NEW DELHI: Singer-composer Sharda, whose playful rendition of ‘Titli udi ud jo chali’ (film: Suraj, 1966) continues to pleasure retro music lovers, passed away at her Napean Sea Road residence in Mumbai on Wednesday morning.

She was 89.“She was battling cancer for several months,” her son Shammi Rajan told TOI.With her distinctive voice texture and flexibility of style, Sharda Rajan was a familiar presence in the world of 1960s Hindi film music.

Shankar-Jaikishan, the top music director duo of the time, composed a majority of her tracks in films like ‘Around the World’, ‘Diwana’, ‘An Evening in Paris’, ‘Seema’ and ‘Pehchan’.Born in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, the singer also received the Filmfare Award for her sumptuous delivery of the sizzling track, ‘Baat zara hai aapas ki’ (film: ‘Jahan Pyar Mile’, 1969).

Drawn towards music since childhood, Sharda received training in Carnatic music.

But when a cousin visiting the family sang ‘Ankhiyan milakey’ (film: ‘Ratan’, 1944, singer: Johrabai Ambalewali), she was enchanted and wanted to sing similar numbers, Sharda revealed in a DD interview.It was happenstance that brought her to the world of playback singing.

In the early 1960s, Sharda sang at a party hosted in honour of Raj Kapoor in Teheran.

“Her husband, Soundara Rajan, was employed with Iran Air there,” Shammi said.

Raj Kapoor liked her voice.

“He invited me to Bombay.

I gave a voice test at RK Studios,” she recalled.

Sharda was referred to Shankar-Jaikishan -- regulars in films starring Kapoor -- under whose guidance she received training.'Titli Udi', which finished 21st in Binaca Geetmala’s 1966 annual charts, gave her instant popularity, became her calling card.

Even today the frisky track is a hit on YouTube.

Sharda’s own website is named titliudi.com.“Jaikishen explained how to emphasise on the word, ‘titli’, which elevated the song,” she said in the interview.

The singer also recalled how the peerless Mohd Rafi had given her invaluable tips on breathing techniques during the recording of ‘Jab bhi yeh dil udaas hota hai’ (film: ‘Seema’, 1971).In the 1970s, Sharda also provided the score for a bunch of low-budget films.

The introspective ‘Andhe safar mein hum bhi tum bhi’ (singer: Kishore Kumar, film: ‘Kshitij’, 1974) can be included in any Rare Gems collection of the master singer.

Compare the track with the rollicking ‘Kabhi khili dil ki kali’ (singer: Kishore Kumar, film: ‘Gharibi Hatao’, 1973) or the songs of ‘Hazaar Haath’ (1978) and Maila Aanchal (1981) and one notices a refreshing confidence to experiment with tunes and orchestration.

Not many know that Sharda also composed music for 24 ghazals of Mirza Ghalib.

“She also did several shows for children and remained active in the world of music till her mid-80s,” said Shammi.With her demise, another musical chapter of old Bollywood comes to a close.

Her songs though will continue to be hummed.