Lekhachitra963 at 23:16, 1 February 2026

2026-02-01T23:16:27Z

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{{short description|Indian singer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name = L. R. Eswari
| image = LR Eswari.png
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Lourde-Mary Rajeswari
| alias =
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras Province]],<br/>[[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(now [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|12|8|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| instrument = Vocalist
| genre = [[Playback singer|Playback singing]], [[Carnatic music]]
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1954–present
}}

'''Lourde-Mary Rajeswari'''{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}, better known as '''L. R. Eswari''', is an Indian playback singer who has sung many songs in [[Konkani language|Konkani]],
[[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Malayalam]], [[Kannada]], [[Tulu language|Tulu]], [[English language|English]], and [[Hindi language|Hindi]], .<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/10/stories/2007121060470500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212185014/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/10/stories/2007121060470500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 December 2007 |title=Singer L.R. Eswari felicitated |date=10 December 2007 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> She was awarded with the [[Kalaimamani]], an award for arts and culture in [[Tamil Nadu]], for her contributions to the [[Tamil cinema|film industry]].

==Early life==
She was born Lourde-Mary Rajeshwari in present-day [[Chennai]] (the [[List of state and union territory capitals in India|capital]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]) to Regina Mary Nirmala and Anthony Devraj. Her ancestors were from Paramakudi near Madurai. She did not have any formal training in singing. Her mother was a chorus singer in films. Eshwari used to accompany her mother to the studios and soon began singing in the chorus herself, but quickly got a break to lend her voice as lead-singer. Her first break came from Sri K.V.Mahadevan in 1958 in the movie ‘Nalla Idaththu Sammandham’, her first solo song recorded in this movie was ‘ivarey thaan avarey’. But major recognition came from the song ‘vaarai en thozhi vaaraayo’ from the movie ‘paasa malar’ (1961) sung under the baton of Viswanathan-Ramamurthy, which composers explored and exploited her vocal abilities to the maximum extent possible over the next 20 years. Since there was already another established singer with the name of M.S.Rajeshwari her name was abbreviated into L.R.Eshwari.

==Career==
L.R Eswari gave her first song "Inbanaalidhe Idhayam Kaanudhe" for the movie [[Manohara (film)|Manohara]](1954) along with [[Jikki]]. She sang under the direction of famous composers like [[M.S.Viswanathan|M. S. Viswanathan]], T.K. Ramamoorthy, [[K. V. Mahadevan]], Veda, V. Kumar, Shankar-Ganesh, [[G. K. Venkatesh]] and [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]]. Her voice was considered to be suited for peppy numbers in the movies.

She has also recorded many devotional albums in praise of the Goddess [[Mariamman|Amman]]. She sang Christmas songs like "Varuvai Varuvai" and "Deivam Thantha Divya Kumaaran". She has won the [[Kalaimamani|Kalaimamani Award]] and other state awards.

[[P.Susheela|P. Susheela]] and she sang with Unadhu Malar, Chiththira Poovizhi, Ninaithaal Sirippu, and Thoodhu Sella. She sang a duet "Gudilona Naa Swamy Koluvai Unnadu" with [[S. Janaki]] in the Telugu movie ''Idalokam'', with music by Chakravarthy. She rendered several duets with S. Janaki in Kannada movies as well.

She sang various duets with [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]], in the Telugu doyen in his own music direction in the Telugu movie ''Pandava Vana Vaasam'', and in K. V. Mahadevan's music direction in ''Prema Nagar'', [[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[A. L. Raghavan]], [[P. B. Sreenivas]], [[S.P. Balasubramaniam]], [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[J. P. Chandrababu]], [[C. S. Jayaraman]], [[S. C. Krishnan]], [[Thiruchi Loganathan]], [[A. M. Rajah]], Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Malaysia Vasudevan, and [[P. Jayachandran|Jayachandran]]. She also sang duets with female singers, most notably with P. Suseela, S. Janaki, [[Vani Jayaram]], [[K. Jamuna Rani]], [[M. S. Rajeswari]] and [[Soolamangalam Sisters|Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi]].

She sang "Kanda kanmaniye ammana araginiye o raja", a Kannada song for the movie "Balanagamma" in the early 1960s.

