Bangalore Latha

Biography

B. R. Latha, popularly known as Bangalore Latha, was an Indian singer who worked in south Indian film industry, mainly in Kannada and Telugu.

Career

Latha was noticed by music composer G. K. Venkatesh at an event in Purabhavan, Bangalore and he introduced her to films through the movie Kantheredu Nodu in 1961. Next she recorded a song for the 1962 film Mahathma Kabir, starring Dr. Rajkumar and Krishna Kumari in lead role. She went on to record songs in Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Tulu.
Latha recorded her duets with P. B. Srinivas, Mohammad Rafi, Ghantasala, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M. Balamurali Krishna, Dr. Rajkumar, S. Janaki, Vani Jairam, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, B. K. Sumitra, B. R. Chaya and some rare duets with Musuri Krishnamurthy, Shankar Nag and Vishnuvardhan.

Personal life

Latha was born and raised in Bangalore. She was trained in music by Chintanapalli Krishnamurthy. She married actor Tomato Somu. Latha committed suicide by taking sleeping pills on 26 March 1990.

Notable songs

Kannada Songs:

Amba jagadamba (Oorigitta Kolli)
Odi baa ododi baa (Chakra Theertha)
Vanamali Vaikunthapathe (Parvathi Kalyana)
Nee modalu modalu nanna nodidaga (Choori Chikkanna)
Cheluvaralli Cheluva (Gange Gowri)
Chandramukhi Pranasakhi (Naandi)
Neenarigadeyo Ele Manava (Chandavalliya Thota)
Hrudaya pallavi (Hrudaya Pallavi)
Eko Eno e nanna manavu (Jwaalamukhi)
Heluvudu ondu maduvudu innondu (Jwalamukhi)
Aa moda banalli (Druva Thaare)
Nada charite nenapisuva (Thayiya Hone)
Aa rathiye Dharegilidante (Dhruva Thaare)
Anuragada ravi udayisalu (Idu Namma Desha)
Telugu Songs:
Latha has rendered some of her best songs in Telugu. The most famous was Salalitha Raga Sudharasa Saaram with M. Balamuralikrishna, composed by Susarla Dakshinamurthi, from the 1963 classic Nartanasala.

Amma annadi oka kammani maata (Bullemma Bullodu)
Salalitha Raga Sudharasa Saaram (Narthanashala)
Redu Messeeya (Yesu Paadamulandu) and more.

Film songs

Selected songs of Latha, are listed here.