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Sulochana Kadam

Artists
  • Born: 13 March, 1933 (Bombay)
  • Primary Cinema: Marathi
  • Spouse: S Chavan
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Lavanisamradhni (Queen of Lavani)—this was the title conferred on Sulochana Kadam by noted Marathi litterateur, Prahlad Keshav Atre for her contribution to the genre of lavani songs, a genre of traditional music popular in Maharashtra. A popular singer, Sulochana Kadam also rendered playback in several Hindi films such as Krishna Sudama (1945),Kismatwali (1947), Paaro (1947), Bhool (1948), Chanda Ki Chandni (1948), Lal Dupatta (1948), Basera (1949), Roop Lekha (1949), Hanste Rehna (1950), Har Har Mahadev (1950), Bade Bhaiya (1951), Das Avtaar (1951), Jhansi Ki Rani (1952), Rajrani Damyanti (1952), Jungle Ka Jawahar (1953), and Surang (1953). Her famous lavani numbers include Tuzhya usala laagal lolha, Padarawarti jartaricha, Solaawa varees dhokyacha, Padarawarti Jartaricha Mor Naachara Hava, and Kasa kay patil bara hay ka? Her lavanis featured in films such as Sawaal Majha Aika! (1964), and Malhari Martand (1965). 

Born on 13 March, 1933 in Bombay, Sulochana started her career at approximately 6 years of age. She began performing in local dramas, essaying the role of Lord Krishna in garbas. Acting in Gujarati theatre, she also took lessons in Urdu, and worked in Hindi-Urdu plays. Introduced to music director Shyambabu Pathak by make-up artist Shubam Dandekar, she started singing lessons at V Shantaram's Rajkamal Studios. Thus, at the age of 11, she started singing professionally, credited as K Sulochana after her maiden surname, Kadam. 

She rendered her first lavani - Naav gaav kashyala pustat? Aaho me aahe Kolhapurchi, Mala ho mhantat Lavangi Mirchi for Rangalya Raatri Asha (1962). The music of the film was composed by Vasant Pawar with lyrics by Jagdish Khebudkar. Chavan later went on to sing many lavanis in Marathi and Hindi films as well as live during stage performances. She rendered approximately 136 songs in 68 films. Sulochana also rendered non-film music. Some of her singles include Kheltana rang bai holicha, Kalidar kapoori paan, Padala piklay aamba, and Aunda lagin karaycha. She also worked in some Punjabi and Tamil films.

Sulochana Kadam was conferred with several honours including the Lata Mangeshkar Award for the year 2010 instituted by Government of Maharashtra, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2012, the Lokshahir Patthe Bapurao Puraskar instituted by Pune Municipal Corporation, the Ram Kadam Puraskar, and the Lavani Kalavant Puraskaar presented by Sahakarmaharshi Shankarrao Mohite-Patil Samiti.

On the personal front, Sulochana Kadam married S Chavan, director of the film Kalgitura. She gave her husband credit for teaching her the basics of pronunciation and emphasis on words. 

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