Playback singer Swarnalatha died of cardiac arrest following lung complications on Sunday morning at a private hospital in the city.
The 37-year-old songstress had been wheeled into the emergency room of Malar Hospital in Adyar on Saturday evening in a critical condition. “Swarnalatha had a history of intestital lung disease, and was brought to the hospital with complaints of breathlessness. Despite ventilator support and CPR, she passed away this morning,” said Mr G. Sreenisan, head of marketing of the hospital. The disease causes progressive scarring of the lung tissue and most patients do not recover the full functioning of their lungs.
Swarnalatha, who has sung over 7,000 songs in her career spanning more than a decade, had been suffering from lung problem for over a year and was on medication, her brother Rajeshekaran said. Her body was brought to her Saligramam home on Sunday afternoon before the last rites.
The singer, who was born in Kerala, had got her lucky break in 1987 when she met music director M.S. Viswanathan. She went on to work with top music directors Ilayaraja and A.R. Rahman. She bagged the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for best female playback singer for Povomma Oorkolam from Chinna Thambi, and three years later, the national award for her rendition Porale Ponnuthayi from the film Karuththamma. She has sung other memorable numbers like Mukkabla Mukabla from the film Kadhalan, Kuchi Kuchi from Bombay and Maya Machinda from Indian.
Swarnalatha is survived by her nine siblings.