10 Facts About Jikki

Pillavalu Gajapathy Krishnaveni, more famously known as Jikki, was an Indian playback singer from Andhra Pradesh.

Jikki sang around 10,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Sinhalese, and Hindi languages.

Jikki was already being noted for her musical prowess and her lilting mellifluous voice although she did not undergo any orthodox classical training in music at that stage.

Jikki then introduced her to the Hindi film world by getting her to sing for his production Mr Sampath in 1952.

Jikki sang Sinhalese songs as well at that stage since the Sinhalese films were produced in Madras during those years.

Jikki was married to the successful playback singer and music director AM Rajah.

Jikki sang many songs under her husband's direction that are still played by radio stations.

Jikki started a music troupe with her two sons and performed in many countries including the United States, Malaysia and Singapore.

Jikki had been suffering from breast cancer and had surgery, but the cancer spread to her kidneys and eventually liver.

Jikki was honoured with "Ugadi Puraskaram" by Madras Telugu Academy and Government of Tamil Nadu awarded her "Kalai Ma Mani".