==Re-entry==
After a long break, she made her re-entry through a rocky peppy Tamil song, "Kalasala Kalasala", in the 2011 movie ''[[Osthe]]'', starring [[Silambarasan]]. She sang the song "Naa Poondamallida" in the film ''[[Thadaiyara Thaakka]]'' in the following year. She has also recently sang a [[Kannada]] song for the movie ''[[Victory (2013 film)|Victory]]'', named "Yakka Nin Magalu Nanage", with [[Kailash Kher]]. In 2013, she sang a duet song called "Thagadu Thagadu" along with [[T. Rajendar]] in the movie ''[[Arya Surya]]''. In 2014, she sang the song "Jaipuril Jaipuril" in the movie ''[[Athithi (2014 film)|Athithi]]'', with music by [[Bharadwaj (composer)|Bharadwaj]]. In 2020, she sung a song for the film ''[[Mookuthi Amman]]'' named "Aadi Kuthu".

==Notable songs==
{{main|List of songs recorded by L. R. Eswari}}

===Tamil songs===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Song !!Film
|----
|''"Muthukulikka Vareegala"''
|''[[Anubavi Raja Anubavi]]''
|-
|''"Thagadu Thagadu"''
|''[[Arya Surya]]''
|----
|''"Kaveri Thanniyil Kulichavadi"''
|''[[Aayiram Poi]]''
|----
| ''"Saaya Veeti"''
|''[[Paava Mannippu]]''
|----
|''"Mappillai Ragasiyam"''
|''[[Arangketram]]''
|----
|''"Adi Ennadi Ulagam "''
|''[[Aval Oru Thodar Kathai]]''
|----
|''"Enna Solla Enna Solla"''
|''[[Babu (1971 film)|Babu]]''
|----
|''"Kangalum Kavadi"''
|''[[Enga Vittu Pillai]]''
|----
|''"Puthi Sigamani"''
|''[[Iruvar Ullam (1963 film)|Iruvar Ullam]]''
|----
|''"Chithirai Poovizhi"''
|''[[Ithayathil Nee]]''
|----
|''"Yenna Poruthamadi"''
|''[[Kanavan]]''
|----
|''"Aadavaralaam Aada Varalaam"<ref>{{cite news |title=Aadavaralaam Aada Varalaam,389'th track by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan |url=http://redmux.com/song/aadavaralaam-instrumental-film-karuppu-panam/ |access-date=31 July 2004 |publisher=RedMux}}</ref>''
|''[[Karuppu Panam]]''
|----
|''"Malarendra Mugam Indru"''
|''[[Kaadhalikka Neramillai]]''
|----
|''"Enthan Nenjam Yaarai"''
|''[[Kathalithal Pothuma]]''
|----
|''"Kathal Penney"''
|''[[Kathalithal Pothuma]]''
|----
|''"Maapillai Vanthan"''
|''[[Kaveriyin Kanavan]]''
|----
|''"Poottale Unnaiyum"''
|''[[Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968 film)|Lakshmi Kalyanam]]''
|----
|''"Avala Ivala"''
|''[[Mannathi Mannan]]''
|----
|''"Aval Oru Kathanayagi"''
|''[[Moondru Mudichu]]''
|----
|''"Singapore Machan"''
|''[[Naam Moovar]]''
|----
|''"Pirantha Idam Thedi"''
|''[[Naan Aanaiyittal]]''
|----
|''"Dhukkaththilum"''
|''[[Nalla Idathu Sammantham]]''
|----
|''"Oh Lakshmi"''
|''[[Neela Vanam]]''
|----
|''"Nee Ninaithal"''
|''[[Nilave Nee Satchi]]''
|----
|''"Inimai Niraintha Ulagam"''
|''[[Ninaithale Inikkum (1979 film)|Ninaithale Inikkum]]''
|----
|''"Naam Oruvarai Oruvar"''
|''[[Oruvar]]''
