Kollangudi Karuppayee

Kollangudi Karuppayee was an Indian Tamil folk singer who also performed in films. She is considered one of the pioneers of Tamil folk music; as the first of her genre and background to perform in films, she served as an inspiration for many other folk artists. She started her career as a performer on All India Radio about thirty years before her foray into films. She was a recipient of the prestigious Kalaimamani award for her contributions to music. Karuppayee died on 14 June 2025, at the age of 99.