 Prasanna Malayalam Sneham Thookum M. S. Gnanamani 1951 Lavanya Tamil Idhu Mun Seydha Vinaiyo S. V. Venkatraman Yezhai Ennidam Umadhu Manamum Thoodhu Nee Sellaayo Mugile 1951 Sarvadhikari Tamil En Andha Kadai Sarakkum S. Dakshinamurthi S. Dakshinamurthi 1951 Singari Tamil Paalu Paalu Pasum Paalu T. A. Kalyanam,S. V. Venkatraman &T. R. Ramanathan P. Leela1951 Sudharshan Tamil Unnai Kandu Mayamngaadha Pergal Undo G. Ramanathan Ulagame Sandhai Koottamada.... Paaril Sandhai Koottam 1951 Vanasundari Tamil Pennin Inbam Naadida Vaareer S. V. Venkataraman &C. R. Subburaman K. V. Janaki Deeyo Deeyo Deeyaalo K. V. Janaki & P. Leela Vandu Pola Aadi Sellum Odame P. Leela Inbamaaga Paaduvom P. Leela1952 DesabhakthanMalayalam Sahaayamaare Baale Shankar-Jaikishan Oh chinthayil En 1952 Kanchana Malayalam Oh Vaanin Mele S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Niraasha Maathramaay 1952 Kanchana Tamil En Vaazhve Sogam Aaguma S. M. Subbaiah Naidu O Aasai Rajaa Inimel Orupothum Azhagu Nilaa Vaa Vaa Chella Kiliye Chezhundhene Inba Padaginile Thunba Puyal Ullam Kavarndha En K. R. Ramaswamy1952 Kanchana Telugu Idenaa Prematirenaa S. M. Subbaiah Naidu O Etham Ekkene Tokkedaa 1952 Puratchi Veeran Tamil Kaadhal Kanave.... En Kannil Shankar-Jaikishan Thiruchi Loganathan Men Thendralile Thulli Paaru Jodhiyaa Un Aasai Maaraadhae 1952 Singari Telugu Palu Palu Moratu Maganike T. A. Kalyanam,S. V. Venkatraman &T. R. Ramanathan P. Leela1953 Ammalakkalu Telugu Penugonu Manasula G. Ramanathan,C. R. Subburaman &Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy A. M. Rajah Kannemaavi Thotalona Oo Neeve Naa Prema Maaradavela Maaramu Undaloi Undaloi A. P. Komala 1953 Kodarikam Telugu Leela Hallo, Leela Open C. N. Pandurangan A. P. Komala & U. R. Chandra 1953 Mamiyar Tamil Leela Hallo, Leela Open C. N. Pandurangan A. P. Komala & U. R. Chandra1953 Marumagal Tamil Kanavilum Nanavilum Inai Piriyaadha G. Ramanathan,C. R. Subburaman &Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy A. M. Rajah Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti Oo Neethaan En Sondham Pesaadha Maounam Aamo Aanukkoru Penn Pillai A. P. Komala & A. G. Rathnamala Laali Suba Laali C. R. Subburaman1953 Ponni Tamil Aangalai Pola Penngal S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Madhimuga Radhi Ena Aaduvome Oonjal Aaduvome(Baama Vijayam dance drama) (Radha) Jayalakshmi, C. B. Radha and & A. P. Komala 1953 Prapancham Telugu M. S. Gnanamani & T. Poornananda 1953 Ulagam Tamil Thetkathi Kallanadaa M. S. Gnanamani 1954 Aggi Ramudu Telugu Raa Raa Yashodanandana S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Panthulu Panthulu 1954 Koondukkili Tamil Yaar Vanthennai Edhirtthaalum K. V. Mahadevan Enakku Theriyala Nijama 1954 Kudumbam Tamil Pudhumalar Roja Naaney S. Rajeswara Rao 1954 Malaikkallan Tamil Neeli Magan Nee Allavaa S. M. Subbaiah Naidu O Ammaa O Aiyaa 1954 Nanban Tamil G. Ramanathan 1955 Doctor Savithri Tamil Naayagar Pakshamadi G. Ramanathan A. P. Komala 1955 Gomathiyin Kaadhalan Tamil G. Ramanathan

References

External links Songs by P. A. Periyanayaki

Songs in her very first film Urvashiyin Kadhal