Vakkalanka Sarala

Vakkalanka Sarala (8 August 1927 – 1999) 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. Her ancestors were Brahmins from Amalapuram, but the family settled in Madras. Sarala's father, Gopal Rao, was the brother of Chalam (Gurazada Venkatachalam). Sarala was born on 8 August 1927, in 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 Swapnasundari. Swapnasundari went on to become a Kuchipudi dancer and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.

Sarala sang many songs alongside Ghantasala, including "Kaadu Suma Kala Kaadu Suma." She was engaged to marry Ghantasala, but unforeseen circumstances led Ghantasala to marry another woman, also named Sarala, from Rangoon.

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, released in 1979.

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.

List of Telugu Film Songs by Sarala Year Film name Song Other Singers Music director Lyricist 1948 Balraju Tiyani Vennela Reyi Eda Bayani Vennela Hayi Ghantasala 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 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,T.K. Ramanathan T.A. Kalyanam 1952 Maradalu Pelli Piliche Godavaroadu Nooruurinche Bandaru Laddoo Chittoor Nagaiah,Tanguturi Surya Kumari Sri Sri 1953 Amarakavi G. Ramanathan, T.K. Kumaraswami