P Susheela

Pulapaka Susheela, born on November 13, 1935, in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, is a legendary Indian playback singer who holds the Guinness World Record for having recorded the most songs by a female artist, with over 50,000 songs across multiple languages. Her career spans over six decades, making her one of the most prolific recording artists in the world.

P. Susheela began her playback singing career in 1950 with the Telugu film “Pelli Chesi Choodu” and went on to dominate the playback singing scene in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi cinema. In Tamil cinema, she was the leading female playback voice from the 1950s through the 1980s, lending her melodious voice to virtually every leading actress of that era.

Her iconic Tamil songs include collaborations with legendary composers like M.S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, and K.V. Mahadevan. Songs like “Pon Magal Vandaal,” “Aadal Paadal,” and countless others remain evergreen classics. She has won five National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and numerous state awards across South Indian languages.

P. Susheela was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2008 for her extraordinary contributions to Indian music. Known for her crystal-clear voice, perfect diction in multiple languages, and remarkable range, she is regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in the history of Indian cinema.