Recalling her childhood days, Vani says, “I was born at Vellore into a large family and my mother herself learnt music under Ranga Ramanuja Iyengar. My elder sisters Vasantha, Vimala and Lalitha were taught music by Cuddalore Srinivasa Iyengar. I used to listen to them sing. I had the natural talent of identifying and distinguishing ragas even at the age of two. Seeing my potential, my sisters’ guru also started teaching me. Of course, my taking to music is quite natural as it has been in the family. I must admit that I owe everything to my mother.”

Vani’s family shifted to Chennai when she was in her 5th standard and this proved to be a fine opportunity to further hone her talent in music. GNB’S disciple T.R.Balu was the next guru and later Vani came under the guidance of Trivandrum R.S.Mani. It is mind boggling to note that Vani had multifarious interests during her school days. She says, “I was so involved in the school co-curricular activities that I used to come home everyday only by nine o’clock at night !”

Vani, inspite of her intense training in classical music, has made a mark in the field as an excellent light music singer. Vani’s mother aspired her daughter to take to Karnatic music whereas Vani’s mind was always absorbed in Hindi film music. Vani recalls, “I was fascinated by the clarity, lyrical quality, orchestration and perfection in Hindi film songs. My mother disliked the idea of my plunging into films and wouldn’t permit me to do so. As a typically concerned mother, she said that she neither had the time to accompany me during recordings nor would she permit me to go alone. So, I had no option but to decline the several offers which came to me from the Tamil film industry.”

After college where she was an allrounder, Vani took a job with the State Bank of India and it was at this time that she got married to Jairam, who was settled in Bombay. Being a sitarist himself, Jairam identified the immense talent in Vani and wanted her to develop further.

As luck would have it, she came under the intense training of Ustad Abdul Rehman of the Patiala gharana. Vani says, “My master never liked the idea of my going to job, doing household chores and also singing. He taught me complete voice culture and exercises, which would help cooperate with any system of music. After six months of vigorous training, my guru told me that now I was free to go and perform.”

It was on the recommendation of her guru that Vasanth Desaiji offered her a chance in films. Vani laughs and says, “I was too scared to go alone, so I made my husband take permission from office and accompany me. Desaiji turned out to be such a gem of a person, he was a staunch devotee of Hanuman and remained a bachelor all his life.” Vasant Desai who was signed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee to give music for the film ‘Guddi’ recorded all the songs of the film in Vani’s voice. Vani’s hit song ‘Bole re papi hara’ brought her 5 awards including the prestigious Tansen Award.

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