Rockstar Ramani Ammal
{{Short description|Indian folk singer (1954–2023)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date = May 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rockstar Ramani Ammal
| birth_date = {{birth-date|1954}}
| birth_place = Madras State, India
| death_date = {{death date and given age|2023|04|04|69|df=y}}
| death_place = West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| genre = Playback singing, devotional songs
| occupations = Singer
| years_active = 2004–2023
| alias = Rockstar
}}
Ramani Ammal ({{langx|ta|ரமணியம்மாள்}}; 1954 – 4 April 2023), also popularly known by her stage name Rockstar Ramani Ammal, was an Indian folk and playback singer. She rose to prominence after taking part in a television reality show Zee Tamil's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors in 2017.{{Cite news|title=I will donate some money to poor people, says Sa Re Ga Ma Pa's Rockstar Ramaniammal|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/i-will-donate-some-money-to-poor-people-says-sa-re-ga-ma-pas-rockstar-ramaniammal/articleshow/63786131.cms|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=16 April 2018 |language=en}} She received the nickname "Rockstar" from the judges of the inaugural edition of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors. She made her film debut as a playback singer in Kaadhal (2004).
Biography
Ramani Ammal was born in a middle-class family and had to sacrifice her studies due to the family background.{{Clarify|reason=How does a middle-class background prevent studying|date=April 2023}} Inspired by veteran actor turned politician M. G. Ramachandran,{{Cite web |title='ராக் ஸ்டார்' ரமணியம்மாளைத் தெரியாதா உங்களுக்கு?! |url=https://www.dinamani.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-special/2018/mar/05/rockstar-ramani-ammal-2874914.html |access-date=2020-06-02 |website=Dinamani|date=5 March 2018 }} she pursued her interest in music at a young age but became a house maid to earn an income. She had also sung at weddings to keep her interest in music alive. She worked as a house servant during most of her career before gaining her first opportunity to sing in a film.{{Cite web|last=Rajkumar|date=2019-03-03|title=சினிமாவில் கலக்குவார் என்று எதிர்பார்த்த ரமணியம்மாள்.! தற்போது என்ன செய்துகொண்டிருக்கிறார் பாருங்க.!|url=https://tamil.behindtalkies.com/zee-tamil-rockstar-ramaniammal/|access-date=2020-06-02|website=Tamil Behind Talkies|language=en-US}} She made her debut as a singer in the 2004 romantic drama film Kaadhal. She also sang in Kathavarayan (2008), Thenavattu (2008), and Haridas (2013).{{Cite web|title=Namma OOru rockstar|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/jan/12/namma-ooru-rockstar-1752285.html|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The New Indian Express|date=13 January 2018 }} However, she didn't receive many film opportunities and returned to house work.
In 2017, she made her television debut at the age of 63 on the reality TV show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors and subsequently became a household name, known for singing film songs. She was one of the top ten finalists of the show and also emerged as the first runner-up in the grand finale in April 2018.{{Cite news|title=Top five to battle on 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' finale today|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/top-five-to-battle-on-sa-re-ga-ma-pa-finale-today/articleshow/63748785.cms|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=14 April 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Tamil Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Varsha emerges as the winner of the singing reality show|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/tamil-sa-re-ga-ma-pa-varsha-emerges-as-the-winner-of-the-singing-reality-show/articleshow/63770913.cms|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=15 April 2018 |language=en}} Following her success with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, she received several film opportunities as a playback singer and sang songs for Junga (2018), Sandakozhi 2 (2018), Kaappaan (2019), and Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu Raja (2019).{{Cite news|title=Rock Star Ramani Ammal records a song for Junga|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/rock-star-ramani-ammal-records-a-song-for-junga/articleshow/64383887.cms|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=31 May 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite news|title='Sengaruttan Paaraiyula' song from 'Sandakozhi 2' unveiled|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/sengaruttan-paaraiyula-song-from-sandakozhi-2-unveiled/articleshow/65486896.cms|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=21 August 2018 |language=en}} She also performed in concerts in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and United States.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}
In 2018, she also made a special appearance in one episode of the television soap opera Yaaradi Nee Mohini.{{Cite news|title=Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Tamil 2018 finalist Ramaniammal makes a cameo in 'Yaaradi Nee Mohini'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/sa-re-ga-ma-pa-tamil-2018-finalist-ramaniammal-makes-a-cameo-in-yaaradi-nee-mohini/articleshow/66833462.cms|access-date=2020-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=27 November 2018 |language=en}}
=Death=
Discography
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Song(s) ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kaathavarayan | "Kaathavaraya Saamy" | |
| 2013 | Haridas | "Vellakuthirai" | |
| 2018 | Junga | "Rise of Junga" | |
| 2018 | Sandakozhi 2 | "Sengarattan Paaraiyila" | |
| 2019 | Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu Raja | "Internet Pasanga" | |
| 2019 | Kaappaan | "Sirukki" |
Filmography
- Bommai Nayagi (2023)
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ammal, Ramani}}
Category:Tamil playback singers
Category:Indian women playback singers
Category:Singers from Tamil Nadu
Category:20th-century Indian singers
Category:21st-century Indian singers
Category:Indian women folk singers
Category:Musicians from Madurai
Category:20th-century Indian women singers