Bombay Sisters

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.

Filmography

 * 1) Yar Jambulingam (Aadi Aadi Asaithal)
 * 2) Arunagirinathar (Kaithala Nirai Kani)

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

 * 1) Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham & Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam
 * 2) Sri Parthasarathy Suprabhatham & Pasurangal
 * 3) Sri Kamakshi Suprabhatham
 * 4) Sri Raghavendra Suprabhatham & Sthothras
 * 5) Sri Mookambika Suprabhatham
 * 6) Sri Sharada Suprabhatham & Other Sthothras
 * 7) Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham & Songs
 * 8) Sri Kalikambal Suprabhatham
 * 9) Siva Suprabhatham & Sthothras
 * 10) Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Stotram
 * 11) Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Stotram (1991)
 * 12) Sri Lakshmi Sahasranamam
 * 13) Mooka Panchasathi Vol 01,Vol 02, Vol 03, Vol 04
 * 14) Gangalahari
 * 15) Sri Bilva Ashtothara Sathanamavali
 * 16) Devi Mahathmayam Vol 01,Vol 02,Vol 03
 * 17) Sowdaryalahari
 * 18) Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam & Ashtothram
 * 19) Durga Sthothram
 * 20) Sree Mahishasuramardini Sthothram
 * 21) Sriman Narayaneeyam
 * 22) Sthothravali
 * 23) Sthothramala
 * 24) Sri Hanuman Chalisa & Other Hanumath Stothras (2008)
 * 25) Chinna Chinna Slogangal
 * 26) Krishna Karnamrutham
 * 27) Sivanandalahari
 * 28) Sri Vishnu Padadi Kesantha Sthothram
 * 29) AanandaLahari
 * 30) Dakshinamurthy Sthothram
 * 31) Adi Sankara SivasthuthiMala
 * 32) Aadithya Hridayam
 * 33) SriSthuthi Bhoosthuthi
 * 34) Padmanabha Sathakam
 * 35) Subrahmanyam (Kandarkalivemba)
 * 36) Sri Lalitha Trisathi and Other Devi Stothras
 * 37) Devi Sthothra Malika
 * 38) Devi Sthothra Mala
 * 39) Mahishasura Mardhini (Nadam Music)
 * 40) Ramaya Thubhyam Namah
 * 41) Valmiki Ramayanam
 * 42) Sri Dattathreya Sthothram
 * 43) Sri Bhubaneswari Suprabhatham and Ashtakam
 * 44) Sri Pudukkottai Bhuvaneswari Suprabhatham and Songs
 * 45) Sri Yogabigai Suprabhatham
 * 46) Sri Manik Prabhu Suprabhatham
 * 47) Sri Ganesa Sahasranamam

Malayalam

 * 1) Sapthaham (1991)
 * 2) Sundara Narayana Guruvayurappan Gananjali Vol. 8- CD 1
 * 3) Sundara Narayana Guruvayurappan Gananjali Vol. 8- CD 2

Tamil

 * 1) Sri Abirami Andhadhi
 * 2) Sri Guruvayurappa Suprabhatham
 * 3) Kandar Sashti Kavacham (Sangeetha Music)
 * 4) Daivegathenisai
 * 5) Ganapathi Aayiram Namangal
 * 6) Enn Annai
 * 7) Divyaprabadham
 * 8) Jaya Jaya Kali
 * 9) Kandar Sashti Kavacham (KRV Music)
 * 10) Karumari Amman Andhadi
 * 11) Koil Mani Osai
 * 12) Maagadu Amman Aaruvara Padalgal
 * 13) Maduraimeenakshi
 * 14) Mahishasuramardhini (Symphony music)
 * 15) Narayana Leelanjali
 * 16) Navagraha Krithis
 * 17) Pallikkarannai Parasakthi
 * 18) PoornayogaVibhavam
 * 19) Ramanar Suprabhatham
 * 20) Sai Bhajan
 * 21) Sakthiye Sakthi
 * 22) Saravana Sangeetham
 * 23) Shanmukha Suprabhatham
 * 24) Kudavarasi Amman Padalgal
 * 25) Sivadarisanam
 * 26) Sri Bhuvaneswari Kavacham
 * 27) Sri Hanumanchalisa & Songs
 * 28) Sri Panchamukha Herambha Ganapathi Kavacham (1993)
 * 29) Prasanna Venkatachalapathi pukazhmalai
 * 30) Raghavedra Songs
 * 31) Raghavendra Suprabhatham
 * 32) Raghavendra Navarathnamalai
 * 33) Sri Saneeswara Bhagavan Sthothram
 * 34) Sri Thiruchedur Suprabhatham
 * 35) Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham (Tamil)
 * 36) Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam (Tamil)
 * 37) Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam (Tamil)
 * 38) Bhajagovindam & Mukundamala (1991)
 * 39) Aandal
 * 40) Vinayaka Agaval
 * 41) Thiruppugazh
 * 42) Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham (symphony)
 * 43) Mahalakshmi Suprabhatham

Kannada

 * 1) Daasara Padagalu (1981).
 * 2) Devi Geethanjali (1991).
 * 3) Ambe Mookambe (1991).
 * 4) Kailasagirivasa Sri Manjunatha
 * 5) Navagraha Bhakthimala
 * 6) Srinivasa Vaibhava
 * 7) Varamahalakshmi
 * 8) Venkateswara Suprabhatha (Kannada)
 * 9) Goravanahalli Mahalakshmi Suprabhatha

Carnatic Vocal

 * 1) Popular Composition of Arunachala Kavirayar
 * 2) Popular Varnams
 * 3) Swathithirunal Devi Krithis
 * 4) Popular Melodies
 * 5) Sri Thygaraja Pancharathna Krithis
 * 6) Sri Annamayya Krithis
 * 7) Thiruvayyaru Kshethra Krithis Vol 1&2
 * 8) Sri Muthuswami Dishithar Navagraha Krithis
 * 9) Kovur Pancharathna Krithis
 * 10) Thiruvoytiyur Pancharathna Krithis
 * 11) Sri Thyagaraja's Lalgudi Pancharatna Krithis
 * 12) Srirangam Pancharathna Krithis
 * 13) Ragam Tanam Pallavi
 * 14) Popular Thillanas
 * 15) Enticing Melodies
 * 16) Classical Vocal - Bombay Sisters
 * 17) Periyasami Thooran Songs
 * 18) Panchalinga Krithis