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{{Short description|Playback singer in Telugu cinema}}
{{Orphan|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vakkalanka Sarala
| image = Vakkalanka Sarala.jpg
| caption = Vakkalanka Sarala in 1953
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|08|08|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Chennai
}}

'''Vakkalanka Sarala''' (8 August 1927 – 1999)<ref name=the_hindu>{{cite news|title=Rhythm of recall|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/rhythm-of-recall/article3748008.ece|accessdate=2 December 2014|work=The Hindu|issue=10 August 2012}}</ref> was a playback singer in [[Telugu cinema]]. She is renowned for singing the song "Kaadu Suma Kala Kaadu Suma" in the movie [[Keelugurram]]. During the 1940s, she worked as an assistant music director in the Hindi department of [[Gemini Studios]].<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/02/05/stories/2003020500420300.htm Living out a dream – The Hindu 5 Feb 2003]{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Her ancestors were [[Brahmins]] from Amalapuram, but the family settled in [[Madras]]. Sarala's father, Gopal Rao, was the brother of [[Chalam (writer)|Chalam]] (Gurazada Venkatachalam).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pranahita.org/2009/03/kutumbamlo_sangeetam/ |title=Music in the Family – Kodavatiganti Rohiniprasad |access-date=26 August 2013 |website= |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307021812/http://www.pranahita.org/2009/03/kutumbamlo_sangeetam/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sarala was born on 8 August 1927, in [[Chennai|Madras]] to Sundaramma and Gopal Rao. Her mother, Sundaramma, was also a classical singer.

She was a close friend of actress [[Anjali Devi]]. Sarala sang the song "Idhi Thiyani Vennela Reyi" for Anjali Devi's first film, Balraju. Since then, they became good friends. In the 1950s, after Anjali Devi produced the film [[Swapnasundari]], Sarala promised Anjali that if she had a daughter, she would name her after the movie. Keeping her word, ten years later, she named her daughter [[Swapna Sundari (dancer)|Swapnasundari]].<ref>[http://m.newshunt.com/Eenadu/warangal/20839572/997 Anjali Devi named my child after her movie – Eenadu]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Swapnasundari went on to become a [[Kuchipudi]] dancer and a recipient of the [[Padma Bhushan]].{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

Sarala sang many songs alongside [[Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao|Ghantasala]], including "Kaadu Suma Kala Kaadu Suma." She was engaged to marry [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]], but unforeseen circumstances led Ghantasala to marry another woman, also named Sarala, from Rangoon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://teblog.kinige.com/?tag=jeevita-katha |title=Jeevita katha | కినిగె బ్లాగు |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=23 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223214602/http://teblog.kinige.com/?tag=jeevita-katha |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After her marriage, Sarala retired from the film industry. During those times, women in South India generally left the industry after marriage. Sarala had two daughters, including Swapnasundari, and one son. Her daughter Vakkalanka Padma acted in the movie [[Gorintaku (1979 film)|Gorintaku]], released in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinegoer.net/gorintaku.htm?ModPagespeed=noscript |title=Archived copy |website= |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005956/http://www.cinegoer.net/gorintaku.htm?ModPagespeed=noscript |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sarala's daughter Swapnasundari organizes an annual Carnatic music concert named Swaralahari on 8 August, in her mother's memory. In this concert, young singers prominently perform the songs composed by Sarala.<ref name=the_hindu /><ref name=hindu_2007>{{cite news|title=Hyderabad today|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/hyderabad-today/article1887931.ece|accessdate=2 December 2014|work=The Hindu|issue=8 August 2007}}</ref>

== List of Telugu Film Songs by Sarala ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film name !! Song !! Other Singers !! Music director !! Lyricist
|-
| 1948 || Balraju || Tiyani Vennela Reyi Eda Bayani Vennela Hayi || || [[Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao|Ghantasala]] || [[Samudrala Raghavacharya|Samudrala Senior]]
|-
| 1949 || [[Keelugurram]] || Aha Oho Enthaanandam Baaye Nahaa Uhaateetamuga || || Ghantasala || Taapi
|-
| 1949 || Keelugurram || Kaadu Suma Kala Kaadu Suma Amritapanamunu || Ghantasala || Ghantasala || Taapi
|-
| 1949 || [[Raksharekha]] || Bidiyama Manalo Priyatama Sakha Biguva Chalu Naatho || || Ogirala Ramachandra Rao || [[Balijepalli Lakshmikantham|Balijepalli]]
|-
| 1949 || [[Laila Majnu]] || Anaganaga O Khanu Aa Khanuko Janaana || Bhanumathi || C.R. Subbaraman || Samudrala Senior
|-
| 1952 || [[Singari]] || Shuddham Cheyyandoi Tholanchi Shuddham Cheyyandoi || Tangavelu and group || S.V. Venkatraman,<br>T.K. Ramanathan<br> T.A. Kalyanam ||
|-
| 1952 || [[Maradalu Pelli]] || Piliche Godavaroadu Nooruurinche Bandaru Laddoo || || [[Chittoor Nagaiah]],<br>Tanguturi Surya Kumari || [[Sri Sri (writer)|Sri Sri]]
|-
| 1953 || [[Amarakavi]] || || || G. Ramanathan, <br>T.K. Kumaraswami
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarala, Vakkalanka}}
[[Category:Telugu-language playback singers]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Carnatic musicians]]

Vakkalanka Sarala - Revision history

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