|----
|''"En Vaalibam Ennum Mahligaiyil"''
|''[[Paalkudam]]''
|----
|''"Vaarayo Thozhi"''
|''[[Pasamalar|Paasa Malar]]''
|----
|''"Sonnathellam Nadanthiduma"''
|''[[Padha Kaanikkai]]''
|----
|''"Ithazhai Virithathu Roja"''
|''[[Pattanathil Bootham]]''
|----
|''"Kaalgal Nindrathu"''
|''[[Poojaikku Vantha Malar]]''
|----
|''"Ithu Margazhi Matham"''
|''[[Praptham]]''
|----
|''"Sala Sala Kathottam"''
|''[[Praptham]]''
|----
|''"Raja Veetu Pennanalum"''
|''[[Raja Veetu Pillai]]''
|----
|''"Manamagale Marumagale"''
|''Saradha''
|----
|''"Lilli Lali Jimmy"''
|''[[Selvam (1966 film)|Selvam]]''
|----
|''"Vennila Mugam"''
|''Selvamagal''
|----
|''"Naanoru Kaathal"''
|[[Thavapudhalavan]]
|----
|''"Pennai Parthum"''
|''[[Shanthi Nilayam]]''
|----
|''"Pushpa Raagam"''
|''[[Thani Kudithanam]]''
|-
|''"Kulunga Kulunga"''
|''[[Kai Koduttha Dheivam]]''
|-
|''"Nenaithen unnai"''
|''[[Thangai]]''
|-
|''"Nurandu Kalam Vazhga"''
|''[[Pesum Dheivam]]''
|-
|''"Raja rajasri Rani"''
|''[[Ooty Varai Uravu]]''
|-
|''"Kadavul Thantha"''
|''[[Iru Malargal]]''
|-
|''"Engal Kalyanam"''
|''[[Galatta Kalyanam]]''
|-
|''"Uraviniel Fivety Fivety"''
|''[[Galatta Kalyanam]]''
|-
|''"Munthi Munthi Vinayaganeya"''
|''[[En Thambi]]''
|-
|''"Sakthi Thannadu"''
|''[[Thanga Surangam]]''
|-
|''"Nadhieya Madhuvanal"''
|''[[Thanga Surangam]]''
|-
|''"Muthamidum Neram"''
|''[[Sivandha Mann]]''
|-
|''"Pattathu rani"''
|''[[Sivandha Mann]]''
|-
|''"Pathu pathinaru"''
|''[[Anjal Petti 520]]''
|-
|''"Adhi Manithan"''
|''[[Anjal Petti 520]]''
|-
|''"Hei"''
|''[[Anbalippu]]''
|----
|''"Kottai Mathir Mele"''
|''[[Thirudan]]''
|-
|''"Ninaitha padi"''
|''[[Thirudan]]''
|-
|''"Soragam Pakkathil"''
|''[[Enga Mama]]''
|-
|''"Ithuthan eanathu"''
|''[[Vilaiyaattu Pillai]]''
|-
|''"My ledy kad body"''
|''[[Vietnam Veedu]]''
|-
|''"Unga Nalla manasukku"''
|''[[Ethiroli]]''
|-
|''"Kalyanama Kalyanam"''
|''[[Ethiroli]]''
|-
|''"Hello miss"''
|''[[Engirundho Vandhaal]]''
|-
|''"Nalu kalu sir"''
|''[[Sorgam]]''
|----
|''"Ivalavuthan Ulagam"''
|''[[Ulagam Ivalavuthan]]''
|----
|''"Ada Sarithan Podi"''
|''[[Uyira Maanama]]''
|----
|''"Savale Samali"''
|''[[Uyira Maanama]]''
|----
|''"Enge Enge En Manathu"''
|''[[Vaaliba Virunthu]]''
|----
|''"Ammamma Kannathil Kannam"''
|''[[Vallavan Oruvan]]''
|----
|''"Palinginal Oru Mahligai"''
|''[[Vallavan Oruvan]]''
|----
|''"Kathodhuthan Naan"''
|''[[Velli Vizha]]''
|----
|''"Allipanthal Kaalgal"''
|''[[Vennira Aadai]]''
|----
|''"Nee Emppathenna"''
|''[[Vennira Aadai]]''
|----
|''"Pondamalli"''
|''[[Thadaiyara Thaakka]]''
|----
|''"Kalasala Kalasala"''
|''[[Osthe]]''
|----
|''"Ranipettai Rani"''
|''[[Tamilselvanum Kalaiselviyum]]''
|----
|''"Elantha Palam"''
|''[[Panama Pasama]]''
|----
|''"Aadi Kuththu"''
|''[[Mookuthi Amman]]''

