Earlier today (August 2), veteran playback singer Kalyani Menon passed away due to prolonged illness. Kalyani Menon breathed her last around 12 PM in the afternoon at Kauvery Hospital, Chennai. The final rites is expected to take place tomorrow (August 3) afternoon at 2 PM in Besant Nagar. She was 80. Kalyani Menon is survived by her two sons - Rajiv Menon and Karunakaran Menon. For the unversed, Kalyani is one of the most prominent and notable singers in the field of classical music. She also established herself as a singer in the film industry. Kalyani worked extensively with A.R.Rahman.

Some of the classic hit numbers of Kalyani Menon as a singer include 'Sevvaname Ponmegame' (Nallathoru Kudumbam), 'Nee Varuvaaiyena' (Sujatha), 'Indraiyo Ival Sundariyo' (Kadhalan), 'Kuluvalile' (Muthu), 'Alaipayuthey' (Alaipayuthey), 'Adhisaya Thirumanam' (Parthale Paravasam), 'Omana Penne' (Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa), 'Kaathale Kaathale - Reprise' (96), etc. Kalyani Menon learned classic music from MR Sivaraman Nair. The first song that gave her a good breakthrough was 'Kanneerin Mazhayathum', the Malayalam song from Ramu Kariat's Dweepu (1977).

Kalyani Menon made a brief appearance as an actor in Kandukondain Kandukondain, as Aishwarya Rai's music teacher. Kalyani Menon's son is Rajiv Menon who is one of the leading cinematographers and filmmakers in the country. Rajiv Menon's last directorial venture was a short film that featured in the Prime Video anthology, Putham Pudhu Kaalai. Rajiv Menon's segment was titled Reunion and it featured Andrea Jeremiah, Gurucharan, and Leela Samson in the lead roles.

Rajiv's last directorial feature film was Sarvam Thaala Mayam that had GV Prakash and Aparna Balamurali in the lead roles. As a cinematographer, Rajiv Menon's next release will be Sumo which stars Mirchi Shiva and Priya Anand in the lead roles, under the direction of SP Hosimin.

At this moment, Galatta Media expresses deepest condolences to Rajiv Menon and his family and prays for the departed soul to rest in peace.