|}

=== Telugu songs ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Song
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Pandava Vanavasam]]''|| ''"Mogali Rekula Sigadaana"''
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Ummadi Kutumbam]]''|| ''"Jigi Jigi Jigelumannadi Chinnadi"''
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Bandipotu Dongalu]]''|| ''"Gandara Ganda Soggadivanta"''
|-
| 1969 || Kaipuraa || Naa choope Pilupura
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Kathanayika Molla]]''|| ''"Naane Cheluve Kannadiki"''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Lakshmi Kataksham]]''|| ''"Andala Bommanu Nenu Chelikada"''
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Prema Nagar]]''|| ''"Le Le Le Naa Raaja"''
|-
| 1971 || ''Amma Maata''|| ''"Mayadari Sinnodu"''
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Tata Manavadu]]''|| ''"Nookalammani Nene Nee Peekani Nokkettane"''
|-
| 1973 || [[Devudu Chesina Manushulu (1973 film)|''Devudu Chesina Manushulu'']]|| ''"Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo"''
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Jeevana Tarangalu]]''|| ''"Nandamaya Garuda Nandamaya"''
|-
| 1974 || [[Nippulanti Manishi (1974 film)|''Nippulanti Manishi'']] || ''"Welcome Swagatam Chesta Ninne Paravasam"''
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Anthuleni Katha]]''|| ''"Are Emiti Lokam"''
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Maro Charitra]]''|| ''"Bhale Bhale Magadivoi Bangaru Naasaamivoi"''
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Pranam Khareedu]]''|| ''"Bandameeda Undi Gundodi Debba"''
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Andamaina Anubhavam]]''|| ''"Ananda Thandavame Adenuga Aa Sivudu"''
|}

===Malayalam songs===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Song
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Althaara]]'' || "Onathumpee vannaatte"
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Bharthavu]]'' || "Kaakkakuyile Cholloo"
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Kuttikkuppayam]]'' || ''"Oru Kotta"''
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Rosi (1965 film)|Rosi]]'' || ''"Kannilenthaanu "''
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Subaidha]]'' || ''"Oru Kudukka "''
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Anarkali]]''|| ''"Chakravarthikumaaraa"''
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Archana (film)|Archana]]'' || ''"Ethra Kandaalum"''
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Hotel High Range]]'' || ''"Puthiya raagam puthiya thaalam "''
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Velutha Kathreena]]'' || ''"Kannil Kaamabanam "''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Dathuputhran]]'' || ''"Wine Glass"''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Nizhalattam]]'' || ''"Devadaasiyalla Njan"''
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Lankadahanam]]'' || ''"Kilukile Chirikkum"''
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Jesus]]'' || ''"Ente Munthirichaarino"''
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Panitheeratha Veedu]]'' || ''"Maaril syamanthakarathnam chaarthi"''
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Devi Kanyakumari]]'' || ''"Madhuchashakam"''
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Night Duty]]'' || ''"Innu Ninte Youvanathinezhazhaku"''
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Aval Oru Thodar Kathai]]''-D || ''"Edi Enthedi"''
|}

She had sung in around 200 Malayalam films.{{Cn|date=April 2024}}

=== Kannada songs ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Song
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Anna Thangi (1958 film)|Anna Thangi]]'' || ''"Bandaane Ava Bandaane"''
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Chandavalliya Thota]]'' || ''"Suma Baaleya"''
|-
| 1962 || ''[[Thayi Karulu]]'' || ''"Dooradinda Bandavare"''
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Veera Sankalpa]]'' ||''"Sittyako Sidukyako"''
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Mahasathi Anasuya]]'' || ''"Aa Deva Ee Deva"''
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Hannele Chiguridaga]]'' || ''"Ide Hudugi"''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Bhoopathi Ranga]]'' || ''"Rasika Rasika"''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Paropakari]]'' || ''"Jokey"''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Boregowda Bangalorige Banda]]''|| ''"Malagova Maavina"''
|-
| 1970 || ''Mahadiya Mane'' || ''"Rambe Ennuvalu"''
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Anugraha (film)|Anugraha]]'' || ''"Boraiah Basavaiah"''
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Samshaya Phala]]'' || ''"Dooradinda Bandantha"''
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Sipayi Ramu]]'' || ''"Kokorekoko"''
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Professor Huchuraya]]'' || ''"Hare Rama Hare Krishna"<br />"Hello My Boy"''
|-
|}

=== Konkani songs ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Song !! Film
|-
| || ''[[Ang Mhujem Choi]]''
|| ''"Jivit Amchem Oxem"''
|-
|}

==Onscreen appearances==
*''[[Thillalangadi]]'' (2010) as herself
*''[[Mookuthi Amman]]'' (2020) as herself

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0261970|name=L. R. Eswari}}
* [http://mymovieminutes.blogspot.sg/2013/05/the-two-titillating-voices-of-tamil.html The Titillating Voices of Two Tamil Playback Singers in Movie minutes]


{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eswari, L. R.}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Kannada-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Tamil-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Telugu-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Tamil Nadu]]

L. R. Eswari - Revision history

Lekhachitra963 at 23:16, 1 February 2026